A Kenyan student dressed in a Chinese opera costume is pictured during a Chinese cultural event held at the Kenya National Theater in Nairobi, Kenya, Nov. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)
The Chinese cultural day was held in Kenya's capital of Nairobi, showcasing captivating opera, fashion show and kungfu at the ceremony which was attended by senior officials, diplomats, scholars and students.
NAIROBI, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese cultural day was held in Kenya's capital of Nairobi on Monday evening, showcasing captivating opera, fashion show and kungfu at the ceremony which was attended by senior officials, diplomats, scholars and students.
The event which was convened by the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi and Kenya Cultural Center, was held under the theme of "the Chinese Opera".
Kenyan students perform Chinese Kongfu during a Chinese cultural event held at the Kenya National Theater in Nairobi, Kenya, Nov. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)
Zhou Meifen, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Kenya said the cultural event that featured Peking Opera, facial makeup, costume display and martial arts was timely amid ongoing efforts to enhance Sino-Kenya cultural exchanges and understanding.
Zhou added that by attending the Chinese cultural day celebrations, Kenyan youth would gain a better understanding of the rich traditions, beliefs and value systems of the Asian Nation.
"Strengthening youth exchanges and enhancing people-to-people exchanges between China and Africa is one of the important contents of the People to People and Cultural Exchange Project in the Dakar Action Plan of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation," said Zhou.
She noted that deepening cultural, as well as people-to-people exchanges, has become a critical building block for robust Sino-Kenya relations adding that in the near future, the Chinese Embassy in Kenya intends to stage events that enhance cultural understanding among citizens of the two bilateral partners.
Kenyan students perform traditional Chinese opera during a Chinese cultural event held at the Kenya National Theater in Nairobi, Kenya, Nov. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)
Lung'ashi Nyongesa, Knowledge Management Director at Kenya International Theater Festival said the country was honored to stage Chinese cultural day celebrations, a reaffirmation of flourishing bilateral cooperation and friendship between Nairobi and Beijing.
Nyongesa noted that Chinese culture had enduring tenets including harmony, tolerance and pursuit of collective good which could be emulated locally to help Kenyan society thrive.
Kimingichi Wabende, a Lecturer at the Department of Literature and Performing Arts, University of Nairobi said that by leveraging cultural exchanges, Kenya and China could elevate their cooperation to new levels and benefit the youth.
Wabende noted that Chinese culture has resonated with Kenyan youth, as evidenced by a growing number who are studying mandarin and have gained prowess in kungfu. ■
