NAIROBI, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Laughter and excitement filled the classrooms of Mcedo Beijing School in Nairobi's sprawling Mathare slums on Saturday as hundreds of children gathered around colorful drawings depicting robots, spacecraft, and scenes from China.
For many of the learners, the highlight of the day was meeting Masika Yang, a Chinese Swahili speaker whose passion for African culture has made her a familiar face among East African audiences.
The event, themed "Masika at Mcedo Beijing School," brought together young learners from one of Nairobi's largest informal settlements for a day of art, film and cultural exchange ahead of the International Day of the African Child, celebrated annually on June 16.
Among the participants was Roman Reigns, a ten-year-old Grade Five learner, who proudly showed off a drawing inspired by China's technological achievements.
"I feel good and I want to be a pilot. I like the high technology in China. I painted a robot using yellow, red, and black colors that Masika gave us. I want to thank Masika and invite her to come back to Kenya again," said Roman.
Through paintings and storytelling, the children explored a country many know only through television screens and social media. The activities were designed to encourage creativity while deepening their understanding of China and its culture.
For Yang, the visit represented more than a cultural outreach activity. It was a chance to connect with children through a medium she believes can inspire young minds.
"I think that as the day of the African Child approaches and since children really enjoy watching films, I felt that gifting them a film and telling them what is happening in the film as they are watching it was better than me coming to just talk with them," said Yang, a digital influencer.
"I believe that through film, the children benefited and better understood several things about China, especially technology, because in recent years, airspace technology has developed in a very big way in China and across the world," she added.
Yang's journey to becoming a bridge between China and Africa began thousands of kilometers away in China.
As a young girl, she dreamed of becoming a teacher who would introduce students to new ideas and opportunities. But shortly before taking university entrance examinations, a newspaper article about East Africa changed the course of her life.
"Two months before I sat for my exams to join university, I read a news article that talked about East African countries and it mentioned Kiswahili as a major language that people in that continent speak," Yang said.
"Although the continent was very far from China, I loved their language. I studied the language in China and later traveled to Tanzania and perfected my Kiswahili language at Dar es Salaam University," she added.
Over the years, her fluency in Kiswahili and deep appreciation for East African culture earned her a growing following online. Through her TikTok account, she shares content in Kiswahili with more than 40,000 followers.
Her latest visit to Mathare reflected that enduring connection. Instead of delivering a traditional speech, Yang brought a film about life aboard China's Tiangong space station, offering the children a glimpse into space exploration through the daily lives of Chinese astronauts.
For eight-year-old Marion Joyce, the experience opened a new world of possibilities.
"I have drawn people in space and I loved watching the film. When I grow up, I would want to work in space. I am very grateful to Masika for her gifts to us," said Marion.
As the children compared drawings and discussed their dreams, the event highlighted the growing role of people-to-people exchanges in strengthening China-Africa relations.
For Yang, whose life has been shaped by a language spoken thousands of km from her homeland, the smiles and curiosity of the learners offered a reminder that cultural understanding often begins with simple conversations, shared stories and the courage to dream beyond borders. ■