The Mid-Autumn Festival was celebrated on Friday at the rooftop garden of the Global Trade Centre in Nairobi, bringing together hundreds of Chinese and Kenyan nationals. This event marked the first East African edition of a global poetry event, titled "We Share the Same Moon - Mid-Autumn Poetry Gathering." The event was authorized by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism and featured students from the Confucius Institutes at the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University.
The celebration centered on poetry, with students reciting Chinese verse, playing the guzheng, a traditional Chinese zither, and performing martial arts. Zhang Bao, a second-generation inheritor of Sichuan Opera's face-changing art, performed the mask-swapping technique and a Chinese tea ceremony. Calligraphy and paintings donated by overseas Chinese affairs offices in Guangzhou and Anhui Province were also on display, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of China.
Guo Haiyan, the Chinese ambassador to Kenya, attended the event and noted that this year marks the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. She observed that Kenyan friends, especially young people, have shown growing enthusiasm for learning the Chinese language and exploring traditional Chinese culture. Guo emphasized that friendship between China and Kenya is time-honored and will continue to be strengthened from generation to generation.
Miriam Achieng Kenyatta, a 23-year-old geospatial engineering student at the University of Nairobi, recited a classical poem by the Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Ruoxu. Kenyatta, who is also the Kenyan champion of the 25th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, shared her thoughts on the significance of the Mid-Autumn Festival. She believes that the festival is about friendship and family bonds, and that it symbolizes the connection between people despite physical distance.
Fiona Ngesa, deputy director for Asia and the Middle East at the Kenya Tourism Board, expressed her appreciation for the event, highlighting its potential to attract more tourists to Kenya and promote cultural exchange between China and Kenya. Ngesa also shared her enthusiasm for learning Chinese and hopes to one day hold a conversation in the language. The celebration was organized by the China General Chamber of Commerce in East Africa.
The event featured a range of cultural performances and activities, showcasing the diversity and richness of Chinese culture. The "We Share the Same Moon" theme of the event resonated with the attendees, who appreciated the opportunity to come together and celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. The event demonstrated the growing interest in Chinese culture among Kenyans, particularly among the younger generation.
The Mid-Autumn Festival celebration in Nairobi marked a significant milestone in China-Africa cultural exchange. The event highlighted the strong ties between China and Kenya, as well as the growing enthusiasm for cultural exchange and language learning. As China and Africa continue to strengthen their relationships, events like the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration will play an increasingly important role in promoting mutual understanding and cooperation.
Key points
- The Mid-Autumn Festival celebration in Nairobi marked the first East African edition of a global poetry event, bringing together hundreds of Chinese and Kenyan nationals.
- The event featured a range of cultural performances and activities, showcasing the diversity and richness of Chinese culture.
- The celebration highlighted the growing interest in Chinese culture among Kenyans, particularly among the younger generation.
