International Students from Africa Display Foreign Culture in Suoyuan Ancient Village

Durring the National Holiday 86 African students from our University went to Suoyuan village in Jindong District, Lipu County, to spend have a truly unforgettable holiday with the locals. They brought along with them many of their local African delicacies gave a performed of their traditional songs and dances. They played a game of basketball with the local villagers and watched a performance of the local Chinese traditional folk custom “ Bandenglong.”

For this activity the international students were fully diligent in their preparations. In order to prepare authentic delicacies the students had their family members send them ingredients from home. On the day of the activity, not a few international students woke up before the crack of dawn to begin preparing the dishes. Mo Keta fromMauritaniasaid, “I hope our Chinese friends will enjoy the food.” At the event, the many fresh and colorful African delicacies were deeply enjoyed by the guests.

After the banquet was finished, the international students performed the songs and dances and plays of many different African countries. They wore the traditional clothes of their different ethnicities, draped the respective flags of their countries over their bodies and performed a percussion concert.

According to my understanding, this trip to Suoyuan is our University’s international student’s fifth time to offer such an event. It was also the first attempt to give this kind of “International Cultural Performance Experience” outside of campus. Last year the College of International Studies established an “International Cultural Performance Experience.” Previously on campus they organized a Swedish and seven African countries special performance concentrating on exotic cultural elements.  At this event, when the international students displayed African culture, they also experienced traditional Chinese folk customs, taking a step in promoting Sino-African cultural interaction and exchange. 

 “We hope we can let loose the culturally diverse college students to be used as a platform for international cultural services so that we can contribute to Jinhua’s economic development,” Said Vice Dean Liu.