The Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University hosted a Mid-Autumn poem conference on Friday that left the audience longing for more.
It was a mesmerizing moment as 20 Kenyan students at the institute fluently recited poems in Mandarin, drawing applause from the audience. The event featured other performances, including songs, martial arts and lion dances.
After the poetry recitation competition, 12 students received Ksh1,000 ($10) each as a gift for participating, while the five most commendable students received Ksh2,000 ($20) each. The overall winner received Ksh6,000 ($60), while the second and third place contestants received Ksh5,000 ($50) and Ksh3,000 ($30) respectively.
Speaking during the event, Dr Kamau Wango, director of the institute, said it was inspiring to see Kenyan students recite poems in Mandarin.
"This is very commendable and I hope the effort will continue. We are giving gifts in order to motivate students to pursue their talents. I encourage students to continue linking Mandarin with their career trajectories," he said.
Dr Wango said events like the poem conference give students a good platform to not only recite poems but also receive encouragement to become proficient in speaking Mandarin.
"Don't just do your exams; aim to score high and you will have an opportunity to go to China, where you can get an opportunity to have your eyes and minds opened up as well as a chance to pursue other endeavors," he said.
Dr Wango also encouraged the students to work hard and perform well in their HSK exams, the Chinese proficiency test, so that they can get an opportunity to attend summer camps. He said the 2018 camp was successful and that students should now start preparing for the 2019 one.
Professor Leonard Kisovi, board chairman for the institute, said it's important for Kenyan youth to learn Chinese language and culture because the Asian country is becoming a superpower. He added that Africa is moving away from colonial masters and facing the East for partnerships in development.
"It is important for the youth to learn Mandarin for the purpose of interacting. There are many opportunities in China, hence learning Mandarin is very important. It's also good to learn Chinese culture for the purpose of exposure," he said.
Charles Mwanika, who has been studying the language for one year, says Chinese culture is rich and exposes one to many things. He said the fact that the Mid-Autumn festival reunites families is very exciting.
Regina Achieng, another student, said the act of people traveling to their hometown to reunite with their relatives is very encouraging and she would love to see the same in Kenya.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. It is a traditional cultural festival popular in China and neighboring countries influenced by Chinese culture, such as Japan, South Korea and Vietnam.
According to Zhuo Hao, a teacher at the institute, Mid-Autumn is a festival for family reunions, just like Christmas in Kenya.
"During the festival, the Chinese government gives all people a three-day holiday, so that they can travel to their hometown to reunite with their family members," he said.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is also called the moon-worshipping festival and the reunion festival. Since the ancient times, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, people have been worshipping and enjoying the moon, eating mooncakes, and drinking wine, among other customs passed down through generations.
"In the evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival, there is always a full moon, which symbolizes the reunion of the people. For those who cannot return to their hometowns, they attach their homesickness to the full moon to pray for good health, a good harvest and happiness," Zhuo said.
He said on the evening of Mid-Autumn, people lay out a big table, on which they place mooncakes, watermelons, apples, dates and grapes. After the whole family has worshipped the moon, they cut the reunion mooncakes.
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