On the morning of October 23rd, the 13th Peking University International Cultural Festival officially opened on the Plaza of Peking University Hall. The theme of this year's event was "Vision: Voice & Action". International students at Peking University from more than 60 countries and regions in the world, along with more than 600 Chinese student volunteers participated in the event. Among them, the students of the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development(ISSCAD) took an active part in preparations for the cultural exhibitions of Cambodia, Nigeria, Zambia, Burundi and other countries.
The Office of International Relations at Peking University reported that present at the opening ceremony were the leaders and representatives of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, the China Scholarship Council, the Confucius Institute Headquarters, the China Education International Exchange Association, the Education Service Center of the Ministry of Education, the Beijing Municipal Education Commission and the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office. More than 20 foreign envoys from 18 countries including Romania, Maldives, Afghanistan, Georgia and Sri Lanka, artists and scholars from home and abroad, representatives from more than ten partner universities and foreign institutions in China, along with Peking University President Lin Jianhua, the Executive Vice President Wu Zhipan, the Deputy Party Secretary Ye Jingyi, Vice President Li Yansong, and representatives of teachers and students from various departments of the university also attended the opening ceremony.
Desta Tesfaw Mebratu, ISSCAD PhD Candidate
Desta Tesfaw Mebratu, one of the first-batch ISSCAD students and also the Minister of Public and Foreign Relations Of Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, addressed the audience as a representative of the guests. He said that the International Cultural Festival was not only a showcase for the PKU's diverse campus, but also an important platform for students to exchange ideas and to respect differences. He believed that in today's era of globalization, understanding different cultures was very important for the exchanging of ideas. He also mentioned the multicultural nature of Ethiopia, which is home to more than 76 Ethnic Groups, and is one of the oldest nations in the world. He explained that the establishment of a constitutional political system in Ethiopia in 1991, which accommodates diversity, has enabled Ethiopia to become a fast growing economy in the world, and also an investment and tourism destination. He shared with us the governing motto in Ethiopia "Our diversity is our beauty, and our unity is our strength", which echoed with the theme of the Cultural Festival. Moreover, he said that China and Ethiopia has had a long-standing cooperative relation, and the friendship between the two countries has also been connected to Peking University. He mentioned that Mulatu Teshome, the Current President of Ethiopia, was one of the outstanding alumni of Peking University, who spent nearly ten years at PKU studying up to the PhD degree. Finally, he sincerely hoped that PKU students, by sticking to their dreams, could make great contributions to creating a better future for the world with their passions and talents!
Burundian Drum Performance
During the opening ceremony, the performance of Russian Cadderella, Mexican Jarabe Tapatio, the songs from Dai Yuqiang, the PKU professor and well-known singer, and the performances from Malaysian, Korean, Afghanistan, South Korean and Turkish students, ignited the passion of the scene. In the afternoon, the traditional drum performance of Burundi's actors and actresses brought a new round of carnival.
During the festival, ISSCAD students took an active part in organizing and preparing exhibitions for Cambodia, Nigeria, Zambia and Burundi, and in introducing visitors their culture and customs at different exhibition booths.
ISSCAD Master Candidates Da Silva Joanico(Left 3), Dionise (Left 4) and Deo (Left 6) with other Burundian Students
At the Burundi exhibition booth, Dionise and Deo, students from ISSCAD, together with other Burundian students at PKU, demonstrated traditional Burundian culture to the visitors, including traditional instruments such as drums and baskets, and Burundian ancestral statues. They also prepared unique Burundi coffee for the participants. In the interview, Dionise said he was very happy that in the opening ceremony, the audience enjoyed the Burundi drum performance brought by the Embassy of Burundi. "The Cultural Festival is very interesting and very meaningful," he said. "I can not only see dance or singing performances from the world, but also enjoy cultural exhibitions from other countries. I think it is very helpful to reconcile the cultural differences between domestic and international students. Also it makes the international students feel more at home. I, as well as other Burundi participants, really appreciate that PKU's efforts in organizing this grand festival!"
Muyobozi, ISSCAD Master Candidate, danced at Zambian booth
At the Zambian booth, Muyobozi, an ISSCAD student, as well as other PKU Zambian students showed guests the traditional Zambian rituals such as Ncwala, Kuomboka and Lwiindi, and Zambian traditional dance, food and drums. Muyobozi explained that in the Zambian culture, it is important to seek unity in diversity. In addition, he raised the Kuomboka ritual as an example. In Zambia, waterfalls are the major holy places, where people believe certain spirits live. The Kuomboka ritual is a unique activity of the Litunga tribes during the rainy season, where hundreds of canoes travel down the river with the chief leading the way. Regarding the food, he introduced that, the staple food in Zambia is Nshima, made from dried corn powder, cooked when adding boiling water mixing with mashed potatoes, and placed in large bowls; during the diner we scoop out a handful, rolls it into a ball and dips it into a relish, usually goat, fish, chicken or vegetables. At the scene, visitors were very amazed at Zambia's unique food and traditional rituals.
ISSCAD PhD Candidates Philip Ikechi Obasi, Smith Jr. John and Nuhu Yahya at Nigerian booth
ISSCAD Master Candidate, Vichda Long second on the left
(Photo credit: Vichda Long)
At the Cambodia booth, the ISSCAD student Vichda Long and five other Cambodian students from Peking University participated in the exhibition. They showcased the world heritages of Cambodia, such as Angkor Wat, Preah Vihear Temple and Apsar Dance, as well as Cambodian food such as sweet sticky rice made from sugar palm, Cambodian traditional clothing, dance and mascot. At the same time, they also prepared many fun activities with gifts, such as tutorial on the Cambodian alphabet, vowels and numbers. According to Long, the material of traditional Cambodian clothing is handmade silk and local people value it very much. He introduced that local people believes that it will bring happiness and good luck by wearing clothes matching with the colors of the day. When asked about the comment on this event, he said that the International Cultural Festival was a valuable platform for them to showcase Cambodian culture, and to learn other cultures. He was very grateful to the Beijing Cambodian Association for providing them with many precious items, and to Peking University for organizing such a fantastic event and strongly supporting them in many ways.
(Photo credit: Vichda Long)
At the International Cultural Festival, students from all over the world wore the costumes of their respective nationalities, and wanted to present to the visitors the most exciting aspects of their cultures. The active communication, exchange and interaction among them reflects the inclusiveness and diversity of Peking University. The 13th Peking University International Cultural Festival ended in passion and joy, but the exchange of ideas and the sparks of passion ignited at the festival will continue to contribute to further understanding of different cultures, nurturing the spirit of cultural freedom and inclusiveness.
