Taiji training is provided at the Chinese Cultural Center in Mauritius (COURTESY OF THE CHINESE CULTURAL CENTER IN MAURITIUS)

Aclassic Chinese-style building in Bell Village in Port Louis, Mauritius’ capital, aptly serves as the base of the first overseas Chinese Cultural Center (CCC) in the country. Then Mauritian Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth noted during the opening ceremony on July 11, 1988, that the CCC is a symbol of China and Mauritius’ commitment to long-term collaboration. Since its inauguration, it has provided the public with a variety of events and trainings in order to fulfill its objective of introducing the numerous elements of the Chinese culture and therefore promoting bilateral cultural exchanges. The institution, according to Avinash Teeluck, Mauritian Minister of Arts and Cultural Heritage, is not designated for a certain community, but for all Mauritians. It is a place for immersion of different cultures.

Dancers perform during the 13th Annual Chinatown Food & Cultural Festival Gala in 2017(COURTESY OF THE CHINESE CULTURAL CENTER IN MAURITIUS)

A window to Chinese culture

“There is not a week that goes by in Mauritius when there are no Chinese cultural events,” said Alain Wong, Mauritian Ambassador to China. Some activities, such as the “Happy Spring Festival” celebration, he said, have even become annual flagship events for the public who come from all over the world to enjoy Chinese culture.

Indeed, Mauritius is one of the few nations in the world where the Spring Festival is recognized as the national holiday. Since 2018, the CCC has arranged a lavish parade on the eve of the Spring Festival in partnership with the Chinese community and the Port Louis City Hall. The streets of the capital come alive to the rhythm of this traditional festival. In addition to the famous lion dance and the dragon dance, there is a show of songs, dances and martial arts. A banquet is also held for the participants, allowing them to taste the Chinese cuisine.

The CCC, in addition to arranging festivals, takes the initiative to invite Chinese troupes to perform on the islands. The opera-ballet Hua Mulan, presented by the Liaoning Ballet, one of China’s top troupes, triumphed on the stage of the Caudan Arts Center in Port Louis in November 2019. It was the troupe’s second tour to Mauritius following its first visit in 2014. The choreography, which combined ballet’s elegance with martial arts, was well received by the crowd. A total of 1.8 million Mauritian rupees ($40,407) from the box office of its premiere was donated to the construction of a youth rehabilitation facility.

Two teams compete during the Dragon Boat Festival in 2018(COURTESY OF THE CHINESE CULTURAL CENTER IN MAURITIUS)

A bridge of cultural exchange

Thanks to the restoration work in 2008, the CCC now houses a large multi-purpose hall, a library, a reading room, an exhibition room and classrooms of different sizes dedicated to various activities ranging from art training to martial arts, among others.

The trainings are not just for the Chinese community. The CCC’s Director Zhang Xinhong told ChinAfrica, “All those who are interested are invited to join.” Bibi Hajrah Ismael is one such woman. Since she was a toddler, the Mauritian has had a strong interest in Chinese culture and art. She began borrowing books and reproducing drawings on a regular basis after the center opened. She enjoyed learning to draw using Chinese ink on Chinese traditional xuan paper since the launch of Chinese painting workshops about 10 years ago. She had the chance to share her love of painting with 75 other participants from 23 CCCs across the world as part of an exchange program in September 2019. She was able to visit museums and meet several artists when they toured Beijing. Like her, many of the former students, including Tung Tsai Feng and Marjorie Nadal, are now active in the media and art circle on the island. Some of them even teach Chinese painting classes.

In addition to drawing, the CCC invites experienced instructors from China to give regular classes in Chinese language, traditional dance, martial arts and taiji to name a few. Short-term training workshops are also offered, including Chinese calligraphy, tea-making, embroidery, and traditional instruments such as the erhu (two-stringed Chinese music instrument) and the guzheng (21-stringed zither). Students are often invited to perform at national festivals.

The Chinese Cultural Center in Mauritius after restoration in 2008(COURTESY OF THE CHINESE CULTURAL CENTER IN MAURITIUS)

Innovation in times of crisis

Zhang came to Mauritius on January 20, 2020, as the 11th director of the CCC in the country. COVID-19 caused major disruptions as Chinese troupes and teachers were unable to participate in exchange and training activities due to safety concerns. Face-to-face classes, as well as cultural activities, had to be canceled. She led her team to switch to online activities. As a result, lessons in Chinese language, art, and taiji are now available online. The center also uses videos to organize cultural activities. Some major events are even broadcast live on the national television channel thanks to its collaboration with the national radio and television company of Mauritius.

Opera-ballet Hua Mulan is presented by the Liaoning Ballet at the Caudan Arts Center in Port Louis in November 2019(COURTESY OF THE CHINESE CULTURAL CENTER IN MAURITIUS)

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the Spring Festival celebrations took on a more nuanced tone this year. The large gatherings were absent. As a result, the “Happy Spring Festival” activity was held on Facebook and WeChat from January 15 to February 15. Winter sports, along with the traditional Chinese festival, were held to commemorate the organization of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, with virtual displays, short movies, and interactive and immersive experiences. The Shandong Province Song and Dance Theater also showed a recorded concert. La Rivière Tanier stands out among the numerous well-chosen pieces. The well-known Mauritian song was adapted specifically for traditional Chinese instruments, a magnificent example of cultural fusion.

The Mauritian Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage is one of the main partners of the CCC. Minister Teeluck appreciates the center’s efforts in promoting cultural exchange between the two nations. He hopes that the CCC will play a more prominent role after the health crisis and offer more courses to local people to meet their spiritual aspirations.