It had all the elements of a cultural smorgasbord - from stand-up-and-dance African rhythms and brightly colored traditional garments, to the haunting melodies and long history of China's many ethnic minorities.

ChinAfrica celebrated International Women's Day on March 12 at a festive event hosted by BEIJING REVIEW and Minzu University of China at the university's campus in Beijing.

The event brought together cultures from opposite ends of the world with guests including the women ambassadors to China from South Africa, Dolana Msimang, and from Cabo Verde, Tania Romualdo, along with African ambassadors' spouses and African diplomats based in Beijing.

Resplendently attired for the event, 39 women from nine African countries dazzled the large turnout of cheering students and university leaders in the national dress of the countries they represented, during a fashion show that had all the glamor of a Hollywood red carpet affair.

The African guests were entertained by sparkling performances from students that included a mesmerizing Mongolian solo dance and the energetic Jingpo ethnic minority group's performance of Golden Grain and Silver Bells. To promote deeper cultural understanding, an essay competition held to encourage students to write about the African women they admire most produced an inspired winning recital from student Zhou Xiangmin.

The festivities included speeches from a broad range of women emphasizing the role women play in this form of cultural exchange.

Addressing an appreciative audience, Msimang said culture is a unifier and the very fact that the cultures are so different and yet very similar ignites people's curiosity and makes people interested to know more about one another.

"It is therefore important to embrace the theme of this event, which is about integration and culture. It is about synergy of diverse cultures. It is about us getting together, to celebrate all that is beautiful and wonderful about China and Africa," she said. "I hope we will be able to share our unique characteristics and knowledge defined by everything from language, cuisine, social habits, music and arts."

Li Yafang, President of BEIJING REVIEW, publisher of ChinAfrica magazine, the event organizer, echoed the sentiment saying Chinese and African women, though having different values and traditions, are beautiful, diligent, resilient and kind. These form the foundations for mutual understanding and exchange, she said.

Li believes events like this will provide a platform for a rich exchange of cultures. "The activities will help us have a better understanding and recognition of each other, and a more profound friendship," she said.

This friendship was not diminished despite the fact that China is thousands of kilometers away from Africa, said Song Min, Vice President of Minzu University of China. She said that as the event took place on China's Arbor Day, "We should let our tree of friendship thrive, bloom and bear fruits," adding that she looks forward to further promoting the friendly cooperation between the university and its counterparts in African countries achieved through this event.

An extraordinary moment when Africa met China at the university is how Felege Hiwot Berhe, President of the Group of African Ambassadors' Spouses (GAAS) in Beijing described the International Women's Day celebration. She hoped the momentum created in Beijing at the event will continue so that "we can cherish and learn the mainstream of both cultures as a tool of human connectivity and understanding on how to respect the value of others."

The theme of cultural exchange also informed the views of Clara Motsisi, Chairperson of Southern Africa Development Community Women's Association in Beijing. "This event was more of a cultural exchange, where we could showcase our attire and our diversity and at the same time get to understand that China is full of different cultures as well." Motsisi said the ladies took away something new about Chinese culture, "even though we may have been in China for many years."

One of the many highlights of the celebration was a visit to the university's Museum of Ethnic Cultures. The ethnology museum, founded in 1951, specializes in the study, display and preservation of ethnic cultural relics. African guests marveled at the more than 20,000 pieces of these relics on display and got a brief, but spectacular insight into the fabric of China's diverse population.

Feng Lan, Director General of the International Cooperation Department of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, best summed up the afternoon saying China is a large harmonious family with much cultural diversity. "Today, I am deeply touched by the affectionate friendship between China and Africa while meeting with sisters from African countries."

Comments to franciscolittle@chinafrica.cn