During Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn's visit to China this past June, he attended the unveiling of the Research Center for African Languages and Cultures at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU). He believes language learning and cultural exchanges play a vital role in enhancing Sino-African people-to-people relations. In an interview with ChinAfrica, Dr. Sun Xiaomeng, Vice Dean of the BFSU's School of Asian and African Studies and Director of the research center, echoed Dessalegn's thoughts and said that language and cultural studies are important for forging mutual respect and understanding, as well as building an equal partnership between China and Africa. Excerpts of her views follow:
ChinAfrica: What role does the study of African languages and cultures play in promoting mutual understanding?
Sun Xiaomeng: As China's presence in Africa has grown, the Chinese people have also encountered some problems when dealing with the African people. Through learning and studying African languages, we can understand Africans' way of thinking, so as to find better solutions to better communication problems. Since the Chinese people are not colonialists, when we come to Africa, we should act as equal partners that can learn from each other. How the two sides can cooperate, communicate, and exchange ideas in an equal and helpful manner based on mutual respect of each other's cultures, is what we need to think about.
How does learning African languages and cultures benefit Chinese students?
When we teach students, we pay special attention to arousing their feelings for Africa and African people. With the support of the Chinese Ministry of Education's China Scholarship Council, the African language learners in our university have the opportunities to go to African countries to study. After coming back to China, most students have different views about Africa. Many fell in love with the continent, while some are more determined to pursue Africa-related careers after graduation. What they experienced in Africa is quite different from what they learnt from textbooks and teachers. I think only this kind of experience can bring such powerful impact on the students. Enhancing youth exchanges and mutual understanding will pave the way for the future Sino-African relations.
Based on your own personal experience, how did learning an African language and culture help you better understand African people?
I stayed in Zaria City, Nigeria to pursue my master's degree for a couple of years. When speaking Hausa, a local language, I felt the barrier between me and the locals disappeared. Every year the local chieftain invited me to attend their Eid al-Adha (the Feast of the Sacrifice) and was happy to hear me speaking Hausa. Speaking their language shows respect and African people will, in turn, show you respect. So I think when Chinese people set foot on African soil, they should treat Africans in a respectful and equal manner. People say African countries are looking east and are learning the Chinese model of economic development; but I think we can also learn many things from Africans.
What do you think we can learn from African cultures?
First is the positive and optimistic attitude of the African people toward life. Second is their collectivism. According to my observations in African villages, they prefer to carry out activities in the unit of a village and they coordinate their efforts, thus bringing greater impact compared to acting individually. This often makes things run smoothly. Third is their willingness of sharing. In many instances Africans tend to share what they have with people rather than only thinking of themselves. Finally I think their respect for tradition is a virtue. After dinner, young Africans in the family often sit around in the yard, listening patiently to their elders telling stories of the family, even though the stories have been told in the same manner countless times. Although our life is fast-paced at present, we should also cherish our tradition and history.
What will BFSU's research center contribute to African studies in China?
Our research mainly focuses on three areas: African languages and literature, African society and cultures, and African history, which all belong to basic disciplines in African studies. We hope our research will fill the gaps in domestic African studies, and complement the research areas of other scholars. We also hope our research findings in those basic subjects can provide much needed information for the studies of our counterparts overseas and domestic, making African studies in China more comprehensive and thorough.
