GET LIFTED:Performers showcase their skills in Africa

Zhang was surprised by the success of the performance. "I never expected the atmosphere to be so hot," she said.

At the event, President Mutharika talked about how the celebration offered an opportunity for peoples from two different countries to share in arts and culture. He also noted that the chance also promoted friendship between the two countries as well.

Seven days later in Rwanda, four Chinese handicraft masters from Tianjin were present in a show for traditional Chinese folk art, including clay figures, paper-cuttings and New Year paintings.

 Deng Guoping is a master of sculptural paper-cutting. Her works were chosen by the National Museum of Rwanda. And now, she has been invited to attend a world art exhibition to be held at the museum this coming May.

"I'm glad to see that so many African artists like my works," said Deng, who recorded everything that attracted her during the trip in her diary. "This journey to Africa inspired me a lot and made me more passionate about art," she noted, adding that when she goes back to China, she plans on incorporating African themes into her work.

Deng is not the only artist who are inspired by the African continent. Wang Liyi, a dance director, was taken with the African dance she witnessed. "Chinese dance has an implicit style with gentle moves," she explained. "But Africans seem to dance with all the cells in their bodies. The moves burst from deep in their hearts to surprise their audiences' eyes."

According to M. Daniel Symphoriana Liwimbi, Malawi's Minister of Tourism, Wildlife, Plants and Culture, "Happy Chinese New Year gave Malawian audiences a glance at splendid Chinese art, and he planed to bring Malawian culture and art to China in the future to further promote the friendship between the two countries.