Colorful Rhythm: A dance troupe from Eritrea hit the campus stage of Tianjin University of Technology and Education (Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture)

October 28 was a big day for foreign students studying at Peking University; it marked the first day of the annual International Cultural Festival, which allows students from other countries to introduce their cultures to their Chinese classmates.

This year is particularly exciting for African students. Their showcases in the festival are part of the "African culture campus tour" sponsored by African Cultures in Focus 2012, a program launched by the Ministry of Culture. The festival also featured a variety of activities, including movies, lectures and exhibitions, all aimed at educating China's youth about Africa.

Building understanding

"Morocco welcomes you," said Song Li, greeting other students on the morning of October 28. She was working at the Morocco booth, helping her Moroccan friends explain and answer questions raised by Chinese students. On the side of the campus square were students representing more than 10 different African countries. They used handicrafts, pamphlets and food samples to teach their peers about their cultures.

Song met her boyfriend - a Moroccan student - while studying Arabic at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Her relationship sparked her interest in learning more about the distant African country and its people. Through her boyfriend, Song made friends with many Moroccan students in Beijing. "Moroccan people have a lot in common with Chinese people: They are honest and frank, and both have delicious food," Song laughed.

"At first, I really knew nothing about Morocco," admitted Song. But as she learned more about the country, Song fell in love with its exotic culture. However, she knows that many Chinese students still know very little about this African country. This has inspired her to help her Chinese peers learn more about Morocco.

Her desire is shared by Nessma Amr Abdelaziz, an Egyptian girl studying at Peking University. "Some of my Chinese friends even thought that in Egypt we still ride camels to school," she laughed. "So today I am showing them this picture of modern Egypt, hoping to tell them what our real life is like."

Song believes this cultural showcase is a good opportunity to improve the situation. She quizzed the students passing by, asking them questions about the location and official language of Morocco, and sharing answers. "As a first step, I hope they can learn some basic knowledge."

Having lived in China for over seven years, Ceric Terimbere of Burundi has found that many Chinese know some things about countries in southern and northern Africa, but added, "There are 54 different countries in Africa. And just as Chinese culture is different from Korea's and Japan's, my country also has a different culture from Kenya's."

He decided to use art to bridge this gap in understanding, feeling that it would make Burundi's culture accessible to Chinese students. For the exhibition, he dressed in traditional costume and displayed many delicate handicrafts. "When people see these, they will connect them with Chinese art works and make a contrast, then they can see how our cultures are different," said Terimbere.