Français 简体中文 About Us

 

 

Home | China Report | Africa Report | Business | Lifestyle | Services
A New Economic Era
Tills are ringing as Chinese spend more domestically than ever before
Current Issue
Cover Story
Table of Contents
Through My Eyes

 

Subscribe Now
From the Editor
Letters
Newsmakers
Media Watch
Pros and Cons
China Report
Africa Report
Exclusives
Nation in Focus
News Roundup
Business
Business Briefs
Business Ease
China Econometer
Company Profile
Lifestyle
Double Take
Spotlight
Science and Technology
Services
Living in China
Fairs&Exhibitions
Learning Chinese
Universities
Measures and Regulations

 

 

 

Media Links
Beijing Review
China.org.cn
China Pictorial
China Today
People's Daily Online
Women of China
Xinhua News Agency
China Daily
China Radio International
CCTV
 
 
 
 
 

 

Spotlight

 

E-mail
Newsletter
  Mobile
News
  Subscribe
Now
 
VOL.2 November 2010
Zimbabwe National Cultural Dance Group
Formed especially for this year's Shanghai Expo, the Zimbabwe National Cultural Dance Group consists of 20 dancers from across the country's 10 provinces. Their performances were highlights at both the Expo and during the "African Cultures in Focus 2010: Zimbabwe Culture Week" held in Lanzhou, capital city of Gansu Province. The group's Artistic Director Nqobile Malinga and Choreographer Lwazi Tshabungu spoke with ChinAfrica from Lanzhou about the tour.

(PHOTO BY LIU JIAN)

What do you want to convey to Chinese audiences through your dance drama entitled Our Zimbabwe?

[The dance] talks about the life history of Zimbabweans, our culture, tradition, music, [and] social and economic development. The dance also portrays the beautiful lands of Zimbabwe, its people, its hospitality, and we hope to use it to attract more tourists and investors to our country.

In our dance, we want to showcase the changes that have been happening after independence. Some Zimbabwean doctors [who] were trained in China went back home to invest. We have better cities now. People are now enjoying that, and there is medicine and education. Some of us, apart from being artists, went to colleges and got degrees, and now we [come] here as Zimbabwean cultural ambassadors. Our life is getting better.

 

How did your Chinese tour go?

I'm surprised. [China] is so developed and people are so friendly. Despite the language barrier, people could feel and dance to the music. A lot of people came to watch our performances though it was very hot. I began to feel the bond between Africa and China. We are all developing countries, but at different stages. You're older than us in terms of development. We hope we can learn something from you [about] stage management, lighting. [The] Chinese can also learn something from us.

 

What inspiration have you drawn from this trip?

As an artist, being here is a great advantage. It means something for the industry back home. After having shows with Chinese [dancers], there [are] one or two moves you can incorporate into your own [pieces]. To us it's great, because that's how art grows. Art is not static, and it has to move [forward]. As much as we want to present what happened in the past, we still have to develop it, so that it keeps on growing and [doesn't] get boring.

 

How do you see music's role in bridging cultural differences?

Music is a powerful tool that expresses social [and] economic ideologies, and bridges differences between peoples. Music plays a role of uniting people, preserving our cultural values, enhancing the interaction between continents. Music can also change people's ideology if is performed in a proper way. It can change people's picture [of] Africa – Zimbabwe in particular.

 

What do you think of the increased contacts between Africa and Asia?

It's lovely to see people coming from every place to watch our dances. It builds up the confidence of the artists. These people will also tell [their] people about Zimbabwe. The advertising becomes very personal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Double Take
 
Science and Technology
-Under the Sea
-Heaven and Earth
-The Post-Antibiotic Era
-The Next Generation of Rice
 
Spotlight
-Courage in Cameroon
-Pop Star
-Dicovering Africa as a Journalist
-Chasing the Chinese Dream

 

 

 

Useful Africa Links: Africa Investor | Africa Updates | AllAfrica | Africa Business | ChinaAfrica News | AfricaAsia Business | Irin News |
News From Africa | Africa Science | African Union | People of Africa | African Culture | Fahamu
| About Us | Rss Feeds | Contact Us | Advertising | Subscribe | Make ChinAfrica Your Homepage |
Copyright Chinafrica All right reserved 京ICP备08005356号