Chinese culture tour gains momentum in Botswana

A culture tour hosted by China's Confucius Institute at the University of Botswana (CIUB) in the country's rural area received positive feedback.

CIUB on Tuesday presented Chinese activities to Dikgatlho Junior Secondary School in the village of Kudumatse in eastern Botswana, which marked the third stop of CIUB's week-long tour to rural villages.

Initiated in 2013, the tour is designed to introduce Chinese language and culture to the children in rural areas, and also to introduce the local students to China and the world outside.

The culture tour is an event where students can learn a lot, acting permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education and Skills Development Ndondo Koolese told Xinhua after the half-day event.

Koolese said Botswana people meet Chinese around but know very little about Chinese culture, adding that the programs are extremely rich in terms of culture exchanges and benefiting of students.

According to Chinese Ambassador to Botswana Zheng Zhuqiang, the culture tour in Botswana is a very successful and meaningful event. The tour has proved to be an important part of promoting Chinese culture and strengthening mutual understanding between the people of China and Botswana.

During the event, the Chinese embassy also donated books and footballs.

Acting dean of Faculty of Humanities in the University of Botswana Peter Sebina said during the event as the world is becoming smaller, students need to learn cultures and languages that will enable them to benefit and harness what other countries have to offer this country.

He said he is optimistic that efforts of CIUB will attract students to learn Chinese and its culture.

Head of the school J.O. Bartlett also said she is overwhelmed by the performance.

In Dikgatlho, the CIUB team presented various kinds of culture performance like Chinese Martial Arts and Taichi, Peking Opera, Yangko dance, sword dance and fashion show.

More than 600 students joined activities of Chinese class, Chinese song, paper-cutting, Chinese Calligraphy, Chinese traditional games and chopstick competition with CIUB.

15-year-old student Ndinah Kawamanoka said the activities are valuable and she learns Chinese culture and language. Katlego Ditsele, 15, said it's her first time to see this kind of activities which helps her to know the culture of foreign countries.

CIUB began its Chinese culture tour in the border village of Mabule, located about 260 km southwest of the capital city of Gaborone.

It will visit Maitengwe and Mapoka in the northeast bordering Zimbabwe in the following days.

Confucius Institute is a nonprofit public institution which aims to promote Chinese language and culture abroad. Endi