Young Chinese artists thrill Zambian audience in Spring Festival celebration

Young Chinese artists thrilled hundreds of people on Sunday in the Zambian capital in celebration of the Chinese Spring Festival.

With songs and dances, members of the Nanjing Primary School Art Troupe were here to celebrate the Spring Festival of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which is the most important and popular traditional Chinese festival.

Chinese residents in Zambia, the Indian Ladies Association and Zambian cultural groups also contributed performances to the event, which was graced by Zambia's First Lady Esther Lungu, the country's former President Kenneth Kaunda, and Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Yang Youming.

Among the acts performed by the Nanjing Primary School Art Troupe included acrobatics, flute assemble and ensemble of blowing and percussion instruments, which left the audience mesmerized.

The Zambian first lady said in remarks delivered at the start of the celebrations that the Spring Festival was an expression of the Chinese culture and that it was meant to connect Chinese residents in Zambia to their culture.

She said commemorating festivals helped nations keep their identities, culture and traditions intact, adding that the Spring Festival provided an opportunity for China to showcase its cultural heritage to other nationals.

"Festivals give us inspiration and help us remember important things in our lives, like family when we meet to celebrate with them and it unites us," she said.

For his part, the Chinese ambassador said the Spring Festival was meant to help people express gratitude for the previous year and welcome the new year.

Yang hailed the cordial bilateral ties that have existed between Zambia and China over the years, and expressed confidence that the bilateral ties will attain higher heights in the New Year, which is called "Year of the Monkey" in Chinese Zodiac.

The Chinese Spring Festival represents the beginning of the Chinese Lunar Year, which falls on Feb. 8 this year. Endit