Monday, March 26, 2012 is a very significant day for lovers of theatre, art and culture. This is the day that they will draw together at the Tsavo Ballroom of the Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) from 6:30 pm to 9: 00 pm for a rare treat. Among the invitees for Monday’s event will be the vice-president, government ministers, and members of parliament, members of the diplomatic corps, government officials, students, artists and members of the public.
The Chinese government through the Chinese Embassy in Kenya will showcase the biggest cultural event in East Africa in recent times. The much awaited art performance titled “Night of Beijing” will feature six leading art troupes consisting of 130 artists from Beijing. Performances will include songs, dances, Peking Opera, acrobatics, Chinese martial arts and so on, several of which have won Gold prices in both domestic and International competitions.
Flanking the cultural show will be a photo exhibition dubbed The “Charming Beijing Photo Exhibition”. Nearly 100 pictures of Beijing’s glamour covering the themes of imperial palace, international city, people’s livelihood, local culture of Beijing and friendship between China and Kenya, will be on display. This promises to be a real treat for art lovers.
Kenya and China friendship has grown steadily over the last decade and the two countries have achieved significant growth in all the major sectors of the economy. Sectors of tourism, trade, health, infrastructure and economy are important but unless people feel the value of artistic expression in performance and culture, it would be very difficult to see the two countries united in diversity. This event will mark a significant milestone in China Kenya friendship and people to people exchanges as it seeks to strengthen the cultural ties and understanding between the Chinese people and the Kenyan people. Through art, culture and performance, people will get to appreciate each other’s cultures and way of life and will be capable of establishing strong, enduring friendships.
Chinese culture is one of the worlds oldest and most complex. Its components include literature, music, visual arts, martial arts, cuisine, etc. The audience will be treated to shows including martial arts with the distinctive Chinese flavor. China is the birthplace of Eastern martial arts and has produced the most renowned martial artists in the world. Chinese martial arts are collectively given the name Kung Fu (Kung) for "achievement" or "merit", and (fu) "man", thus "human achievement. The highly entertaining Chinese opera is also one of the oldest dramatic art forms in the world. It evolved from folk songs, dances, talking, antimasque, and especially a distinctive dialectical music. Accompanied by traditional musical instruments, actors present unique melodies as well as dialogues which are beautifully written and of high literary value. The actors will also fascinate the audience with their marvelous acrobatics. For the audience, Monday night will be an unusual one.
Aristotle wrote that, friendship was the basis of politics; indeed all social bonds. In the modern world, friendship is developing a world culture. It blossoms among peoples of different countries and continents irrespective of their class, creed and color. Every country has it unique and distinctive culture of its own. When these cultures are taught across the globe through classics, paintings, music, dance, drama, literature and literature, a world culture of friendship is developed. Apparently culture and friendship look to be two different things, yet culture develops upon friendship and friendship cherishes on culture. Just like love, friendship also starts at first encounter. The general behavior and attitude, kindness, loyalty and decency bring people closer at first. Then mutual understanding and cooperation takes place as time passes on and the friendship solidifies.
Friendship and understanding between nations and their people has gained an esteemed place in the new world culture because of its invaluable benefit to mankind. Cultural ideas may be expressed differently from one culture to the other, but the central idea is concerned with human understanding and progress. After the two world wars, the old order changed to the new order, science and technology, communications and education spread far and wide with a blend of ideas, ideals and ideologies in the society. There is much scope for different peoples, irrespective of their geographical position to mingle together and develop a world culture by means of friendship.
