By: Dwight Links
The Chinese embassy to Namibia hosted the China-Namibia Cultural Temple Fair on Tuesday.
Boasting an assortment of games for the visitors and guests, which highlighted engaging activities of traditional Chinese culture, like the ball-kicking game Cuju (pronounced as Tsu-Ju), which is described by FIFA itself as the oldest known game for modern football. Another game to name was the Chopsticks Ping-Pong ball carrying game.
Prizes were available to be won after competing and collecting specific stamps for each game participated in.
The official ceremony highlighted an impressive array of cultural and historic acts by Namibians and even visiting Jiangxi Opera performers.
The visiting Yihuang Opera performed the Hongtao Mountain for guests at the Chinese embassy. The performers were Zou Yu, Hun Hongjun, Yu Zhonghui and Wu Xiaowen. The story of the opera follows the story of the courageous actions of a vengeful wife Zhang Yu’e, whose husband, Lei Yingchun, was killed in battle against the Liangshan army. The story takes place during the Song Dynasty for the battle of Red Peach (Hongtao) Mountain.
An impressive display of athleticism was conducted by the Amitofo Care Center as the all boys performers exhibited their martial arts routines to the enthusiastic crowd present.
Ambassador Zhao Weiping described the event as an invaluable experience which signifies the relationship between both countries.
“This event would not have been possible without the support from all parties involved. The event has been backed by the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC), municipal and regional authorities, the University of Namibia, the Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek International School, Chairman Mao Zedong school, Highline Secondary School and Amitofo Care Center all responded enthusiastically to our invitations for this event,” Weiping said in an address at the fair.
Part of the fair were individual artists, the Namibia Tourism Board, and arts organisations like the Creative Industry Institute Africa and Chinese businesses who have a presence in the country.
“All these participants also exhibited various goods and services, as well as games with themes from various communities, which includes the local Chinese community at the fair,” the ambassador explained.
Khomas region’s twinning province back in China is the Jiangxi Province, with a delegation on media, arts and culture, and representatives of the Jiangxi provincial authority visiting Namibia.
Ambassador Weiping noted that the fair is the culmination of positive relations between leaders of respective nations.
“This is in line with the important consensus between President Xi Jinping and African leaders which designated 2026 as the year for People-to-People exchanges. It is the 70th anniversary of establishing relations between China and Africa,” the ambassador noted.
Mbumba Haitengela from MEIYSAC, representing the ministry at the fair, said that the recent state visit by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah elevated the relations of the two countries.
“This led to a shared future to be developed by both countries, opening up further opportunities for cooperation across a range of sectors,” Haitengela said.
The executive director noted that the cultural and creative sectors are also to be explored for these opportunities.
“This renewed momentum, for the cultural and creative sectors, is particularly significant, as strong relations between nations cannot simply be built by government-to-government relations alone. They must be sustained and strengthened by meaningful people-to-people connections,” he added.
Haitengela noted that artists on both sides have to meet and collaborate with each other.
The fair provided visitors the opportunity to exchange with the various exhibitions present and to experience Chinese cuisine as well.
