Ruptly
"Music, dance, cuisine and colourful traditional costumes filled Chaoyang Park on Saturday as the Cultural Festival of Africa Day 2026 brought an immersive celebration of African culture to the Chinese capital. Footage shows visitors gathering throughout the day to explore traditional fashion, handicrafts, performances and food in what organisers described as a 'one day in Africa' cultural experience. Performers played drums, danced and sang, while stalls representing different African countries showcased the rich heritage of the continent. Ivan Zyuulu, Zambia’s ambassador to China, says the festival aimed to deepen understanding between Chinese and African people through culture and shared experiences. "We are going to be having these cultural days to show the Chinese people the culture of Africa, the dances of Africa and the types of food we eat," Zyuulu said. "We are going to be having these cultural days to show the Chinese people the culture of Africa, they dance for Africa and the types of food we eat and this will help the Chinese to know more about Africans and the africans to know to share about what we do in Africa, the type of food we have, the types of joy entertainment we have. All these things will come out during this cultural day." The ambassador also highlighted the growing economic relationship between China and African nations, especially after China’s move to remove tariffs on products from African countries. Zyuulu added that beyond economic cooperation, increased exchanges between people were equally important. "It creates an opportunity also for people-to-people exchanges," he said. "Not only in terms of business, but also cultural activities, education and health. This interaction is very important in cementing our already very good relations with China." Nelson, a participant from Gabon, described the event as an opportunity for African and Chinese people to learn from one another. "Today is a special day between China and Africa here in Beijing, many people are, many countries have the opportunity to learn from each other through this day," said Nelson, participant from Gabon. The event marked the 70th anniversary of China-Africa diplomatic relations and the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges."
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