Chinese culture exposition held in Malagasy cultural center

On October 17, 2011, Confucius Institute at University of Antananarivo organized a Chinese cultural exposition in Fianarantsoa, the cultural and intellectual center of Madagascar.

Decorated with Chinese knotting and lanterns in Chinese Red, the campus of University of Fianarantsoa was permeated with the atmosphere of traditional Chinese culture. In the melody of China’s National Anthem, for the first time, the Chinese National Flag rose on the campus of University of Fianarantsoa. The Chinese cultural exposition consisted of Chinese singing, dancing, recitation, Chinese calligraphy and Taijiquan show, and quizzes on China. Traditional Chinese game was designed to encourage the participation of audience. Mandarin majors from the University presented chorus Welcome to Beijing, rewarded by warm applause. The Taijiquan performance attracted a lot of learners on the spot. The game Climbing the Great Wall ignited the enthusiasm of the audience; many of them joined in the game and accomplished the task with joint efforts. Chinese calligraphy show attracted the attention of the audience as well. Dr. Huang Zengshou wrote Zhong Ma You Yi Di Jiu Tian Chang (Long Live Madagascar-China Friendship) and presented it to Professor RASOAZANANERA Monique, President of University of Fianarantsoa as a gift.

In the local Chinese primary school, the kids, all in festival costumes, attended the exposition together with their parents. They presented mandarin dialogue, played Chinese childhood game Rubber Band Skipping, sang Chinese songs, recited Chinese poems and showed their Chinese calligraphy and painting works. The parents were amused by the excellent performance of the kids. As the Director-General of the School pointed out, mandarin has now become a name card of the school, and the school has become a local Chinese learning and Malagasy-Chinese cultural exchange center.

University of Fianarantsoa, one of the six public universities in Madagascar, opened a bachelor degree mandarin program in July 2011. Its first enrollment is one hundred. Chinese Primary School in Fianarantsoa, one of the two Chinese schools in the island, provides mandarin course for its 300 pupils in six grades. The event was widely covered by local media, all together seven TV stations or newspapers from the island were present in the event.

(by Li Haijun, CIUA）

University of Fianarantsoa holding Chinese National Flag raising ceremony

Mandarin majors performing Chinese dancing

Volunteer Chinese teachers reciting a Chinese poem

Chinese teacher demonstrating Chinese calligraphy

Students from local Chinese school playing Chinese childhood game

Students from local Chinese school singing Chinese childhood song