On Wednesday, 19 finalists from various Kenyan universities and colleges showcased their Chinese language skills during the 24th edition of the “Chinese Bridge – Chinese Proficiency Competition” in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
The event, hosted by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi, attracted a large audience of students who attended to witness the performances.
The finalists demonstrated their talents through singing Chinese songs, delivering speeches and poems, and presenting Chinese opera, among other activities. Naomi Wanjiku Thuo, an economics and statistics student at the University of Nairobi, emerged as the winner and will represent Kenya in the Global Finals, which will be held in China later this year.
Shariff Ahmed, a sixth-year medical student at the University of Nairobi, secured second place.
“Studying Chinese is a dream for me. I aspire to pursue further studies in the medical field in China and hope to strengthen the relationship between China and Kenya,” Ahmed remarked after the competition.
Themed “One World, One Family,” Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan noted that while the event celebrates academic excellence, it also highlights “the shared aspirations and increasingly strong bond of friendship and cooperation between our two peoples.”
“Through educational exchanges and language learning, we are laying the foundation for the next generation of leaders who will further our bilateral friendship,” she stated.
According to the ambassador, language is more than just a communication tool; “it helps us understand each other’s values and perspectives, forming a living bridge between nations and peoples.”
She also affirmed that China will continue to support Kenya in achieving its development aspirations, particularly through education, which was a key agenda item during the recent meeting between President William Ruto and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing.
“Both sides emphasized the importance of education, talent development, and youth exchanges as vital pillars of our bilateral relationship,” Guo said.
“The Chinese Ambassador Scholarship is a concrete step towards fulfilling a shared vision. It’s our firm believe that investing in youth is investing in the future. Today, we are not just awarding scholarships; we are supporting dreams, nurturing potential, and building a bridge of understanding between our two countries,” she added.
She explained that for over 600 years, since the voyages of Chinese explorer Mr Zheng He connected China to the Kenyan coast, China and Kenya have thrived through exchanges. “Today, this legacy continues through initiatives such as Confucius Institutes, Belt and Road cooperation, and the scholarships we award, demonstrating China’s enduring support for Kenya’s Vision 2030 and its commitment to local development,” she said.
Wang Shangxue, Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi, highlightedthat one of the purposes of the competition is to provide Kenyan students studying Chinese with a platform to showcase their knowledge, including aspects of Chinese culture, thereby advancing their Chinese language proficiency.
“The turnout has been amazing. It’s a full house, beyond my expectations. I see people standing because all the seats in Taifa Hall are occupied. We hold this event every year, and the numbers keep increasing,” she said.
“We have discovered that some students attending aren’t even studying Chinese; but they want to understand what is happening and what they can gain from learning the language,” explained Prof Wang.
She noted that most Kenyan students believe that acquiring proficiency in Chinese can lead to many opportunities, including jobs in Chinese companies operating locally.
“That’s why you see a Chinese company has set up a tent here to allow students to register, so that in the future, when job opportunities arise, they can be linked to these students. Besides job prospects, those who learn Chinese also have opportunities to further their studies in China, which is why more students are showing interest,” she said.
During the event, an official from the Ministry of Education confirmed that moving forward, the ministry will mobilise all primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions to actively participate in various levels of the Chinese Bridge competition, given the benefits of studying the language. She praised the Confucius Institutes for performing this role excellently.
“The Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi has played a significant role in training and integrating Chinese into Kenya’s education curriculum, as well as supporting the implementation of the existing MoU between China and Kenya on educational exchanges,” she said.
“I believe that learning Chinese opens doors. As a student in food and beverage, it helps me interact with more guests at the hotel. Some may not know English, so I can communicate with them and understand them,” added another female student from the University of Nairobi, Catherine Wairimu, who participated in the competition.
“It also encourages more Chinese to come to our country because they realize that wherever they go in Kenya, someone will understand them, even if they may not know English,” she explained.
