By Ladi
Abuja, May 11, 2025 Chinese delegation of Wuxi Pingtan Troupe, of Jiangsu Province arrived in Nigeria to promote cultural exchange between the two countries through the art of Pingtan, a traditional Chinese performance style.
The delegation displayed performance at a Wuxi Ballads: Portrait of Watertown Chinese Pingtan Art of Performance organised by the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and the China Cultural Center in Nigeria (CCCN) on Sunday in Abuja.
Mr Yang Jianxing, the Director of CCCN, said the cultural activities would serve as vital link to connect people and facilitate cultural exchange between Nigeria and China.
He described the occasion as a bridge of friendship and understanding between the two nations.
“Today, we gathered to enjoy the Wuxi Fellows’ Portrait of Water town, a Pingtan art performance.
“With a history of over 5,000 years of uninterrupted civilization, China boasts of more than 400 forms of traditional folk art of which Pingtan stands as a shining pearl.
“Originating in the water towns of Jiangnan during the Ming and Qing dynasties hundreds of years ago, Pingtan combines the narrative power of storytelling, the lyrical beauty of opera, and the rhythmic melody of music,’’ he said.
Jianxin further said the artists of the Wuxi Pingtan Troupe were in Abuja to show case the rich diversity of Chinese culture to Nigerian friends.
“As the saying goes, “The foundation of state-to-state relations lies in people-to-people bonds, and the essence of people-to-people bonds lies in mutual understanding.”
According to him, cultural exchanges and mutual learning are important ways to deepen the friendly feelings between the people of China and Nigeria, with profound cultural heritages,
In his speech, the deputy director , Wuxi Pingtan Troupe, Shen Jie, spoke on the importance of cultural performance, adding that Pingtan use the softer Wu dialect to recount the vicissitudes of life, evoking deep emotions through the pipa and sanxian.
“May the art of Pingtan blossom on this vibrant soil will promote understanding and cultural exchange between civilizations as well as foster heartfelt connections,” Shen said.
Mr Raphael Oraelunu, a director in the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy (FMACCE) said Pingtan would blooms in Nigeria, foster heartfelt connections and shared values.
He added that the art performance with its elegant storytelling and musical cadence had similarities with African oral traditions.
Also speaking, the Director-General Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN),Dr Muhammad Bulama, represented by Mrs Msurshima Kighir, said FRCN would commence teaching Mandarin Chinese on its Network Service.
“This is part of our commitment to promoting cultural understanding and unity through our programme Diplomatic Ties,” she said.
Earlier,Mohammed Suleiman, President Chinese Alumni Association and Society of Nigerian Artists, stressed the economic and creative potential in cultural performances.
The highlight of the event were performances by the troupe blending traditional Chinese melodies with universal themes of love, history, and human connection.
