By Ameh Gabriel
In a rare blend of cinema and diplomacy, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, turned a film screening at Silverbird Cinema in Abuja into a lesson in history, a call for peace, and an appeal for stronger Nigeria-China relations.
The event, held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, featured the screening of Dead to Rights, a movie dramatizing the 1937 Nanjing Massacre.
Ambassador Yu described the massacre where Japanese forces brutally killed more than 300,000 civilians and soldiers and committed widespread atrocities as “one of the darkest chapters in modern world history.” He said the film served not only as remembrance but also as a reminder of the dangers of forgetting history.
“During the 14 years of resistance, over 35 million Chinese people lost their lives or were injured. China made historic contributions to the victory of the world anti-fascist war and to restoring world peace and order,” Yu said.
The Ambassador emphasized that the anniversary was not only about mourning the dead but also about reinforcing commitments to peace. “The best way to honor their sacrifice is to cherish peace, protect peace, and strengthen international cooperation,” he declared.
He also warned against the rise of historical revisionism and global instability, stressing that the international community must remain committed to the principles of the United Nations, resist unilateralism, and ensure that “the tragedy of fascism is never repeated.”
Nigeria, Yu noted, plays an important role in this vision. As two major countries of the Global South, he said China and Nigeria share common values of fairness, justice, and development. Their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, he added, must continue to grow through stronger political dialogue, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people cooperation.
“Cinema has the power to tell history in ways textbooks cannot. By watching, reflecting, and remembering, we reaffirm our shared humanity and our collective responsibility to build a more peaceful world,” Yu said.
The evening ended with the screening of Dead to Rights, which moved the audience with its raw portrayal of human suffering and resilience. For many, the combination of film and diplomacy offered not just entertainment, but also a sobering reminder of the cost of war and the necessity of unity in a fractured world.
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