By Gabriel Ameh
ABUJA — Nigeria and China are seeking to deepen cultural and people-to-people relations, with artists from China’s Hunan Province bringing music, dance, acrobatics and other traditional performances to Abuja.
The cultural showcase, titled “Shared Moon, Shared Moment, Meet in Africa – Hunan Culture and Tourism in Nigeria,” was held on Thursday at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja.
The event attracted representatives of the Chinese Embassy, Nigerian government officials, diplomats, artists, cultural practitioners and other stakeholders.
The Hunan Song and Dance Theater Troupe performed alongside Nigerian cultural presentations, offering audiences a glimpse into the province’s cultural heritage while highlighting areas of shared cultural values between Nigeria and China.
Speaking at the event, Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy and Director of the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Yang Jianxin, said cultural exchanges could help build greater understanding and friendship between the peoples of both countries.
Yang said the Hunan delegation was in Nigeria not simply to showcase Chinese culture but to create opportunities for Nigerians and Chinese people to learn more about one another.
He also linked the programme to the Mid-Autumn Festival, noting that its emphasis on family, reunion, harmony and peace reflected values that also hold significance in Nigerian society.
“Although China and Nigeria are thousands of miles apart, our shared appreciation of family, friendship and a better life brings our hearts closer together,” Yang said.
He referenced Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Global Civilization Initiative, which promotes respect for different civilizations and encourages cultural exchanges and mutual learning.
According to Yang, Hunan has a rich cultural heritage, including three World Heritage sites and nine elements recognised on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
He expressed hope that more Nigerians would visit Hunan to experience its cultural attractions, traditions and hospitality.
For Nigeria, the event was also presented as an opportunity to use cultural diplomacy to strengthen international relations and expand opportunities within the creative economy.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Abdulkarim Ozi Ibrahim, represented by Musa Alhamdu, said culture could overcome language and geographical barriers while helping countries discover shared values.
He described the programme as a celebration of Nigeria-China friendship, cultural diversity and people-to-people relations.
Alhamdu said Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage — spanning music, dance, theatre, visual arts, festivals, crafts, fashion, film and literature — provided significant opportunities for international cultural partnerships.
He added that stronger cultural cooperation with China could support creative collaboration, tourism, skills development and greater participation by young Nigerians in the global creative economy.
Chairman of the Society of Nigerian Artists, Muhammad Sulaiman, also called for increased cultural festivals, youth exchanges and joint projects in film, music and the arts between Nigeria and China.
He said sustained cultural cooperation could help create opportunities for young people while strengthening mutual understanding between the two countries.
The Abuja showcase ultimately brought Nigerian and Chinese artists together through music, dance and other cultural performances, underscoring the growing role of arts and cultural exchange in Nigeria-China relations.
