The Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi hosted various events for students from different high schools and universities in Kenya during this year’s Confucius Institute Day which fell on October 6.

China's ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa joined the university heads to launch the ceremony. "The growth of Kenya-China relations has continued to achieve significant outcomes. With the growth of bilateral ties, the peoples from the two nations continue to have a growing desire to know each other's culture," said Liu.

This year, the festival showcased the growing cross-cultural interest among the youth in the academic institutions.

"It is a very important occasion. Not only have we presented Chinese pop music to the audience, it's cultural exchange between Kenya and China," said Zhang Xiaodong, director of the Art Education at Donghua University.

"My most favorite proverb is from Confucius saying... (speaking in Chinese) ...meaning isn't it a happy thing to have a friend afar come to see you? Because China and Kenya, they are distant from each other. But having Chinese people coming to Kenya, to experience Kenyan culture, to experience Kenyan food, and asking Kenyans to go to China, to experience Chinese culture and Chinese food, we kind of bring these experiences together to make one very beautiful experience," said Ruth Njeri, a teacher at the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi.

The students prepared music, fashion and dance pieces. And this year was an edition of firsts.

"During our trip here we have achieved three firsts: One, Donghua art troupe performed outside China; second, the art troupe was able to perform in front of the Kenyan audience; third, we were able to go to all four Confucius Institutes in the country. And also I believe that the elegance of Kenyan and Chinese culture has been presented with a platform for both to interact and this has had a strong impact," Xiaodong said.

There is a growing interest to learn the Chinese language and culture among the Kenyan students.

"The culture is interesting, starting from their music and their costumes, and then the characters that they use while writing. The handwritings are very interesting. So that's what drew me to learn Chinese. I would really love that by the end of two years' time, I will be able to compose Chinese songs and actually get jobs in writing Chinese songs," said Hilda Juma, a student at the University of Nairobi.

"I started my Chinese journey about 12 years ago in 2005 when the Confucius Institute here was established. I was among the first students to study the classes. So I got an opportunity to go to China in 2006 on a scholarship. I was also the first student to represent Kenya in the international Chinese Bridge competition which is held every year. Ever since that time, I have had a romantic journey with Chinese culture,” Njeri said.

With several firsts achieved during this Confucius Institute Day, youths from several institutions took the opportunity to commemorate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and, in turn, the long-standing history between China and Kenya.