Pomp as Chinese in Kenya welcome Year of the Dragon in style

It was all glittery at the University of Nairobi Confucius Institute where the Chinese in Kenya welcomed the Year of the Dragon in style. 

The Chinese New Year is also referred to as the Spring Festival. 

The event which took place on Wednesday was attended by learners from 12 different institutions in the country like Alliance High School, Brook House, Kitengela International School, and State House girls among others.

Students from the UoN Confucius Institute were also present. 

China Council for Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification in Kenya Chairman Gao Wei said the Chinese culture of the spring festival follows their lunar calendar. 

"So in a few days, the year of the dragon will come. It is on February 10. So the Chinese community we celebrate this very important occasion," Wei said. 

The Chinese have 12 lunar years with each being named after an animal like a dragon, horse, rabbit, or snake among others. 

Wei said in China, the Spring Festival is a very big holiday. He said it is one of the major traditional holidays and the government even declared it a National holiday. 

"For seven to eight days, the Chinese back home will celebrate this holiday. This is a time for family reunions and also a time to hold different types of events,"  he said. 

He said in this Year of the Dragon, business people believe the dragon will bring them money. 

Farmers believe the dragon will bring them water for their plants to grow. 

"We say the Chinese is a son of the Dragon. We respect the dragon and we believe the dragon will bring us good luck," Wei said. 

Wei said in China, the date of the New Year celebrations changes as determined by the lunar calendar. 

" Last year the Spring Festival was in early February, next year it will be in January. It is normally between January and February," he said. 

The theme of the celebrations was: "The Dragon is soaring and the drums are rolling for the Chinese New Year."

UoN Vice Chancellor Prof Stephen Kiama said the New Year celebration is the most important cultural festival among the Chinese. 

Kiama said the dragon horns represent power and strength while the drums represent courage and vibrancy. 

"Which indicates that this year must be a good year for development,"  Kiama said. 

He noted that in 2004, the Chinese came together to start establishing Confucius institutes. 

"In 2024, the Chinese Institute will celebrate its 20th anniversary. The UoN Confucius Institute was established in 2005, making it the first in Africa. We are now in our 19th year. Looking back, the institute has achieved a lot,"  he said. 

Kiama said the Confucius Institute has won the Confucius Institute of the Year award up to seven times. 

" We are the model Confucius Institute in the world,"  he said. 

Further, he noted that the institute was the pioneer in establishing the first Bachelor of Arts in Chinese language in Kenya. 

He said the institute also established the first Bachelor in Education in 2023 in  Chinese and admitted the first batch of learners. 

"From 2025 we'll be sending the learners to China on full scholarships for studies after they complete their first two years at the UoN," he said.

" This year, we believe that the Confucius Institute will gain more momentum with the blessing of power, strength and vitality from the year of the Chinese Dragon." 

Kiama said the Institute allows for cultural exchange between Kenya and China, adding that teaching of the Asian language helps bridge a gap of inadequate Chinese teachers in Kenya.