NAIROBI, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Spring Festival gala was held on Friday in Nairobi, Kenya's capital, featuring cultural performances such as dragon and lion dances, calligraphy demonstrations, displays of traditional Chinese attire and a showcase of Chinese cuisine.
Hosted in the courtyard of the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi, Kenya's oldest university, the day-long event attracted hundreds of visitors, including senior officials, diplomats, industry executives, scholars and students.
The 2025 Happy Spring Festival gala, themed "The Golden Snake is Dancing, Good Luck is Coming," highlighted the vitality, authenticity and enduring appeal of both Chinese and Kenyan cultures.
Attendees from diverse backgrounds strolled through exhibition stands adorned with handmade lanterns celebrating the Year of the Snake. Local youth enthusiastically participated in drawing Chinese characters and paper cutting, while others crafted snake figurines using clay. Traditional Chinese painting sessions were also held, depicting natural landscapes, animals and flowers.
The festive atmosphere was further elevated by dragon and lion dance performances by local university students, accompanied by Kung Fu demonstrations. The gala also featured Chinese opera and a variety of talent shows, creating a vibrant and immersive cultural experience.
Margaret Jesang Hutchinson, vice chancellor of the University of Nairobi, said that the Spring Festival gala offered an opportunity to reflect on the profound cultural heritage of the Chinese people and its global influence.
"Today, we welcome the Year of the Snake in 2025. I extend my warmest wishes for a year filled with prosperity, happiness and success," Jesang said in a speech delivered on her behalf by Francis Mulaa, the deputy vice chancellor for research, innovation and enterprise at the University of Nairobi.
Jesang said that the Chinese New Year is more than just a celebration; it symbolizes unity, tradition and respect for cultural diversity.
Highlighting the global significance of the festival, she said that the Spring Festival was officially inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on Dec. 4, 2024, underscoring the importance of cultural exchange and mutual understanding in fostering peaceful coexistence. ■