NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 15 – At least 300 people gathered at the Kenya National Theatre on Saturday for a Chinese traditional music concert showcasing how cultural exchanges can strengthen relations between Kenya and China beyond formal diplomatic engagements.
The 70-minute performance, presented by the China Performing Arts Agency (CPAA), brought together Chinese folk instrumentalists and vocalists for an evening of music celebrating China’s cultural heritage while highlighting the shared connections between different cultures.
Organised as part of the 2026 China-Africa cultural exchange programme, the concert used music as a universal language to introduce Kenyan audiences to China’s traditional instruments, folk melodies and diverse ethnic cultures.
The event was co-hosted by the Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Beijing Musicians Association, bringing together performers from the Beijing Golden Bell Star Chinese Chamber Orchestra and the African Women’s Orchestra.
The programme was structured in two parts, beginning with outdoor performances and cultural experience activities in the theatre’s courtyard before moving indoors for the main concert.
The performances featured a range of traditional Chinese instruments, including the guqin, erhu, zhongruan and suona, alongside piano accompaniment and vocal performances.
Among the highlights was Flowing Water, an ancient traditional guqin composition reconstructed by Guan Pinghu, performed by Zhao Xiaoxia.
