The Confucius Institute at DUT (DUT-CI) celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Chinese Confucius Institute with the Durban community on Saturday, 27 September 2014, at Essenwood Park, Musgrave.

The celebrations were specially slated to run alongside Heritage Month this September as per collaborations with the eThekwini Municipality which agreed to include a series of Chinese cultural events among Durban’s annual cultural festival celebrations. Despite the weather being dull and windy, more than 400 people made their way to the event, joining the Institute in celebrating the rich heritage of Chinese culture.

DUT-CI Director, Dr Eddie Chaobo Fu said, “The function was quite successful and well received by locals and the Chinese community in Durban who came to experience the event. The language programme, the photo exhibition and the Chinese costume experience were extremely well-received.”

Many locals loved playing “dress-up”, especially couples who took photos in traditional Chinese outfits, depicting a cultural wedding ceremony. DUT’s Prof Graham Stewart and his wife, Karin Stewart, enjoyed dressing up in the cultural gowns, saying they felt like they were getting married all over again.

Participants also enjoyed simple Mandarin learning, Chinese folk dance, Chinese folk music and folk songs as well as Chinese martial arts. There was also a Chinese tea ceremony and tea tasting.

Eight-year-old Abdullah Ally and his six-year-old sister, Nusayba Ally, both tried their hands at Mandarin writing and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Kung fu performances were demonstrated and taught by Kung fu masters to help the audience experience the charm of the martial art. Many children loved this aspect of the event, happily learning some moves made famous by the legendary Bruce Lee.

There was also a Chinese Fujian landscapes and culture photography exhibition of more than 50 pictures and photographic works about the history, culture, economy and society of the Fujian Province, China. Local art curator, Carol Brown, was very taken by the gorgeous pictures, saying they were “absolutely brilliant”. She said such local community engagement (about Chinese cultures) should be done on a more regular basis in Durban.

– Waheeda Peters

Pictured: DUT’s Prof Graham Stewart and his wife Karin Stewart have fun dressing up at the DUT-CI celebrations of the 10th Anniversary of the Chinese Confucius Institute. Also pictured is Dr Eddie Fu while he talks about the cultural photos on display with Anne Fisiner.