Traditional Chinese clothing, bamboo flute music and Chinese cuisine were some of the elements that made the China and Chinese Cultural Day yesterday (22 October 2014) at the Durban Country Club, near Durban’s Golden Mile beachfront.

The one day festivity was co-ordinated by the City’s Department of Arts and Living Culture, eThekwini Municipality, DUT as well as the University’s Confucius Institute (DUT CI).

The DUT CI is the first institute in KwaZulu-Natal to offer Mandarin courses to staff, students and the local business community. The main aim of the institute is to promote and facilitate academic exchanges between DUT and Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU).

Deva Govindasamy, Co-ordinator: International School Programme and Special Projects, at the International Education and Partnerships Directorate at DUT, spoke about the relationship between DUT and the Chinese culture, particularly with the teaching of the Mandarin language offered at the university.

Thembinkosi Ngcobo, Head of eThekwini Municipality’s Parks, Recreation and Culture unit said, “Lack of education and a broader understanding of different cultures is the reason for xenophobia”, adding that yesterday’s celebrations were aimed at educating the people of Durban about Chinese culture.

The day ended on a positive note with people from different walks of life mingling together.

– Talent Buthelezi

Pictured (from left): Alan Khan, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs at DUT; Thembinkosi Ngcobo, Head of the Parks, Recreation and Culture unit at the eThekwini Municipality; Jabulile Sithole from eThekwini Libraries and Dr Eddie Chaobo Fu, Head of the Confucius Institute at DUT.