Chunjie, otherwise known as Spring Festival, is the most important holiday for the Chinese people. even though it falls after january 1st, it marks the time when more than 1 billion Chinese around the world celebrate their new Year. now these celebrations are spreading far and wide to places such as Africa.
　　The beginning of 2012 on the African continent was marked by a “happy Chinese new Year” event, which featured many Chinese artists and entertainers. The performers traveled through more than 10 countries, including egypt, South Africa, ethiopia and Senegal. All the while, the event built a platform for African and Chinese artists alike to inspire each other and demonstrate their respective cultures.
　　“happy Chinese new Year” as an event was first launched in 2010. Organized by China’s Ministry of Culture and Ministry of education, it has become a window through which foreigners can learn about Chinese culture. The event acts as a package of activities in different countries.
　　in its third iteration this year, “happy Chinese new Year”lasts from january to March. Over 300 cultural activities are held in over 140 cities across more than 80 countries and regions worldwide. Temple fairs, parades, handicraft shows, film exhibitions and cultural lectures have already begun to help ring in the Year of the Dragon.
　　Exchange and inspiration
　　The Tianjin Performing Arts Troupe gave a show on january 10 in Lilongwe, capital of Malawi. The international Conference Center with 1,500 seats was packed with 2,000 spectators,many had to stand to watch. Malawian President Bingu Wa Mutharika along with his wife and over 50 ministers were also in attendance.
　　nearly 100 Chinese and African artists participated in the fourhour-long party. Throughout, the fabulous Chinese and Malawian folk performances kept the audience captive.
　　When Chinese singer Zhang Yanrong began to sing a traditional Malawi folk song in Chichewa, a local language, the first lady left her chair to dance with the music. All 3,500 other audience members joined in.
　　“i got the song track only a week before the journey,” Zhang told China Culture Daily. “i slowed the 5-minute song into a 9-minute version and took a sheet of its lyrics transcribed into Chinese to help with pronunciation. i don’t remember how many times i practiced it.”
　　Zhang was surprised by the success of the performance. “i never expected the atmosphere to be so hot,” she said.
　　At the event, President Mutharika talked about how the celebration offered an opportunity for peoples from two different countries to share in arts and culture. he also noted that the chance also promoted friendship between the two countries as well.
　　Seven days later in Rwanda, four Chinese handicraft masters from Tianjin were present in a show for traditional Chinese folk art, including clay figures, paper-cuttings and new Year paintings.
　　Deng Guoping is a master of sculptural paper-cutting. her works were chosen by the national Museum of Rwanda. And now, she has been invited to attend a world art exhibition to be held at the museum this coming May.
　　“i’m glad to see that so many African artists like my works,”said Deng, who recorded everything that attracted her during the trip in her diary. “This journey to Africa inspired me a lot and made me more passionate about art,” she noted, adding that when she goes back to China, she plans on incorporating African themes into her work.
　　Deng is not the only artist who are inspired by the African continent. Wang Liyi, a dance director, was taken with the African dance she witnessed. “Chinese dance has an implicit style with gentle moves,” she explained. “But Africans seem to dance with all the cells in their bodies. The moves burst from deep in their hearts to surprise their audiences’ eyes.”
　　According to M.Daniel Symphoriana Liwimbi, Malawi’s Minister of Tourism, Wildlife, Plants and Culture, “happy Chinese new Year gave Malawian audiences a glance at splendid Chinese art, and he planed to bring Malawian culture and art to China in the future to further promote the friendship between the two countries.
　　Flying through Johannesburg
　　in johannesburg, South Africa, a temple fair saturated with Chinese culture was held on january 28. Cultural institutes from Beijing had sent along many art works of intangible heritage from the Chinese capital.
　　At the fair, clay rabbits sold out quickly, at a price of 200 rand each. Paper-cuttings and bookmarks with dragon patterns were also popular, with more than half of the buyers picking up a cutting or hanging decoration that depicted their birth year animal according to the Chinese zodiac.
　　“Dragons, paper-cuttings, Chinese culture is so fascinating,”said Anthony, a young man who attended the event.
　　johannesburg’s businessmen at the fair saw the opportunity in Chinese culture. They were eager to know whether Chinese handicraft masters would be repeating their visit in 2013, and hoped to arrange for long term supply of the wares.
　　But traditional Chinese temple fairs are not just about products. They are also about performances. At an afternoon show, a Chinese acrobatics troupe drew the attention of about 2,000 people, including local Chinese, Africans and tourists from around the world.
　　The afternoon sky had been clear, but two hours after the performance began, dark clouds rolled in. Pouring rain seemed to have no effect on audience’s passion, though. Some spectators moved back to watch under erected shelters, but still others stood in the rain.
　　While the downpour finished after 20 minutes, the show did not. Although a wet and slippery stage made it more difficult to perform, magic and juggling won cheers and applause repeatedly.
　　The troupe had two additional performances in a local theater during their time in johannesburg. The occupancy at the first one had reached 90 percent, but after the temple fair, the second show turned out to be even more popular. Tickets sold out quickly, with many still trying to purchase admission minutes before the acrobats hit the stage. Luckily for those who missed out, a DVD of the performance was available for sale.
　　“Chinese acrobatics, number one!” said an elderly African couple excitedly who watched the performances.