The African country where Zheng He arrived 600 years ago is undergoing radical changes

The "Real Stories from Africa - China-Africa Youth Digital Training Camp" is a digital skills training program jointly developed by the Nanjing Peace Forum and The Youth Cafe, the most influential youth organization in Africa. By inviting young people in Africa to publish their own stories on the Chinese Internet, the program aims to empower young Africans and promote cooperation and people-to-people exchanges on peace issues. 

In Kenya, the names Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee ring a bell for every movie lover and can evoke many fond memories.

I grew up in a remote part of Kenya. My hometown is Siaya, which is located in Western Kenya. I have particularly clear memories of going to the movies. I vividly remember in elementary school, I would sneak out of school with my friends, skipping classes, to watch the newly released kung fu movies of Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee. And the price for skipping class was a whipping or other harsh punishment.

As the global movie industry grows, the Chinese movie industry continues to thrive. Some content is customized for Kenya to suit different audiences in different contexts. In villages, some mischievous schoolchildren sneak out of school to watch video movies; in informal settlements in the city of Nairobi, people can easily watch Chinese soap operas on Chinese-made LED TVs. With the advent of digital television, cell phones, the Internet and other technologies, many Kenyans like me can now broadcast and watch Chinese movies on their own. It has long been recognized that our favorite Chinese movie is Dee's Empire of Heaven.

Many Kenyans are becoming avid fans of Chinese movies compared to many other movies produced in the western world. According to Star Times Kenya, it broadcasts about 10,000 hours of Chinese TV series for Kenyans every year. So far, kung fu movies have been leading the ratings. Just like the spirit of sportsmanship embodied by Kenyans winning world track and field championships, kung fu movies highlight the aesthetics of Chinese martial arts sports. Kenyan moviegoers are captivated by well-crafted Chinese kung fu movies.

For Kenyan women, Chinese television serials continue to hold a strong appeal. Despite its cross-cultural nature, the Chinese culture embodied in it has similarities with African social mores, such as family and religion.

The Kenyan people's love for Chinese movies, culture and language also implies their understanding of traditional African culture and their respect for cultural similarities. Kenya's China fever is also a reflection of the growing cross-cultural exchanges between Kenya and China. So where did it all start?

The town of Siyu in the Lamu Archipelago: the story of a little-known Chinese village for more than 600 years

The year 2005 marked the 600th anniversary of China's commemoration of the great Chinese navigator Zheng He's voyage from China to Kenya." I want to see the place where my ancestors lived. I am looking forward to going to China and studying at a Chinese university," said Mwamaka Sharifu at the 2005 commemoration.

Kenya had ties with China long before Portuguese explorer Vascoda Gagama arrived in 1498 to explore the East African coastal town. Although the town of Siyu is little known, its rich culture holds many traces of history; Siyu is located on the north coast of Pate Island in the Lamu Archipelago. The exact history of the village is unknown, however historians have looked back and found that it existed in the 13th century.

The village became the center of attention in 2005 when 19-year-old Mwamaka Sharifu was awarded a scholarship to study medicine in China. Because after DNA tests, it was confirmed that she had Chinese ancestry: the result of an intermarriage between the Chinese and the native tribesmen of the Kenyan coast.

In an interview with Kenyans.co.ke on August 27, 2020, Stambuli Abdullahi Nassir, a Mombasa-based scholar and historian, shared more about the origins of the Siyu village, its culture, and the story of intermarriage between the Chinese and Kenyans. According to Mr. Nassir, at that time, the Chinese, under the leadership of one Zhang Hao or Mahao, solemnly converted to Islam and intermarried with the Kenyans along the coast.

In China, there are many Hui people with the surname "Ma", which in some areas represents the Islamic faith. Evidence of their conversion to Islam can be found in their burial practices and cemetery decorations. The Muslims buried their dead in the direction of Mecca, and Prof. Nassir further revealed that in 1415, Chinese sailors escaped from a wrecked ship and settled in the town of Siyu.

As Kenya embraces China's growing influence in the country, many Kenyans are wondering if the country's unwitting influx of foreigners - who are very powerful and are shaping Kenya's future - has also brought with it the the problem of racism.

In 2013, the Kenyan government had proposed a 1 gigawatt coal plant in Lamu County, which was in line with the goal of realizing Kenya's Vision 2030. Once the coal plant was completed, its chimney would reach 210 meters, the tallest structure in East Africa.

About two years later, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) committed to provide an export loan of $900 million to the project, and together with its partner, Standard Bank of South Africa, the two banks offered a further $300 million, equivalent to 60% of the cost of the financing. Two Chinese state-owned companies, China Power Construction Corporation and China Huadian Corporation, plan to build and operate the coal-fired plant, respectively. The coal project will be located on Lamu's lush mangrove coast, just 20 kilometers from Lama Island's old town. This World Heritage Site is the oldest and best preserved Swahili town in East Africa and is an embodiment of the fusion of Arab cultures.

Beginning with the launch of the project by AmuPower, a consortium of Kenyan companies, the coal-fired power plant was boycotted by locals throughout the duration of the project, sparking international concerns about environmental pollution, and eventually the project was halted by a court ruling. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have implored the government to reassess the environmental and cultural impacts of the coal-fired power plant. Activists have warned that the project will make it harder for Kenya to fulfill its commitments under the Paris Agreement. Three years later, in June 2019, the defenders won their lawsuit and the coal-fired power plant project ended.

Indeed, since 2013, the Kenyan government has been working to develop renewable energy. Recently, Charles Keter, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, said, "There is an urgent need for a robust action plan to optimize Kenya's energy efficiency and conservation outcomes. The Kenya National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (NEECS) is a roadmap for achieving energy efficiency goals that will have an overall positive impact on Kenya's economy."

In December 2019, Kenya purchased a new 50 MW solar power plant. While solar power may only account for 2% of Kenya's current electricity generation, investments like this highlight a positive trend: if investments in clean energy are sustained, dependence on fossil fuels can be reduced.

The Kenyan government has pledged to work towards cleaner energy sources so that fossil fuel investments such as the Lamu coal-fired power plant are no longer a prospect.

Looking to the future: where to from here?

A Kenyan politician whose wife is Chinese epitomizes cultural diversity and integration. And usually this story of cultural diversity and integration goes unexplored. She sang a campaign song in fluent Ekegusi (the local dialect) and the whole place was filled with cheers and applause from the audience for her wonderful performance. Standing beside her, dressed in traditional attire, was her husband, Hon Paul Simba Arati, MP, who is running for governor of Kisii County.

"My name is Kwamboka (adapted from a local female name in Kisii) and I am Simba's wife. Thank you very much for coming. I am asking you to vote for our leader SimbaArati who is running for governor of Kisii County.Simba is determined to serve you all better. I am also confident that my husband will lead better services for the people of Kisii." 

- Kwamboka (Arati's Chinese wife)

Kenya now faces another election and campaign cycle. Many politicians are not only presenting their campaign agendas to the voters, but they have also resorted to the unique campaign strategy of publicly introducing their family members to the voters. This is not only to promote their family history, but also to create a feeling of respect for African traditions. When Kwamboka's husband ran for the position of county commissioner, the crowd attending the rally showed unprecedented enthusiasm.Kwamboka's husband danced with her on the podium.

Kenyans and netizens showed mixed reactions: many wondered how Simba's Chinese wife spoke a long Kisii (local dialect) fluently. While others pointed out that Chinese women are some of the most respected women on the planet and many don't mind traveling across the ocean to China to find true love. The mixed reaction of Kenyans to the politician's Chinese wife is a reflection of how Kenyans and Africans view their relationship with Chinese citizens differently. Simply put, the relationship between Africans and Chinese, though deepening, has had some hot and cold moments.

A Bright Future for Cultural Exchange: Deepening Relations between China and Kenya

Mwamaka Sharifu is known locally as the "China Girl" after her looks and identity were widely reported in the media. Her ancestry dates back to the Ming Dynasty. After receiving a scholarship to further her education, Sharifu graduated and returned to Kenya, where she established a community hospital in Lamu, helping to make healthcare accessible and affordable for many local residents.

While in China, she had the opportunity to meet the descendants of Zheng He.Sharifu is eager to return to Kenya to help her community and try her hand at politics. She aspires to become a senator. Similarly, Simba Arati MP, after serving as MP for Nairobida Dagoreti North Constituency, with the assistance of his Chinese wife, is progressing in his political career, seeking to win the seat of Kisii County Commissioner in the upcoming Kenyan general elections.

Indeed, Kenya and China have a long history of longstanding friendly relations. However, beyond the huge investments in infrastructure and trade development, there is a lack of understanding of new trends in deeper cultural exchanges, which include interracial marriages and educational programs. Chinese films have penetrated Kenya and become an important part of the socialization process of the average Kenyan family. the story of Sharifu's search for his roots, and the story of Mr. Simba's marriage to his Chinese wife provide samples of far-reaching references to the future of Sino-Kenyan relations in terms of strengthening cultural exchanges and deepening the relationship.

Shen Yuwen

Editor and Translator

Editor and reporter of Nanjing Peace Forum, bachelor's degree in law from Zhejiang University, and dual master's degree in arts management from the University of Bologna, Italy, and Carnegie Mellon University, USA. She has worked in the UNESCO office in Kathmandu, Nepal.

2024-03-13 04:18:35