Perspective and insight into the realities of the African Experience in the East

By Nicole Bonnah Source:Global Times Published: 2016-4-24 19:48:01

From left: Thuthukile Mbanjwa, Wadeisor Rakuto, Sihle Isipho Nontshokweni and Nothando Khumal Photo: Courtesy of Nicole Bonnah

A team of dynamic African women are taking the lead by opening up a dialogue concerning their very personal Africa to China experiences. A journey, all too well known throughout the African and African Diaspora communities that thrive, right here in the world's second-largest economy, the People's Republic of China.

Wadeisor Rakuto and Sihle Isipho Nontshokweni are part of a four-woman strong team of writers who were all hand-selected from the University of Cape Town to complete a scholarship program in China Studies at the prestigious Yenching Academy at Peking University in Beijing.

I met with these two incredibly inspirational women at one of my favorite work hideaway cafes in the Sanlitun area in Beijing. I was received in the wonderfully typical South African way; with beaming smiles and full embraces that are hard to break away from because of the genuine warmth you feel.

These bold women are all on a mission to break boundaries to explore, examine and share the various facets of what life is like for them in China, a country with the largest growing African migrant community in Asia - a mission with great purpose and ability to motivate, inspire and transform others.

Documenting and sharing their personal experiences is their precept in creating a wider platform for a discussion about the impact of the growing socio-political relationship between Africa and China; what this relationship means at grassroots levels in both places and what narratives currently exist.

From Africa to China

"We are both interested in third world politics and how it is written about in the media," said Sihle.

The Africa to China blog that Wadeisor and Sihle collaboratively write on is directly inspired by their need to discuss the shared and diverse experiences of their journey in China. Wadeisor beamed with excited urgency as she told me more.

"We didn't find much about African's writing about China. We wanted to share what our personal experience was versus what we thought we'd find and what we didn't find."

Between their personal voyages as African women in China and their academic backgrounds in International Relations and Political Science they are in good stead to speak on the deeper mechanics at work in Sino-African relations from an African perspective.

The scholarship program they have been awarded with to complete a Masters in China Studies has brought together 100 students of excellence from different universities from around the world. The program is intended to provide these global leaders of tomorrow with a better understanding and insight into the next possible superpower of the world, China.

But aside from state-level positioning and re-positioning, as the geo-political arena transforms, so does the communities it governs. Hybrid racial and cultural spaces are developing throughout China, particularly as a result of Africa-China relations, one of which I like to coin the Black Orient.

The Black Orient is a socio-cultural space where an African and diaspora presence collides and negotiates with native Chinese society, which is entrenched in time-honored traditions, customs and ideologies.

"How one engages with a new country, a new space, a new city depends on the person they are," explained Wadeisor. "Beyond the experiences that define a person and what they do, I do think that there is an experience that black people can generally relate to and it starts with small things, like hair!"

Wadeisor went on to describe some of the physically related experiences that unite black people in China, like being photographed and stared at, however Sihle spoke of a greater issue that Africans and other black individuals contend with.

"The bigger story or the connotations around the African continent (of destitution and displacement), those become associated with you."

When asked how much of this destitute perception of Africa is ignorance or playing to the same tune of other societies who appropriate superiority over the African narrative, Wadeisor drew from her very visible compassion and understanding of the lack-of-knowledge climate in China.

"There's a degree to which I wouldn't blame a lot people that I've interacted with, who've had those very one-sided perspectives because I just don't think that conversations about Africa are privileged or brought to the fore."

Getting to know you

In spite of the ignorance both Wadeisor and Sihle spoke of, there are encouraging signs of a real desire from individuals in China to embrace and celebrate African culture and the fusion of their culture with Africa's dynamic and vivid array of customs and traditions.

At a recent international cultural festival held at Peking University, both women were taken back and energized by the interest taken in their South African roots by Chinese students.

"It was very interesting to see how people wanted to know more about our country and food," Sihle observed the openness of the Chinese students and excitedly told me about how quickly the samples of South African delicacies disappeared from their counter.

Wadeisor's thoughts swiftly moved to the charge she, feels people from different African nations have to create the necessary spaces and environments for cultural Sino-African exchange.

"I think there is a degree to which, it's important for Africans in China, as broad as that category is, to actively showcase their culture, because while we could say that Africa isn't really discussed, why would people want to know? There are people who do want to know."

This calls on individuals to remember that "it's important for 'Africanness' to be worn very proudly." Now is the time to flaunt the brilliance of Africa and its people.

"I do feel that there is a responsibility to wear the (African) culture proudly but also be willing and active in wanting to inform people."

(To be continued in The Black Orient: Part II on May 9)

The writer is a British journalist from London and she has been a journalist for five years. Now she lives and works in Beijing. She generally writes culture pieces and has a keen interest in Africa-China relations and the development of Sino-African communities.
Newspaper headline: The Black Orient: part I


Posted in: Culture & Leisure

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