By: Bennie Bravo Johnson I
The Confucius Institute at the University of Liberia (UL) on Saturday, January 25, 2025, celebrated the 2025 Chinese Lunar New Year Gala. The 2025 Chinese Lunar New Year Gala which is regarded as the Spring Festival Gala, is the beginning of the Chinese New Year, marking the Year of the Snake. It is one of the most-watched television programs in the world, attracting millions of viewers across China and globally.
The gala typically featured a wide range of performances, including music, dance, acrobatics, comedy sketches, and traditional Chinese arts, all infused with themes of family unity, prosperity, and good fortune.
As the Year of the Snake is celebrated, there were performances that blend traditional Chinese cultural elements with contemporary styles, honoring both the symbolism of the Snake associated with wisdom and transformation and the festive spirit of renewal that comes with the new year.
The 2025, Chinese Year of the Snake celebration saw Liberian students demonstrating performances that blended traditional Chinese cultural elements with contemporary styles, showcasing international collaborations, and highlighted China’s growing global influence and cultural exchange.
Providing an overview, Professor Zhou Hangzhuan, the Coordinator of the Confucius Institute at the University of Liberia said the event aimed to bring joy, hope, and unity to Chinese communities worldwide, marking a fresh start for the new year and reinforcing the importance of cultural heritage.
Professor Zhou Hangzhuan admonished Liberian students to take advantage of the opportunities at the Confucius Institute. She is the coordinator of the Confucius Institute whose primary objective is to promote the Chinese language and culture by offering Mandarin Chinese language courses, and providing Liberian students with the opportunity to learn one of the world’s most widely spoken languages,
The institute has had several significant impacts on education in Liberia, helping to enhance cultural exchange, academic collaboration, and language learning, According to Professor Zhou Hangzhuan, graduates of the Confucius Institute are exposed to opportunities to serve in Chinese companies in Liberia as interpreters and in other capacities. This assertion suggests that China has become an important global player in economics, politics, and international relations.
The Confucius Institute at UL has facilitated stronger educational ties between Liberia and China. Through various academic exchange programs, students and faculty from the University of Liberia have had opportunities to travel to China for further studies and research. These exchanges help expand academic horizons, promote global awareness, and foster international cooperation in various fields of study, including education, business, science, and technology.
The Confucius Institute has been instrumental in providing scholarship opportunities for Liberian students to pursue higher education in China. Many students who have participated in these programs have gone on to study in Chinese universities, receiving funding for tuition, living expenses, and other academic costs. This scholarship program helps develop a skilled workforce in Liberia and strengthens the bilateral relationship between China and Liberia.
The Confucius Institute has contributed to the development of educational materials and teaching resources, particularly related to Chinese language education. These resources have helped improve the quality of language instruction in Liberia, providing teachers and students with up-to-date textbooks, audiovisual materials, and other tools that enhance the learning experience.
