The Belt and Road · Zero Distance | A "China Africa Blended" Palace of Culture and Art China Africa | Africa | Culture

Wuhan/Kinshasa, September 18th, Xinhua News Agency - A cultural and artistic hall that combines China and Africa

Xinhua News Agency reporter Qiu Xia, Xu Haibo, Shi Yu

"My father used to work and live in Africa, and I have had feelings for Africa since I was young. When I heard about this project in Africa, I was eager to give it a try." Speaking of the Central African Cultural and Art Center, which I was responsible for creating and designing, Chinese architect Tang Wensheng said, once again showcasing the inheritance of friendship between China and Africa.

On the Triumphal Avenue in the capital of Congo, Kinshasa, lies the People's Palace and Martyrs Stadium, which were built with Chinese aid in the 1970s and 1980s. Across the street from it, a highly anticipated new cultural hall - the Central African Cultural and Art Center - is under construction.

"The People's Palace is the seat of the Congolese parliament, and the Martyrs' Stadium, which can accommodate 80000 people, often hosts major events." Congo's Minister of State and Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works, Mourni, said that the Central African Cultural and Art Center is "another beautiful business card of cooperation between Congo and China.".

The headquarters of Tang Wensheng's Central South Architectural Design Institute is located in Wuhan and is responsible for the design work of the Central African Cultural and Art Center. Entering Tang Wensheng's office, the reporter saw a series of design drawings and panoramic renderings, presenting the ingenious construction of the main buildings in the center, such as the theater and school buildings.

The main body of this building consists of a cultural center and the National Academy of Arts of Congo, including a 2000 seat grand theater, an 800 seat small theater, and a National Academy of Arts campus that can accommodate 2000 students.

Among them, the appearance of the core building cultural center is unique, just like a round African drum. Tang Wensheng learned about the appearance of African drums from his father's description when he was young. In the 1980s, his father worked as a Chinese engineer to aid in the construction of a farm in Somalia. Since then, the stories of African customs and friendly exchanges between the Chinese and African peoples have left a deep impression on Tang Wensheng's heart.

"In Chinese culture, circles symbolize reunion." Tang Wensheng said that the shape of the cultural center integrates the cultural and artistic concepts of China and Africa, symbolizing the friendship between China and Africa for generations.

The design of the National Academy of Arts in Congo also has a fusion of Chinese and African elements. The Chinese design team has found through repeated research that using traditional Chinese courtyards and wind and rain corridors can better adapt the spatial layout of school buildings to the local climate and environment.

"Chinese architectural culture emphasizes courtyards, and in Africa we make them narrow courtyards." Tang Wensheng said that narrow and long courtyards can use the mutual occlusion between buildings to form a cool and pleasant courtyard space. According to the design plan, the different departments of the National Academy of Arts are not only enclosed independent courtyards, but also interconnected through long wind and rain corridors. The wind and rain corridor combines the functions of shelter from rain and sun protection, and the combination of narrow courtyard and corridor perfectly adapts to the local climate environment of high temperature, rain, and strong sunlight.

The concept of integrating and learning from each other, and adapting to local conditions is ubiquitous in the design and construction of cultural and artistic centers in Central Africa: some walls use the common hollow grid bricks of local buildings, which have the effect of ventilation and heat dissipation. The traditional Chinese auspicious patterns are integrated into them, adding more elegance and interest; The exterior facade of the building is made up of the river sand from the Congo River as the main component of the exterior wall coating, presenting a rustic style with strong regional characteristics; Congo has abundant copper resources, and copperplate printing is a unique skill of local craftsmen. In the interior decoration of buildings, these paintings that reflect the local artistic style will be widely used.

As one of the key projects of the "Eight Actions" of the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the construction of the Central African Culture and Arts Center has received high attention from the Congolese side.

In 2019, Congolese President Zisekdi personally laid the foundation for the project. Afterwards, he conducted multiple inspections and condolences to the project and construction personnel. In 2021, during an inspection, Zisekdi stated that he believed that after the completion of this project, it would play an important role in cultural exchange between Africa and China. In May of this year, during the state visit of Zisekdi to China, the two countries issued a joint statement on establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership, which specifically mentioned that the Congolese side highly praised China's support for the Central African Cultural and Art Center project.

"We all aspire to move into this beautiful architectural complex," said Mwendanga Musengo de Sire Salomon, Dean of the Congo National Academy of Arts, to reporters. He often visits the construction sites of the Central African Cultural and Art Center and is amazed by the cultural heritage and down-to-earth architectural design.

Mwendanga said with great anticipation that culture and art have a powerful power and can build bridges for spiritual communication between people. This cultural and artistic hall will make important contributions to cultivating more artistic talents and promoting international cultural exchanges in the future. After the completion of the center, the faculty and students of the college will move to the new campus to work and study, while also showcasing their knowledge and creative achievements to the world in the center's theater. He hopes that artists from Africa and China can perform and exchange ideas together here in the future.

When it comes to the significance of literature and art as a "bridge of the soul," Tang Wensheng also deeply feels it. He recalled to the reporter the story that happened during the project research period: during a visit to the National Academy of Arts in Congo, a student band played the classic Chinese song "Jasmine Flower" to welcome Chinese guests. "I was very moved after listening to it, and I also sang an African folk song that my father taught me. The students also accompanied me."

Afterwards, Tang Wensheng was referred to by his friends in Congo as a "Chinese architect who can sing African folk songs.". Tang Wensheng said that the seed of Sino African friendship that he buried in his heart when he was young has now grown into a big tree and bears fruit. In the future, with the completion and use of the Central African Cultural and Art Center, this seed of friendship will surely spread to more people's hearts, and the path for the Chinese and African people to move forward together will become wider and wider.