Kenyan pupils showcase Mandarin skills in Nairobi competition

Young Kenyan learners displayed impressive Chinese language proficiency, cultural understanding, and talent during the finals of the sixth Chinese Bridge Competition for foreign primary school pupils held in Nairobi on Friday.

The event, organized by Egerton University's Confucius Institute and Nanjing Agricultural University, attracted 23 contestants who showcased their Chinese proficiency through speeches and performances.

Tang Jianjun, counsellor at the Chinese embassy in Kenya, said the Chinese Bridge competition has become an important platform for promoting Chinese language education and strengthening cultural exchanges globally.

Since the launch of the World Primary School Chinese Show in 2021, he said the event has continued to grow rapidly, increasingly attracting participation from around the world.

"In 2025, more than 30,000 students from 65 countries and regions participated in this activity, with over 240 outstanding contestants taking part in the global finals in China," he said.

Tang noted that there is a growing interest in learning Mandarin in Kenya, especially after the government incorporated Mandarin into the school curriculum.

Bernard Aduda, deputy vice-chancellor in charge of academics at Egerton University, reiterated that Egerton University's Confucius Institute plays an important role not only in teaching Chinese language and culture, but also in facilitating the transfer of appropriate agricultural technology from China to Kenya and the wider East African region.

victor@chinadailyafrica.com