SHANGHAI - When Sedig Omas Shabur saw curious Chinese visitors at the Expo taking pictures, the 54-year-old drummer from Eritrea, who gives regular performances at the Joint Africa Pavilion, went out of his way to have his photograph taken with them.
He did not expect that would make him a star, but his act of kindness has earned him a day job standing at his country's pavilion dressed in his trademark white robe, posing for photographs for visitors.
"It's impossible for me to stop as the Chinese visitors kept coming up to me, asking for a photo with me," said Shabur, a member of Sibrit cultural troupe, a group formed to perform and promote traditional dances and songs from Eritrea's nine ethnic groups.
"But I like doing it even if it means long hours' standing and smiling and a lot of extra work," he said. "The passion, hospitality and generosity of the Chinese is more than I have experienced anywhere else in the world," he said.
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Shabur said he could not remember how many photographs have been taken of him with Chinese visitors to the Expo since his arrival on May 15.
"I only know I've devoted all my free time between the shows - which is my primary job at the Expo - to taking pictures with people," he said.
The language barrier is not a problem, Shabur said, adding that anyone would be impressed by the friendliness of the visitors through their smiles and body languages.
Indre Kumpikeviciute, director of the Lithuanian Pavilion, said she understands Chinese are just "very curious".
"Sometimes they even take photos while we are eating. I think they are just feeling interested. They want to see my country and we are a part of it. That's just great," she said.
Daniela Munoz, a staff member at the Chile Pavilion, said taking photographs is "one form of communication among people" that should be encouraged instead of criticized.
"What we want to transmit to the visitors to our pavilion is that a city is better when you have relationships with the people around you. It's all about communication," she said.
"I understand that they take pictures because we are different. I like Chinese babies and I would take pictures of them all the time if I could. I understand that the Chinese visitors see us as different, but they also see us as friendly," she said.
Although many Chinese visitors visit different pavilions just to get photos and stamps without taking a close look at the exhibits, Munoz has noticed that a large number of visitors are still interested in the different cultures displayed in pavilions and will ask plenty of questions.
"They ask what it means instead of what it is. They want to know why it is that way and what it's meant to tell us," she said.
A celebrity out of Africa
Say it in Shanghai-Lesson Six
