Maracera: Why is the future of China-Africa music exchanges bright?
China News Service Johannesburg, March 21 Title: Maracera: Why is the future of China-Africa music exchanges bright?
China News Service reporter Wang Xi
As a unique symbol of African culture, African music is unique in the field of world music with its strong sense of rhythm and rhythm, and is sought after and loved by music fans all over the world. Especially in the context of the current unprecedented close china-Africa relations, China-Africa music exchanges are increasingly becoming an important component of bilateral cultural exchanges.
As one of South Africa's most recognizable musicians, Vissi Maracera has been playing the role of a bridge for African music exchanges in recent years. Maracera recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency's "East and West Question" to talk about the current situation and prospects of China-Africa music exchanges.
The interview transcript is summarized below:
China News Service: What kind of history has China-Africa music exchanges gone through?
Malacera: 1949 was a node in non-Chinese musical exchange. Before the founding of the People's Republic of China, non-Chinese music exchanges existed but were very limited, and more was manifested in African artists coming to China to perform, so there were relatively few Chinese people who understood African music. Chinese music also lacks opportunities for exchange with Africa, it is difficult for Chinese artists to travel to Africa for exchanges, and African people have little understanding of Chinese music.
After 1949, Afro-China music exchanges entered a new period with Africa-China relations. Political, economic and other exchanges have led to exchanges in the field of music. The musical exchanges between the two sides have experienced a relatively single form and a small number of initial stages; starting from 1978, the first year of China's reform and opening up, non-Chinese music exchanges have entered a stage of development, and mutual visits and performances, training and cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and other activities have also increased; in the 21st century, non-Chinese music exchanges have entered a prosperous stage, with the help of Confucius Institutes, cultural festivals and other platforms, the fields of exchanges and cooperation between the two sides have been continuously broadened, and the content forms have been continuously enriched.
All in all, since the founding of New China, non-China music exchanges have been deepening and achieving remarkable results. At the 2021 Chinese Spring Festival Gala, the famous singer Zhu Mingying sang an African song, which can be called a good story of Non-China music exchanges.
In May 2014, the "Night of the Sea Silk Road" - the 16th Cross-Strait Economic and Trade Fair Literary and Art Evening was brilliantly staged in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. The picture shows the Uganda Arts Troupe performing Africa Inspired "Enthusiastic Africa". Photo by Lu Ming, reporter of China News Service
China News Service: What are the results and significance of China-Africa music exchanges?
Maracera: Non-China music exchanges have now become an important part of cultural exchanges between the two sides and are expected to play an increasingly important role in the future. It is gratifying that the non-Chinese music exchanges not only stay at the non-governmental level, but also receive the support and attention of the governments of both sides, such as the relevant agreements on the exchange of performance groups between the two sides, which not only guarantees the quality of non-Chinese music exchanges, but also guarantees the height of exchanges.
The second is to promote personnel exchanges. From the 1960s when Africa sent art groups to perform in China, to the 1970s when Chinese artists went to Africa to learn African songs and dances, and then to the people of Africa and China today know each other and love each other's music, it can be said that music exchanges have become an important bridge, promoting the exchange and cooperation of music culture between the two sides, and making the exchanges between the two sides more frequent.
Third, the exchange of music culture between Africa and China has led to the development of music education and academic research between the two sides. Nowadays, with the deepening of exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, African music can be more systematically presented to the Chinese people, such as the translation and introduction of works such as "African Music" and "General History of African Music" by Chinese academic circles, the publication of a series of musical works of both sides, and the introduction of representative musical works by both sides in music teaching, all of which provide a broader space and scope for African-Chinese music exchanges and cooperation.
In December 2008, students from the Affiliated High School of Beijing Capital Normal University performed African music at the National General High School "Music Curriculum (Modular Education)" Practice and Inquiry Seminar. China News Service reporter Song Jihe photographed
China News Service: What are the current problems in China-Africa music exchanges?
Maracera: Although the musical exchanges between the two sides have made great progress in the past few decades, there are still certain problems, which hinder the pace of exchanges and cooperation between the two sides to a higher level and level.
First, there is less specialized academic research. The research level of musical exchange between the two sides only stops at a brief overview or describes the experience of feeling. Although Africa and China have given each other a certain degree of attention to music, academic research is still lacking, the channel for obtaining knowledge is single, and the professionalism is far from enough. Although there have been sporadic studies on both sides in recent years, the lack of sustainability has become a major regret of the current non-Chinese music exchanges.
The second is the lack of relevant theoretical works. As far as I know, there is an extreme lack of works on African music theory and system in China at present. To this day, "African Music" is still the most important work for Chinese music lovers to study African music, but the work has been published for a very long time and can no longer meet the needs of Chinese music fans in today's era. In Africa, the same problem is faced and more serious. The African people's understanding of Chinese music almost only stays in film and television pictures, literary and artistic performances, and network introductions, and fails to form an effective theoretical concept.
In June 2019, children interacted with foreign drummers at an African dance event held in Beijing World Park. China News Service reporter Zhao Jun photographed
China News Service: How do you see the prospects for china-Africa music exchanges?
Marassera: Although the non-China music exchanges are facing certain problems, especially the COVID-19 epidemic, which has led to the almost stagnation of music exchanges between the two sides in the past two years, I am still full of confidence in the prospects of non-China music exchanges. At present, Africa-China relations are in the best period in history, the equality and friendship between brothers, mutual benefit and win-win relations, will provide more superior development conditions and environment for music exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, with the help of the "Belt and Road", China-Africa Cooperation Forum and other platforms, Africa-China music and cultural exchanges are expected to become the highlight of non-Chinese relations in the future, through the bridge of music, the prospects for non-Chinese exchanges after the epidemic are worth looking forward to.
In September 2018, Gabonese President Bongo, who attended the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, took to the stage to ring the chimes and chimes after enjoying the chimes at the Hubei Provincial Museum. China News Service reporter Zhang Chang photographed
In my opinion, in the future, the number of international students sent by the two sides will increase, and they will become the best communicators of their respective music. For example, in China, it is becoming fashionable for college students to take African music and African dance in their spare time; in Africa, whether it is Confucius Institute teachers or university students, most of them will teach their African friends some Chinese music knowledge, and now many South African college students will sing Chinese songs, while in Ethiopia, the local people perform Chinese songs and dances have become a highlight.
Secondly, the in-depth cooperation in non-Chinese music teaching is expected to cultivate a group of specialized academic talents who understand each other's music, and they will use their theoretical knowledge to complete a number of monographs with strong academic and theoretical nature, so as to play a role in answering questions for the people of both sides to truly understand their respective music. Only in this way can we further promote mutual musical and cultural exchanges. (End)
Respondent Profiles:
Maracera, a famous South African musician, writer and poet, was born in 1965 in Prettonia, the administrative capital of South Africa, and his music has been described as "African folk songs".
Maracera's works are full of strong African folk characteristics, including "Telling Africa", "When You Return", "The Fiercest Impact", etc., and the themes include fighting for freedom, as well as forgiveness and reconciliation with the enemy. Maracera performed at Nelson Mandela's inauguration in 1994.