Breath-taking Footwork, Fists and Dance performances complemented speeches and handshakes on Tuesday, June 2, as the China Cultural Centre in Abuja transformed into a stage for ”The Passion of Chinese Wushu: Martial Arts, Culture Heritage Premium Exhibition”.
Hosted by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria and the China Centre of International Cultural Exchange and Tourism Promotion, and jointly organised by the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria with Beijing Sport University, the exhibition blended martial arts with music, dance and cultural statements.
Declaring the event open, through his welcome speech, Mr. Yang Jianxing, Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy and Director of the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, said cultural exchange serves as a vital bridge for mutual learning among civilizations and for bringing people closer together.
”There is an ancient Chinese saying: Through culture, one can transform and enlighten
society. In Chinese culture, the character “Wu” conveys the idea of stopping violence and
promoting peace. The essence of Wushu (martial Arts) is not the pursuit of conflict, but the prevention of it. Wushu is not merely a sport; it is a cultural language and a spiritual heritage. It embodies the Chinese nation’s enduring spirit of self-improvement and reflects values such as respect, virtue, harmony, and peaceful coexistence,” he said.
Counsellor Yang also noted that the exhibition was deliberately staged to mirror Beijing’s designation of 2026 theme.
“China has designated 2026 as the Year of China-Africa People-to-People Exchanges. The Wushu premium exhibition reflects that vision. Over the past 55 years, China-Nigeria relations have continued to grow stronger, supported by deep and lasting friendship between our peoples. China will continue to promote partnerships that will enable more Nigerians to learn about China and more Chinese people to better understand Nigeria. From economic cooperation and infrastructure development to educational exchanges and cultural cooperation, our partnership has delivered tangible benefits to both countries,” he stated.
Also speaking at the Washu Martial Arts Premium Exhibition, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Malam Shehu Dikko, stated that China’s relation with Nigeria is more than infrastructural development and that sports diplomacy remains an effective platform for strengthening bilateral relations.
Dikko, represented by Mr. Musa Ahmadu, Special Adviser on Legal Strategy and Administration, said sport transcends borders and creates vistas for mutual, plausible understanding among nations across the globe.
”Sports diplomacy offers both Nigeria and China a powerful platform to build this deeper connection. Sport speaks a universal language. It crosses borders, bridges differences and brings people together in a way that formal diplomacy sometimes cannot. Through sport, young people learn discipline. Through sport, cultures are introduced, understood and respected,” he said.
Mallam Dikko also noted that Nigeria has a young, energetic and talented population, just as the People’s Republic of China has experience, strong institutions, advanced sports systems and a rich cultural heritage, noting that it is only natural for both countries to work closely together.
”The National Sports Commission is open and ready for deeper engagement with the Chinese Mission in Nigeria, the China Cultural Centre, Beijing Sport University and other relevant Chinese institutions. We can build exchange programmes between Nigerian and Chinese sports institutions. We can support coaching clinics and technical training, encourage university sports partnerships, promote Wushu and other traditional sports among Nigerian youth, explore broader cooperation in sports infrastructure, sports medicine, research and sports industry development,” he declared.
The Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Dr. Mohammed Bulama, represented by Abiodun Ogidan, Director of Programmes at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), while speaking at the exhibition added that FRCN’s platforms have become a veritable instrument for promoting cultural ties and people-to-people exchanges and friendships between Nigeria and China.
”I am particularly delighted to acknowledge the excellent relationship that has been established between the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and FRCN through our collaboration on the Ni Hao China programme on the Network Service of FRCN. On NiHao, we bring Mandarin language to the doorstep of Nigerians and also showcase the Chinese Culture, technology, economy, travel guide and music,” she said and continued.
”The collaboration has yielded significant mutual benefits. For the Embassy, it has enhanced public awareness and engagement with Chinese culture and initiatives in Nigeria. For FRCN and its listeners, it has enriched our content offerings, broadened cultural perspectives, and strengthened our role as a bridge for international understanding, diplomatic ties and cooperation.”
Meanwhile, guests at the premium exhibition were treated to a cross-cultural performance line-up including a Nigerian Dance Performance by Unity Dance/Drum Ensemble, a Wushu lecture by Prof. Wu Dong, demonstrations of Wu Yuan Martial Arts, Wu Dao Fist and Martial Music by Weng Yeming and Liang Junxin, a Tai Chi performance and another Nigerian dance by 17 Drum Majors for Peace.
The event marked one of the several cultural showcases under China’s 2026 designation as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
