People from different backgrounds and communities joined together to explore a major world culture.
300 participants attended the Chinese New Year celebrations in Derry-Londonderry, organised by the Mandarin Speakers Association (MSA) for the past 10 years.
The event, which took place on Sunday 26 January 2020, was funded through the Small Grants Scheme of the Community Relations Council.
It’s an opportunity for youths and adults of Chinese or mixed identity to learn about Chinese identity and express it through cultural performances, as well as being an important means to engage with the local community.
Yang Zhou, from MSA, has been running a Chinese school for 10 years with classes from nursery all the way up to A-Level every weekend in Oakgrove Integrated Primary School.
“We meet every week,” Yang explained. “Our group has been running a Chinese school where we teach Chinese language, song, poem, and dance. During the New Year celebrations, we had children and adult performances that included Chinese Fan dance, Umbralla dance, Mogolian Anda dance, Korean and more. As well as calligraphy, Beijing Opera mask, and of course delicious Chinese food.”
Special guests in attendance included: Mayor Michella Boyle; Eddie Friel, Director of Magee Campus, Ulster University; Leo Murphy, Principal of Northwest Regional College; and Songhua Zhu, Deputy General Consul from the Consulate General of China in Belfast.
Connections and cultural awareness were key to the success of this event.
“A performer was practicing the Chinese flute before the event started,” Yang said. “Another performer, running an African drumming workshop nearby, suddenly began playing in time with her. They instantly connected through the music and ended up performing on stage together! They had never met before.”
Yang was quick to point out how important it is to bring people from different backgrounds and communities together.
“The event gives people a chance to engage positively with our community to better understand a major world culture,” Yang explained. “It allows everyone to understand and tackle racism, as well as the barriers to integration.
“Language and cultural knowledge gained through education can improve attitudes. The North West is not free of racism. Events like ours can help tackle such issues.”
Yang believes that funding secured through the Community Relations Council is important in tackling all forms of racism and the difficulties of community integration.
“Funding from the Community Relations Council has helped increase the influence and representation of Chinese people within the local community,” Yang said. “This event has helped people engage positively with the local Chinese community to better understand our cultural identity, as well as dealing with the issues of racism and barriers to integration.”
Further Information
This event by MSA was funding through the Small Grants Scheme of the Community Relations Council. Learn more about the Small Grants Scheme.