In 2016, 10 young Zambians, as recipients of Chinese government scholarships, came to the Nanjing University of the Arts in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province to study music. Among them was Davison Njolomba, who is currently pursuing his doctoral degree at the university.
Njolomba reminisced about his first time coming to China, delving into the intricacies of violin performance. Despite the challenges, he recognizes the violin's unique ability to convey emotions accurately like a language.
Njolomba studied music education during his undergraduate years in Zambia. He attributes his fascination with Chinese traditional music to the violin rendition of "Butterfly Lovers". Apart from the violin, he also studied the erhu for two months at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
"In the future, I aim to become a bridge for Sino-Zambian cultural and artistic exchange. To achieve this, I not only need to acquire more professional knowledge and skills but also understand China's education system and gain more experience. This way, upon my return, I can better teach students," Njolomba said.
Reuben Chita, also one of the 10 Zambian students, completed his master's in recording arts in 2021. He then returned to Zambia to teach at a university and has established a recording department there.
"While promoting the internationalization of Chinese art and culture, we also aspire to facilitate the export of Chinese higher art education. This is crucial for nurturing international artistic talent and driving cultural exchanges between China and the world," said Xi Xie, dean of the School of International Education at the Nanjing University of the Arts.
