China-Africa Cultural Exchange and Mutual Learning Fine Arts Exhibition opens in Nairobi

The China-Africa Cultural Exchange and Mutual Learning Fine Arts Exhibition opened at the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi on September 22. Co-hosted by the CMG Africa and the China Artists Association, it features more than 60 paintings by Chinese and Kenyan artists.

Nearly 100 guests attended the opening ceremony. Speakers included Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan; Zhu Hongzi, Deputy Secretary General of the China Artists Association; Song Jianing, Director of the CMG Africa Bureau; Timothy Nyakwamba Kajwang, Kenya’s Deputy Director for Youth Development, Youth Skills and Talent Development; Professor Fredrick Manthi, Director of Antiquities, Sites and Monuments at the National Museums of Kenya; and Judith Ogana, National Programme Specialist for Culture at the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa.

Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan said the exhibition was part of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. She said exchanges in culture, art, tourism and media could bring people closer, while respect for different traditions would help deepen mutual understanding.

Zhu Hongzi, Deputy Secretary General of the China Artists Association, said Chinese and Kenyan folk art is rooted in local life and expresses shared hopes for a good harvest, a sense of home and a better future. He called for more exhibitions and exchanges between artists from the two countries.

Song Jianing, Director of the CMG Africa Bureau, described art as a language that connects people across borders. She said the works on display tell stories of identity, memory and belonging, creating space for cultural dialogue and mutual appreciation.

Timothy Nyakwamba Kajwang, Kenya’s Deputy Director for Youth Development, Youth Skills and Talent Development, said the country was investing in young talent and its creative industries. He welcomed closer cooperation with China in digital art, fashion and creative technology, and hoped the exhibition would lead to joint projects between artists in both countries.

Guests from China, Kenya and UNESCO joined a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the exhibition’s opening.

Chinese and Kenyan artists then held a roundtable on artistic creation, cultural heritage and innovation, sharing insights from their work and discussing how art can strengthen understanding between cultures.

Guests toured the exhibition and spoke with artists about the ideas and traditions behind their paintings. They noted both the distinct styles of the works and the experiences and emotions shared by people in China and Kenya.