NAIROBI, June 17 (Xinhua) — The eighth Nairobi international cultural festival was held in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi Saturday as senior officials and diplomats renewed calls for leveraging cultural diversity to promote mutual understanding, friendship and respect.
Convened by the National Museums of Kenya and foreign missions in Kenya, the cultural festival featured music, dance, cuisine, artworks and attire.
John Ololtuaa, the principal secretary in Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, said the international cultural festival provided an ideal platform to strengthen bridges of friendship and pursuit of shared aspirations for citizens from all corners of the globe. “The festival is a testament to the power of cultural cooperation to foster mutual understanding, embrace diversity and open our hearts and minds to new perspectives,” Ololtuaa remarked.
Held at the expansive courtyard of the National Museums of Kenya, the festival attracted hundreds of local and foreign guests keen to watch thrilling performances and sample cuisine, works of art and clothes displayed in the stands.
At the exhibition stand erected by the University of Nairobi’s Confucius Institute, visitors participated in calligraphy besides sampling a variety of Chinese dishes on display.
An American expatriate in Kenya, who preferred to be identified as Ted only, watched keenly as his seven-year-old son Andy drew Chinese characters which denote good fortunes, to the delight of other onlookers. On the far end of the exhibition stand, Ted’s three daughters applied markings on Peking Opera masks as their mother watched patiently.
Edwin Abonyo, the chair of the National Museums of Kenya Board, said besides showcasing artistic and culinary prowess from different countries, the festival aimed to demolish stereotypes and promote unity in diversity.
Source : Xinhua