Chinese cultural troupe thrills audience

A SPECTACULAR display of classical Chinese arts and culture by a cultural troupe from the Gansu Province of the People’s Republic of China at the National Theatre in Accra thrilled patrons who thronged the theatre.
The three-day show which kicked off on May 5, 2009 saw members of the troupe exhibiting excellent skills and enthusiasm with acrobatic display, graceful dances, songs, Chinese Kungfu, and magical display.
Though the Ghanaian audience could not comprehend the lyrics of the songs the melodious voices and tones from instruments carried most of them along as they applauded one performance after the other.
Those who spoke to the Daily Graphic after the show expressed their appreciation for the remarkable skills of the Chinese cultural troupe.
The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Yu Wenzhe, said before the cultural display that China’s civilisation dated 5000 years ago, and that the Gansu Province was located in the north west of the republic.
The performers, he pointed out, got their inspiration from ancient paintings and sculptures found in grottoes in the Gansu Province which depicted Buddhist stories over 1000 years ago.
He said the visit to Ghana by the troupe was the first of a series of activities to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in Ghana, and hoped that that would be an excellent opportunity for Ghanaians to enjoy Chinese culture.
He said the co-operation that had existed between China and Ghana for the past 50 years had yielded good results in various fields.
“Many Chinese cultural troupes and their Ghanaian counterparts have exchanged visits since 1960, and these visits have enabled the people of our two countries to better understand and learn from each other”, he said, explaining that such cultural exchanges had served to promote co-operation between the two countries.
The Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Alexander Asum-Ahensan, recalled the relationship between Ghana and China, which he said dated back to the First Republic.
“Our relationship borders on political, economic and social programmes. Today we are proud to say that the relationship has reached its apogee”, he stated and identified the construction of the National Theatre and the Esi Sutherland Centre at the University of Ghana, Legon, as examples of the co-operation between the two countries.
The visit by the troupe was sponsored by the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China, the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture in Ghana, the Chinese Embassy in Ghana, China Enterprise Chamber of Commerce in Ghana, the Ghana-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the China State Hualong Construction (Ghana) Limited.

Caption: Pix-1 A group picture of the Gansu Cultural Troupe, with the Minister for Chieftancy and Culture, Mr Alexander Asum-Ahensan (in Batakari), and the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Yu Wenzhe (in Suite), in the second row.

Pix-2 A performance of acrobatics and Chinese Kungfu, by the troupe at the National Theatre.