On June 16, to celebrate the Eid al-Adha in
Nigeria, MCG held a distinctive cultural dinner at the China Cultural Center in
Nigeria. Liu Zhanping, the deputy director of the China Cultural Center in
Nigeria, attended the event and delivered a speech. Cui Guangzhen, Zhang Ji and
Zhang Xinyu from the secretariat of the Nigerian China Chamber of Commerce were
invited to the event and celebrated the festival with representatives of MCG's
Chinese and Nigerian employees.
The China Cultural Center in Nigeria is an
important cultural bridge for China in sub-Saharan Africa. Since its
establishment, the center has been committed to promoting the dissemination and
promotion of Chinese culture. Through various cultural activities, exhibitions,
lectures and performances, it has shown the Nigerian people China's rich and
diverse cultural heritage and contemporary development achievements. In
addition, the cultural center has actively established cooperative relations
with local communities, educational institutions, art groups, etc., jointly
organized cultural exchange activities, promoted mutual understanding and
friendship between the two peoples, provided opportunities for the Nigerian
people to understand and experience Chinese culture, and laid a foundation for
the dissemination and promotion of Chinese culture in Africa.
At the beginning of the event, Liu Zhanping
warmly welcomed the participants and personally led them to visit the cultural
center. Under Liu's guidance, the Chinese and Nigerian employees first visited
various exhibition halls and facilities of the cultural center. These
exhibition halls display rich artworks, photography, and books, showcasing the
cultural center's development history and Nigeria's multiculturalism. The
employees stopped to admire them, expressing admiration for the cultural
heritage of China and Nigeria.
Afterwards, a cultural feast blending the
traditions of China and Nigeria officially kicked off. At the event,
representatives of Chinese employees and Nigerian employees sat together,
enjoying traditional delicacies from both countries. Among them, the fragrant
lamb stew rice was mouth-watering. As a traditional delicacy of Eid al-Adha,
lamb stew rice carries profound festival significance. On that day, the
families of Usman and Aba, Nigerian employees of MCG, specially prepared this
dish for the banquet. They carefully selected ingredients, carefully blended
spices, and after six hours of cooking, they created a fragrant and delicious
lamb stew rice. This delicious dish was very popular, adding a festive
atmosphere to the holiday.
At the banquet ceremony, Liu Zhaolong, the
president of the company, extended his festival greetings to everyone. He
emphasized that Eid al-Adha is the "Spring Festival" of Muslims,
symbolizing reunion and harmony, just as the Spring Festival is for Chinese
people, representing family reunion and cultural inheritance. Celebrating Eid
al-Adha at the China Cultural Center in Nigeria has special significance:
first, by visiting and learning at the cultural center, we can deeply
appreciate the charm of Chinese culture and better inherit and promote it;
second, the "family" culture is the core force that has kept the
Chinese nation alive for 5,000 years, and spending the Muslim "Spring
Festival" at the China Cultural Center, a "home" for overseas
Chinese, is a testament to the inheritance of the "family" culture;
third, a variety of leisure activities such as barbecues, board games, singing,
etc., have greatly enriched the overseas lives of employees and enhanced their
friendship and cohesion.
Besides the delicious food, there were also a
variety of cultural and entertainment activities arranged on the spot. Small
games, table tennis, and board games attracted the active participation of many
employees, with bursts of applause and laughter echoing throughout the venue. A
singing gathering was also held at the dinner, under the starry night sky.
There was no grand stage, no elaborate accompaniment, and no sound equipment,
but everyone's enthusiasm was not diminished at all. Mobile phones became lyrics
prompts and simple lighting, and everyone sang acoustically, with sincere and
moving voices echoing in the air, and the dim light reflecting our happy faces.
Despite the simple conditions, everyone immersed themselves in this simple yet
pure joy, spending an unforgettable night.
Eid al-Adha, one of the major festivals in
Islam, is usually celebrated on the 10th day of the 12th month of the Islamic
calendar. The word "Eid" in Arabic means "festival," while
"al-Adha" translates to "sacrifice" or
"offering," thus Eid al-Adha is also known as the "Festival of
Sacrifice" or "Festival of Offering." This festival commemorates
the loyalty and sacrifice of the ancient prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). On this
day, the Nigerian Muslim community holds various celebratory activities,
including attending prayers, sacrificing animals, visiting relatives and
friends, sharing delicious food, and creating a joyful and harmonious festival
atmosphere.