The award ceremony for the 2026 "Soundscapes of Africa" national multilingual dubbing competition was held on June 6 by Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU)'s Schools of African Studies.

Participants of the award ceremony pose for a group photo. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

At the ceremony, Liu Xinlu, BFSU's vice-president, highlighted the university's commitment to cultivating "Africa experts" to support China-Africa cooperation. He emphasized that this event showcases the open-mindedness and capability of Chinese youth to engage with the world and understand diverse civilizations.

Somalia's Ambassador to China, Amb Hodan Osman, recalled the China-Somalia friendship, expressing gratitude to BFSU for organizing the exhibition in response to Somalia's proposal. She affirmed that the Somali Embassy in China will continue to promote deep cooperation between the two countries in education, youth, and cultural fields, wishing for enduring China-Somalia relations and everlasting friendship between the peoples.

Somalia's Ambassador to China, Amb Hodan Osman, and leaders of BFSU pose for a group photo. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The 2026 "Soundscapes of Africa" competition received 74 entries from 25 universities nationwide, divided into African indigenous languages and other foreign languages categories. Languages included Swahili, Malagasy, Hausa, Shona, Kinyarwanda, English, French, Arabic, and Portuguese.

At the event, the prize-winners were awarded their certificates, with outstanding works showcased on-site. They award receivers also shared the stories and insights behind their creations, deeply moving the audience with their heartfelt narratives about the China-Africa bond.

Following the awards, participants visited the China-Somalia Friendship Historical Photo Exhibition. They engaged in discussions in front of the valuable images, reflecting on the profound friendship forged through shared history.

The event, bridging sound and imagery, provided a platform for the students passionate about African languages and culture to showcase their talents. It encouraged Chinese students to contribute their wisdom and strength to building a new era of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future.