Kungfu Movies as Driver of China-Africa Cultural Exchanges

Kungfu Movies as Driver of China-Africa Cultural Exchanges

Study Focus: This article put forward the interest of African youngsters for Kungfu Movies, and then highlights the driver’s role and the cross-cultural communicative competences of Kungfu Movies in strengthening the cultural exchanges as well as boosting the China-Africa Movie Cooperation. Methodology: The content of this paper relies on written documents from primary and secondary sources as well as on the author’s teaching experience and understanding of Chinese Kungfu in Cameroon. The primary sources include the author’s previous research and surveys conducted on 197 Cameroonian residents and fans of cinema in the cities of Douala, Yaounde and Bafoussam. Secondary sources include scientific journals and articles as well as official reports most of which are available online. Cameroon is used as case study. Findings:...............
Cross-cultural Communication of Chinese Martial Arts in Africa

Cross-cultural Communication of Chinese Martial Arts in Africa

Intercultural communication is an interpretive context in which people from different cultures create and share meanings. It’s an adaptative process in which different cultures interact and co-develop. The Martial arts as inalienable part of humans’ culture have played in human history a decisive role in connecting people. The 1970’s  Kungfu movies had introduced the Chinese martial arts to the world, and the establishment of diplomatic relation between the New China and different countries of the world have speed up the global communication of the Chinese martial arts, opening a new window to understand the Chinese people. However, in the African continent, the Chinese martial arts’ communication has been unilateral and influenced by many factors such as the communication carrier, the language barrier, the receiver’s cultural background, etc., resulting in the “onesided” and “biased” understanding of the Chinese martial culture. In general, the lack of the receiver’s perspective in the global communication of Chinese culture has become an obstacle to its internationalization. In fact, in their dissemination processes on the African continent, not only the Chinese martial arts have absorbed many ingredients of local cultures, but have confronted the cultural background and religious beliefs of the local people. ....
Difference Between Chinese and African Martial Arts Conceptions

Difference Between Chinese and African Martial Arts Conceptions

China and Africa have become culturally closer as the relationship and economic endowment between both sides are growing in leaps and bounds. The martial arts culture can provide a new outlook to deepen the China-Africa cultural understanding as well as to open new windows for other cultures to better connect with Chinese and African people. In this regard, this paper looks into the African and Chinese conceptions of martial arts cultures from historical and traditional perspectives. In fact, the trinity made of “Combat+Spirituality+Dance” that constitutes the core values of African Martial Arts is investigated. In addition, some explanatory examples such as Engolo, Dambe, Laamb, Donga, Zulu Stick Fighting etc., still practiced in Africa today and that show the uniqueness of the African martial arts culture are displayed.