NAIROBI, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Stepping onto the illuminated runway in a vibrant display of color and movement on Wednesday night, Juliet Wambui brought the fashion show to life with a seamless blend of Chinese and African attire to mark the Mid-Autumn Festival in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.
The 18-year-old University of Nairobi student walked before an enthusiastic audience, showcasing innovative fusion garments that highlighted cross-cultural harmony.
Wambui was among dozens of performers at the China-Africa Cultural Exchange Mid-Autumn Fashion Show, themed "Moonlit Glamour, Threads of Connection".
Organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi (CIUON) and the Kenya Chinese Women Association, the celebration drew more than 300 attendees, including students, scholars and members of the local Chinese community, to embrace unity and harmony through fashion, music and dance.
For Wambui, participating in the runway showcase marked a personal milestone in her exploration of Chinese culture.
"I came to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival event where it's a true Chinese-African fusion," said Wambui. "I started loving Chinese culture when I was young, and arriving at the university allowed me to explore it further."
Wambui modeled three distinct collections during the show, including university wear, traditional Chinese attire and African-Chinese fusion garments.
During the event, Amani Bath, a student of economics and finance at Kenyatta University, joined members of Artika Dance Studios in performing a Chinese song.
The 21-year-old said she decided to perform this popular Chinese folk-pop song because it resonates well with African audiences.
"It feels vibrant and colorful," said Bath, who completed her secondary education at Elite High School in Uganda.
"Young people who learn Chinese and understand its culture and technology can bring those insights back to Africa to contribute locally," she added.
Wang Shangxue, director of the CIUON, emphasized that the fashion show was designed to highlight deepening people-to-people exchanges between China and Africa amid the growing popularity of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Kenya.
"We wanted to use this occasion to showcase both Chinese and Kenyan cultures, as well as their cultural fusion," Wang said, pointing out that members of the Chinese community present also wore traditional African attire to demonstrate mutual appreciation.
According to Wang, the Mid-Autumn Festival has special significance in Chinese culture because it is traditionally a time for families and communities to gather.
Isaac Njoroge, a student at the University of Nairobi and a member of the CIUON Kung Fu Club, showcased various outfits on the runway.
Having already achieved HSK Level 4 in Mandarin proficiency, Njoroge traced his initial passion for the Chinese language and culture, including the Mid-Autumn Festival, to martial arts cinema.
"My inspiration originally came from Chinese movies, which led me to practice Kung Fu and learn Mandarin," Njoroge said.
Telly Tabby Wanjiru, a 22-year-old who is set to graduate with a bachelor's degree in microbiology in December, performed the classic Chinese song "Nan Ping Wan Zhong" alongside fellow members of the CIUON Dance Club.
Her own introduction to Chinese culture began shortly after secondary school, after her brother suggested that she learn a foreign language as an additional skill.
Wanjiru added that Kenyan students are increasingly familiar with the festival and have joined Chinese friends in celebrating it.
