Liberia: Young Liberian Student Wins Chinese Singing Competition
Student Jusu N. Dawolo of the Salvation Army Polytechnic, he’s an HSK2 student of the Confucius Institute.
A young Liberian student of the Chinese language, Jusu N. Dawolo, was crowned the grand prize winner in a competition title: “‘Voice of Liberia’ Chinese Singing Competition.
Student Dawolo won the grand prize of the competition recently when contested against eleven other students learning the Chinese langague at the Confucius Institute at the University of Liberia. This event according to authorities at the institute at the University is part of the cultural exchange program between Liberia and China which is commemorated annually.
He is a student of the Salvation Army Polytechnic, he’s an HSK2 student of the Confucius Institute. The young man is the first Liberian that is expected to enroll at the University of Liberia soon to study Chinese language and culture as his major.
This final stage of the Chinese language songs competition which was contested by these Liberian students was held under the theme "Together for Brighter Future."
Student Dawolo walked away with the grand prize following an exceptional performance on stage which drew his audience's keen attention to how beautiful Chinese culture and tradition is.
The 2023 “Voice of Liberia” song competition was organized by the Confucius Institute as part of several programs organized in commemoration of the annual “Chinese Language Day” The colourful event saw every participating student called Chinese names as they sang beautiful Chinese songs that were stripped on a live stream.
Zhou Hongzhuan, Co-Director of the Institute recalled that over the years, the Institute has been the backbone of cultural exchange between Liberia and China, something that promotes diplomacy and development.
“This event marks a significant impact on the cultural exchange between Liberia and China,” Zhou said. “The Confucius Institute has been the backbone of this cultural exchange between the two countries and it has been promoting and strengthening the diplomacy between Liberia and China.”
The Chinese songs competition was an event that marked the celebration of the 19th anniversary of the Confucius Institute. The Chinese songs are meant to make learning Chinese easier for foreign students. “Adding that music knows no bounds,” she said.
Hongzhuan says singing Chinese songs makes learning the Chinese language easier for anyone because music knows no boundaries.
Meanwhile, the 2023 “Voice of Liberia” Chinese song competition was marked with a joyous atmosphere where every participant were considered the winner of the compilation. The awards ceremony which saw student Jusu N. Dawolo as the winner of the grand prize, also saw at least two students emerging as winners in lower grades of the awards.
However, students Lawbeth Davis and Lawrence P. Davis were also winners of the Merit Awards, while students Joannah Allen and Pierre Martin Mokwa emerged as winners of the first prize.
Winners of the 2023 ‘Voice of Liberia’ Chinese Singing Competition
Others who were awarded prizes were Aisha D. Lasanna, Towah B. Mannie and Abrohim R. Sheriff who all won the second prize, as students Chris Cooper, Chillion D. Mason, Antoinette K. Sando and Michael M. Lyanplawon all earned the third prize of the competition.
It may be recalled that in 2022, a similar competition was organized by the institute where Liberian students incredibly performed and won different prizes at different levels. Last year’s competition was also intended to showcase Liberian students’ talents in the Chinese language through songs.
The Confucius Institute at UL, the first Confucius Institute in West Africa, was jointly established by the University of Liberia and Changsha University of Science & Technology in China in December 2008. The Institute was established at the University to teach Liberian students the Chinese Language and Culture as well as provide other opportunities for young Liberians.
CIUL is the only institution providing free Chinese language courses and the only Chinese Test Center to organize HSK and HSKK in Liberia. CIUL aims to promote cultural exchange and friendship between Liberia and China.