Poetry Recitation Competition bridges Kenyan and Chinese cultures

The first Poetry Recitation Competition in Kenya was held at the Confucius Institute of Kenyatta University, in the capital of Nairobi, presenting a crucial element of Chinese culture to teachers and students in Kenya.

Thirteen contestants from various institutions, including the United States International University, Discovery Chinese Cultural Training Center, and Kenyatta University, took part in the final round of competition on Wednesday after being shortlisted from 27 candidates in the preliminary selections. The finalists presented a wide range of works, from classical masterpieces to modern poems.

"We gather not only to listen to verses and rhymes, but to witness the power of language — how a few carefully chosen words can move hearts, spark ideas, and bring people together," Leonard Chacha, director of the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University, said. Chacha noted that the event was not merely a contest, but a reminder that poetry remains alive in a world often filled with noise.