Jinhua's Wuju Opera troupe brings Chinese culture to Lesotho

The Wuju Opera performance team from Jinhua poses for a group photo in Lesotho. [Photo/Jinhua Media Group]

A Wuju Opera troupe from Jinhua, Zhejiang province, performed in Lesotho on Oct 9 to promote cultural exchange and to mark the China-Africa Year of Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges and the 60th anniversary of Lesotho's independence.

The troupe, from the Zhejiang Wuju Opera Art Research Institute and the Wuyi County Wuju Opera Art Heritage Center, was invited by the Chinese embassy and dispatched by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Speaker Tlohang Sekhamane and Minister of Gender, Youth, and Social Development Pitso Lesaoana welcomed the troupe, praised cultural exchange for deepening bilateral ties, and thanked China for its support.

The team performed at Avani Maseru Hotel and the Lesotho National Convention Center, captivating audiences with elaborate costumes, singing, and martial arts. Bilingual Chinese-English subtitles also helped the audience follow the story of the classic Three Battles with the White-boned Demon.

Chinese Ambassador Yang Xiaokun attended the show, saying the play helped African audiences understand Chinese culture.

The tour brought Chinese opera to African audiences and built a cultural bridge between China and Lesotho, contributing to China-Africa people-to-people exchanges.