Title:   ADDING VALUE TO AFRICA-CHINA RELATIONSHIP: UNIZIK CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE COMMUNICATING CHINA TO THE WORLD

Abstract
The Confucius Institutes (CIs), a window into China for many people, have been a major conveyor
of Chinese language and culture since 2004 when the first CI was established in Seoul. Before their
establishment, the world had little acquaintance with both the Chinese language and Chinese
culture. The language was not spoken by the vast majority of non-native speakers who can speak
it today. Similarly, general awareness of the culture was limited to things like kung fu and chop
sticks. Africa is, perhaps, the region where the existence of the CIs is being felt the most. Due to
the aggressiveness of certain CIs in that continent, the Chinese language and culture have become
popular with Africans. This paper is about the role of the Confucius Institute at Nnamdi Azikiwe
University in communicating China to Nigerians. Established twelve years ago, that CI (popularly
known as UNIZIK CI) is the leading purveyor of the Chinese language and culture in Nigeria.
Keywords:Confucius Institutes, Chinese language and culture, Africa, UNIZIK CI.

Citations:

Publication Date: 2021-07-09