Kenyan scholars hail China's "Ne Zha 2" for showcasing cultural heritage to global audiences

Nairobi [Kenya], March 5: The record-breaking Chinese animated film "Ne Zha 2" is raising the bar in immersing global audiences in the richness, beauty and authenticity of Chinese culture, a Kenyan teacher has said.
Susan Wachira, a Chinese language teacher at the Confucius Institute of Kenyatta University, Kenya's second-oldest university, said the highest-grossing animated movie globally is a masterpiece in presenting "the unexplored aspects of Chinese culture."
"I have watched 'Ne Zha 1.' It showed a whole new dimension of Chinese culture that I had not explored before, especially its mythical aspects, and it is very captivating," Wachira said in a recent interview with Xinhua.
"Ne Zha 2," the first non-Hollywood film to surpass two billion U.S. dollars in global earnings, has garnered widespread acclaim for its persuasive storytelling, cutting-edge animation and emotional depth, according to media reports.
A case study in cultural reinvention, the film has also been hailed by reviewers for its seamless fusion of tradition and innovation, even as it reimagines the ancient tale of Ne Zha, a rebellious boy god from Chinese folklore, while weaving in contemporary themes of identity, resilience, and social justice.
Wachira, an accomplished scholar, pursued a master's degree in linguistics and applied linguistics at China's Tianjin Normal University from 2009 to 2012, followed by a joint doctoral degree in applied linguistics at China's Beijing Normal University and Kenyatta University from 2015 to 2019. Reflecting on her studies in the Asian country, she said the experience was an eye-opener that deepened her understanding of Chinese culture and fueled her fascination with the country's rapid development.
Eager to watch "Ne Zha 2" in Kenya, Wachira believed that the film would impress her with its depth, mystery and ability to introduce foreigners to China's long-cherished traditions.
The Kenyan teacher also revealed that she intends to watch "Ne Zha 1" again to understand how the main character evolves and encourage her students to watch it for educational and entertainment purposes.
Noting the phenomenal success of the "Ne Zha" film series, she stressed that Kenya and other developing countries can learn from China's efforts in economic transformation, especially in the development of cultural industries.
"Ne Zha 2" has struck a chord with Chinese cultural lovers in the world thanks to its ability to breathe new life into Chinese mythology, delivering an exhilarating mix of action, humor and heartfelt emotion, said Lewis Ndichu, a researcher at Kenya-based think tank Africa Policy Institute.
Fred Mukilya, chief representative of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry to China, said it will be interesting for Kenyan audiences to watch the masterpiece of Chinese animation, which shows the country's growing strength in the global film industry.
Source: Xinhua News Agency