From ESSTIC to the Majestic One cinema, the China–Cameroon documentary brought together nearly 400 people around kung fu as a cultural bridge between China and Africa.

Yaoundé, 30 October 2026 — By the Sinafricanews editorial team

The “Kung-Fu Dream” event went smoothly and fully in line with the programme. On Friday, 30 October 2026, the Cameroonian capital hosted the Cameroon premiere of the documentary “Kung-Fu Dream” (《功夫追梦》), together with a people-to-people exchange ceremony and the signing of a distribution partnership. Organised by the Institute of African Studies of Zhejiang Normal University (ZJNU) and Zhejiang Zhuowei Film & Television Culture Co., Ltd., and co-organised by ESSTIC and the Confucius Institute of the University of Yaoundé II, the day was part of 2026, the China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.

A High-Level Official Morning at ESSTIC

The official session, held at the ESSTIC auditorium in Ngoa-Ekellé, was attended by Mr Xiao Guofeng, Counsellor, representing the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Cameroon ; the representative of the Ministry of Arts and Culture; the Director of ESSTIC; Ms Xue Xiaobin, Director of the Confucius Institute of the University of Yaoundé II; Mr Yang Jianqiao, Chairman of Zhejiang Zhuowei Film & Television Culture Co., Ltd. and Chinese director of the film; and Dr Taling T. Rodrigue, Director of the Centre for African Film and Television at the Institute of African Studies, ZJNU.

More than 100 students took part in the ceremony, alongside numerous members of the local press and media — CRTV, Equinoxe, the newspaper L’Étudiant, Horizon Jeune and the daily Mutations — as well as international media, including Xinhua News Agency.

Opened by a cultural performance from ESSTIC students, the ceremony continued with a series of speeches. Speakers in turn praised the symbolic significance of a film that, far from abstract discourse, tells the story of China–Africa cooperation on a human scale. The Chinese representative highlighted the role of cultural exchange in bringing peoples closer, while the Ministry of Arts and Culture official emphasised cinema as a driver of China–Cameroon cooperation. Ms Xue Xiaobin underlined the importance of language and cultural mediation, and Dr Taling presented kung fu, African martial arts and cinema as bridges of friendship.

The highlight of the morning was the signing of the distribution partnership between Zhejiang Zhuowei Film & Television Culture Co., Ltd. and Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), paving the way for the film to reach Cameroonian audiences. This was followed by the presentation and signing of the book on the transmission and exchange between African martial arts and Chinese wushu, the official group photo, and interviews with the press.

Nearly 300 Young People at Majestic One

In the afternoon, the celebration moved to the Majestic One cinema at the University of Yaoundé. The screening was honoured by the presence of the Director of ESSTIC, the Director of Cinematography of the Ministry of Arts and Culture, Ms Xue Xiaobin, Dr Taling and the CRTV representative, before an audience of nearly 300 university and secondary-school students.

The audience discovered the 90-minute “Kung-Fu Dream”, which follows the true journey of Rodrigue, a young Cameroonian who crossed seas and continents to pursue his martial-arts dream in China and become a cultural ambassador between China and Africa. The screening was followed by a panel discussion and lively exchanges with the audience.

Gouna Dance, Theme Song and Kung Fu Demonstrations

A rich artistic programme set the rhythm of the event. Traditional Cameroonian dance groups, notably performing the gouna dance, enlivened the day. Chinese-language learners from the Confucius Institute performed the theme song “Kung-Fu Dream” to warm applause. Various kung fu demonstrations and Chinese dance performances completed the picture, giving concrete expression to the dialogue of cultures at the heart of the film.

Cinema as a Tool for Lasting Dialogue

Beyond the screening, this Cameroon premiere laid the foundations for academic, audiovisual and film cooperation between ZJNU, ESSTIC, the Confucius Institute, CRTV and Cameroonian industry professionals. With its upcoming broadcast on national television, “Kung-Fu Dream” is set to extend its reach well beyond the cinemas of Yaoundé.

As the film’s message puts it: “The most powerful diplomacy does not always take place in official institutions, but in sincere encounters between peoples.”

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