Children from the Soong Ching Ling Peace Angel Art Troupe recently had the opportunity to perform for distinguished guests from Africa at the Great Hall of the People during the welcome banquet of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

Preparing for this performance gave the troupe members valuable insights into African cultures.

"I could feel the eagerness of every member to seize this opportunity. The teachers introduced us to African songs and instruments, opening a window to understanding African cultures," said Liu Shenhe, a member of the troupe.

Zhang Haoyang is a member of the art troupe's percussion group.

He enjoys the art of performing percussion and over the years, his teachers have introduced him to various percussion instruments while teaching him about the musical expressions of different countries.

His curiosity about African traditional culture was piqued while learning to play the djembe, a drum from West Africa.

The crisp beats and passionate performance style of playing the instrument helped him experience the warmth and exuberance of the African people.