Chinese and Nigerian workers at a project site in Nigeria have celebrated the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival with cultural displays, poetry, traditional food and storytelling aimed at strengthening friendship and promoting mutual understanding between the two countries.
The celebration, organised by the project team, brought together Chinese and Nigerian employees to share their cultural heritage and explore the similarities between their traditions, particularly their shared appreciation of the moon.
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The event featured lantern displays, mooncakes, poetry recitals and presentations on the history and cultural significance of the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is traditionally celebrated in China as a time for family reunion and togetherness.
During the programme, Chinese employees introduced their Nigerian colleagues to traditional folklore associated with the festival, including the legend of Chang’e, who is believed to have flown to the moon, and the story of Wu Gang and the cassia tree.
They also explained traditional customs such as moon-gazing, eating mooncakes, displaying lanterns and solving riddles, highlighting the cultural significance of the full moon in Chinese society.
The Chinese participants explained that the festival symbolises family reunion and emotional connection, particularly for people separated from their loved ones by distance. They noted that the full moon serves as a symbol of unity, as families share thoughts and blessings while admiring the same moon.
In response, Nigerian participants said the emphasis on family unity reflected values deeply rooted in Nigerian communities, where family relationships, communal gatherings and shared cultural traditions remain important.
The cultural exchange continued with Nigerian employees sharing traditional beliefs and stories about the moon in various Nigerian communities, including its associations with harvest, love, time and seasonal changes.
Some participants recalled how full-moon nights traditionally provide opportunities for communal gatherings, singing, dancing and storytelling in certain Nigerian communities, drawing parallels with the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.
The observation generated laughter and applause among participants, who expressed appreciation for the similarities between the two cultures despite their geographical and cultural differences.
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The programme also featured a Chinese poetry session, during which Nigerian employees were introduced to works by renowned Chinese poets Su Shi and Li Bai.
Participants recited selected verses from Shui Diao Ge Tou and Jing Ye Si, while Chinese colleagues explained their meanings and helped Nigerian participants with pronunciation.
Particular attention was given to the poetic expression of the desire for loved ones to live long and share the beauty of the same moon, even when separated by distance.
Participants described the message as a universal expression of love, friendship and longing that transcends national and cultural boundaries.
The celebration also featured the sharing of mooncakes, a traditional Chinese delicacy symbolising reunion and completeness because of its round shape.
Chinese employees presented different varieties of mooncakes, including lotus seed, red bean and mixed-nut fillings, to their Nigerian colleagues, some of whom were tasting the traditional delicacy for the first time.
One of the Nigerian participants described the experience as more than an opportunity to sample unfamiliar food, noting that the gesture demonstrated the thoughtfulness and hospitality of the project team.
The organisers said the celebration provided an opportunity for Nigerian employees to gain firsthand knowledge of Chinese culture while allowing their Chinese counterparts to learn more about Nigerian traditions.
They added that cultural activities of this nature could strengthen mutual understanding, foster friendship and promote cooperation among workers from different cultural backgrounds.
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The project team reaffirmed its commitment to organising similar cultural activities and traditional celebrations to encourage people-to-people exchanges and deepen China-Nigeria relations at the workplace and community levels.
The celebration highlighted the role of cultural traditions in bridging differences, fostering meaningful relationships and promoting peaceful coexistence and cooperation between people from diverse backgrounds.