Chinese Lunar New Year - Expresso Show
Thank you to Expresso Show for sharing the beauty and richness of our Chinese culture and tradition with SABC 3 viewers on Thursday 30th January 2020.
Promotional material credit: Courtesy of 'Facebook / Expresso Morning Show - SABC 3' (Thursday, 30th January 2020).
Watch presenters Katlego Maboe, Kuhle Adams and Jamie-Lee Domburg discuss the history and origin of the most important festival celebrated by Chinese people around the world.
Video credit: Courtesy of 'YouTube / Expresso Show' (Thursday, 30th January 2020).
Language, cuisine, arts & crafts
Promotional material credit: Courtesy of 'Facebook / Expresso Morning Show - SABC 3' (Thursday, 30th January 2020).
Tony Huang is the Managing Director of Huang Laoshi Mandarin Centre in Durbanville Cape Town. Together with his wife, Nikita, they offer language teaching and translation services, host cultural classes (including calligraphy, chess, cooking, painting, paper cutting, tea ceremony and more), sell merchandise and provide textbooks and learning materials to dispel negative stereotypes and bridge understanding between the people of South Africa and China.
"Chinese New Year for us, we would like to celebrate the year end, similar to like Christmas to the Western society, so everybody will get together to celebrate."
Watch Tony explain how Chinese traditionally celebrate the start of Spring Festival.
Video credit: Courtesy of 'YouTube / Expresso Show' (Thursday, 30th January 2020).
Promotional material credit: Courtesy of 'Facebook / Expresso Morning Show - SABC 3' (Thursday, 30th January 2020).
"It's all about spreading prosperity and good fortune to everyone around your community and this is also true when it comes to the food."
Tony and Nikita explained the significance of food in Chinese culture and demonstrated how to prepare pan-fried dumplings with chef Anel Potgieter. Click here to watch the insert and here for the full recipe.
"Paper cutting is a very crucial skill in ancient time, because ladies all needed to learn how to do paper cutting. If you know how to do paper cutting is also benefit for you to garner a nice husband."
Watch Tony teach Katlego and Kuhle the ancient art of paper cutting.
Video credit: Courtesy of 'YouTube / Expresso Show' (Thursday, 30th January 2020).
If you're interested in learning Mandarin or wish to sign up to their next cultural class, visit their official website here.
Performing arts
Promotional material credit: Courtesy of 'Facebook / Expresso Morning Show - SABC 3' (Thursday, 30th January 2020).
Cape Town HuaXing Arts Group is a community based association for Chinese arts performance and their mission is to showcase traditional Chinese art and culture and promote the cultural exchange between and South Africa. Established in November 2016, they consist of dragon dance, lion dance, traditional Chinese dance, Ansai waist and Xing Shi drumming teams with performers aged from 7 to 70.
"The purpose to gather all the community together to celebrate the Chinese festivals and to integrate the Chinese community with local society and to enrich the diversity of the country, especially to make the diversity of Cape Town culture more beautiful."
Watch Gang Dong (Group Leader and Head of the South African Chinese Cultural Development Centre) explain the important role performing arts plays in our celebrations.
Video credit: Courtesy of 'YouTube / Expresso Show' (Thursday, 30th January 2020).
Watch their amazing performances of the lion, dragon and traditional dances below:
Video credits: Courtesy of 'YouTube / Expresso Show' (Thursday, 30th January 2020).
Read here how Cape Town HuaXing Arts Group has participated in the annual Cape Town Carnival since 2017, Durban Port Festival, Dias Port Festival in Mossel Bay, China Day in Somerset West and performed at events in support of youth development, anti-crime and mental health initiatives.
Promotional material credit: Courtesy of 'Facebook / Expresso Morning Show - SABC 3' (Thursday, 30th January 2020).
Click here to read they also hosed the inaugural ‘Shining of Huaxing Chinese Culture Festival’ at the Lourensford Wine Estate’s Twilight Market in Somerset West on Friday 29th March 2019.
Martial Arts
Promotional material credit: Courtesy of 'Facebook / Expresso Morning Show - SABC 3' (Thursday, 30th January 2020).
Legends of Kung Fu World Martial Arts champion M.J. Li teaches martial arts and self-defense to learners and women in Cape Town's under-resourced communities. He has coached the South African Youth Development squad to medal-winning performances at the Hong Kong International Kung Fu Championship during 2018 and 2019.
"For me in South Africa, to use an ancient culture and an aspect of Chinese culture, Kung Fu, although its been promoted as an art that ensures longevity. You know you find people in their 80’s and 90’s in China still practicing Tai Chi and Kung Fu up in the North and even in the South. But we can use Kung Fu as a vehicle in South Africa to provide our youth with an alternative that will protect them from and against anti-social behaviour."
Watch him teach Katlego and Graeme Richards some basic Tai Chi and Kung Fu steps:
Video credits: Courtesy of 'YouTube / Expresso Show' (Thursday, 30th January 2020).
Please support M.J. Li and purchase his first book "Kung Fu, My Journey, My History - Part 1" by e-mailing: mjlikungfu@gmail.com.
