A nine-year-old girl from Dar es Salaam has won the national finals of the “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Language Show for Primary School Students, earning a chance to represent Tanzania at the global competition in China this July.
Mariam Mussa emerged as the overall winner, outperforming 14 fellow contestants from seven different primary schools across the coastal city. The event, held with great fanfare, highlighted the talents of young students in the Chinese language, with participants showcasing their skills through storytelling, speeches, classical poetry recitation, and singing. Their performances were marked by expressive gestures and emotional delivery, captivating both judges and the audience.
“I am excited to be declared the overall winner. I am looking forward to traveling to China for the finals,” said Mariam, visibly elated as she received her award.
The contest is part of a broader effort to promote Chinese language education among young learners in Tanzania. Organizers of the competition emphasized the event’s importance in not only encouraging language proficiency but also in building confidence and fostering cross-cultural understanding from an early age.
An official from the University of Dar es Salaam praised the students for their dedication and enthusiasm, highlighting that such programs are laying a strong foundation for the future of Sino-Tanzanian relations. The acting deputy vice-chancellor noted that the competition helps children gain the confidence to express themselves and take pride in their learning achievements.
The Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at the university emphasized the long-term impact of the initiative. “These seeds being planted in these young students will blossom and bear great fruits in building a lasting bridge of friendship between China and Tanzania, now and in the future,” she said.
The event also drew the attention of government representatives, who voiced their support for strengthening Chinese language education. A senior official from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology described the program as a vital opportunity for Tanzanian youth to acquire skills that are increasingly relevant in a globalized world. He expressed optimism that the growing cooperation between Tanzania and China in the field of education would yield greater opportunities for students in the future.
The primary school competition followed closely on the heels of another major event—the 18th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Language Contest for Secondary School Students, held in Dodoma. There, 16 students from across the country demonstrated their Chinese language proficiency and their deep appreciation for Chinese culture. The back-to-back contests are a reflection of the increasing popularity of Chinese language education in Tanzania, especially among the younger generation.
With her victory, Mariam Mussa now prepares for the global stage, where she will represent Tanzania in China alongside other top young Chinese language learners from around the world. Her journey serves as an inspiration to many other young students and reflects the growing interest in Chinese language and culture among Tanzanian youth.
