Shaolin Temple Zambia

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Feature: First Shaolin Temple opens in Zambia

Source: XinhuaEditor: huaxia2021-12-23 22:12:30

http://www.news.cn/english/20211223/...9516c0e162.jpg
Photo taken on Dec. 22, 2021 shows a view of Shaolin Temple in Zambia, Lusaka, capital of Zambia. (Photo by Martin Mbangweta/Xinhua)
by Elias Shilangwa
LUSAKA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- In an attempt to inculcate Chinese Kungfu and culture among the Zambian citizens, the first-ever Shaolin Temple has been opened in Lusaka, the Zambian capital.
The establishment of the Shaolin Temple is a collaboration between China's Songshan Shaolin Temple and Hua'an (Zambia), a Chinese-run company in Zambia.
Yan Lun, the headmaster of the temple, said the objectives of the project include teaching Shaolin Kungfu, Chinese culture, helping understand the African culture as well as enhancing the China-Africa friendship.
"The influence of Chinese culture in the world is increasing. People abroad want to know more about Chinese culture and learn Chinese culture," he told Xinhua.
Construction works of the temple started in April 2019 and were completed in July 2021. Four monks from the Songshan Shaolin Temple in China are at the Temple to conduct the teachings.
The headmaster, however, said activities at the temple have not yet commenced at full throttle due to the COVID-19 pandemic but expressed happiness at the interest shown by people who have been frequenting the temple.
The project was targeting not only Chinese nationals in Zambia but nationalities from all countries, especially the local people.
Other activities to be conducted at the temple include Shaolin medical education in which people will be taught the theories and methods of traditional Chinese medicine, Shaolin Kungfu exercises.
Others include Zen education meant to help improve people's moral quality through meditation methods to help cultivate a culture of responsibility to the country, to be self-disciplined and be patriotic citizens.
The temple also intends to help the vulnerable in society through various means. Currently, three orphaned children are being kept at the temple.
Max, the only African monk at the temple whose Chinese name is Yan Ming, said it is important for African people to learn the cultures of other countries in order to blend into the global system.
Max, who is from Cote d'Ivoire, said due to his interest in culture while at the university, he decided to go to China in 2015 in order to learn the Chinese culture.
He said learning the Chinese culture has opened to him many things and that the time spent at the Shaolin Temple taught him the importance of self-discipline and respect for mankind.
"We are here to impart to the Zambian people Chinese culture and we hope this will help to build China-Africa relations," he said. Enditem

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bummer. that pic link doesn't work.


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Shaolin Temple Zambia
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Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Feature: First Shaolin Temple in Zambia holds ceremony to mark Chinese New Year
Source: Xinhua| 2022-02-01 20:55:16|Editor: huaxia

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/afr...a2841f1b39.jpg
Local students perform martial arts during a ceremony to mark the Chinese New Year at the Shaolin Temple in Lusaka, Zambia, on Jan. 31, 2022. The first-ever Shaolin Temple in Zambia held a ceremony to mark the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. (Photo by Martin Mbangweta/Xinhua)

by Elias Shilangwa

LUSAKA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The first-ever Shaolin Temple in Zambia held a ceremony to mark the Chinese lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival.

The ceremony, held on Jan. 30, on the outskirts of Lusaka, the country's capital, attended by the Chinese community in Zambia and some local people, was characterized by a display of Chinese Kungfu by local students and their masters.

The audience was later taken on a conducted tour of the facilities before taking part in a Buddhism ceremony. Fireworks, the burning of incense and the ringing of the bell characterized the event.

Yan Tao, one of the masters, said the Spring Festival was an important period in the Chinese calendar as it signals the end of a year and the start of a new year.

He said the Temple decided to hold the ceremony in keeping with the Chinese tradition and as a way to appreciate the previous year and the New Year.

The Temple opened its doors to the public and started conducting its training in January, with an initial 15 local students.

Apart from teaching them Chinese Kungfu, the students are also being taught the Chinese language, culture which includes how to prepare Chinese dishes.

Victoria Nakazwe is a 22-year-old student who has decided to start learning Chinese martial arts at the Temple and is so far happy with what she is learning.

Nakazwe, who has always dreamt of learning Kungfu after watching Chinese Kungfu actors in films, said she intends to use the knowledge acquired to open her own school and impart the knowledge to others.

"I have always liked Kungfu since my childhood. Whenever I watched the movies and watched the Chinese actors, I always wanted to be like them," she said.

She has since encouraged other young people, especially girls, to consider learning Kungfu, as it will not only help them to have self-defense but to be disciplined as well.

She further said she is enjoying the teachings on how to prepare Chinese food.

Justina Banda, 22, says she decided to join the training because she has always loved Chinese Kungfu.

Banda, who has been undertaking Chinese training for the past year, said she decided to join the training at the Temple because she wanted to perfect her skills and become a trainer of her colleagues in the future.

Construction works of the Temple started in April 2019 and were completed in July 2021. Four monks from the Shaolin Temple in China are at the Temple to conduct the teachings.

Yan Lun, the headmaster of the Temple, said the objectives of the project include teaching Shaolin Kungfu, Chinese culture, helping understand the African culture as well as enhancing the China-Africa friendship. ■

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/afr...91ed7ab39d.jpg
A local student performs martial arts during a ceremony to mark the Chinese New Year at the Shaolin Temple in Lusaka, Zambia, on Jan. 31, 2022. The first-ever Shaolin Temple in Zambia held a ceremony to mark the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. (Photo by Martin Mbangweta/Xinhua)

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/afr...32e88863f2.jpg
People ring a bell during a ceremony to mark the Chinese New Year at the Shaolin Temple in Lusaka, Zambia, on Jan. 31, 2022. The first-ever Shaolin Temple in Zambia held a ceremony to mark the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. (Photo by Martin Mbangweta/Xinhua)

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Feature: Shaolin Temple programs cheer vulnerable Zambian Community with hope
WORLD
Saturday, 14 Jan 2023

4:04 AM MYT
LUSAKA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The first-ever Shaolin Temple in Zambia, located in Lusaka, Zambia's capital, is known for its Chinese cultural activities including martial arts programs.

The place is a hive of activity particularly on weekends and holidays as people from different walks of life come through to get a glimpse of the Chinese culture.

For residents of Ngwerere compound, an informal settlement on the outskirts of Lusaka, the Shaolin Temple is a symbol of hope for young and less privileged people.

The Ngwerere compound, just a stone's throw away from the Shaolin Temple grounds, is a low-income community that grapples with challenges including the lack of access to education and recreational facilities for young people.

"We are very happy to have the Shaolin Temple close by. Many young people will benefit from the education and skills programs being offered at the Temple," said Andrew Miti, the Ngwerere compound chairperson.

Miti mentioned that a good number of parents in the Ngwerere compound were unable to provide food for their families or meet their children's needs because they lacked resources.

He lauded Shaolin Temple management for providing education, food and shelter to indigent children, stating that the discipline and sound values embedded in the programs would help improve the lives of young people from the Ngwerere compound and other poorer areas.

Shaolin Temple programs coordinator Yan Ming said his team was overwhelmed with requests from parents seeking to have their children take part in programs offered at the Temple.

Yan revealed that there are currently 27 boys aged six to 16 years from very vulnerable backgrounds receiving education support, food and shelter at the Temple. The children, he said, come from different parts of Lusaka.

"We are trying to see how best we can help the vulnerable children currently in our care before taking in more," he explained.

Interactions with ordinary residents of the Ngwerere compound revealed that they were excited to have a place nearby where youth can be trained to be both responsible and productive citizens.

"The only recreational spaces available in this compound are bars and liquor stores. As a result, most young people have been compelled to engage in illicit activities," lamented Eunice Musonda.

Eighteen-year-old Musonda hailing from Ngwerere remained optimistic that the Shaolin Temple's youth-friendly programs would not only ensure youth have a better future but also help curtail juvenile delinquency in the Ngwerere compound.

Clever Malambo, 27, echoed Musonda's thoughts and said that the Shaolin Temple in Zambia is serving as a beacon of hope for many young people in the Ngwerere compound and beyond.

"I am certain that the programs offered at this Temple will inspire many youths to dream big and to achieve a lot in life," Malambo said.

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This is one of the most interesting Shaolin satellite schools.