On February 5, 2025, at 3 pm, the Confucius Institute at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) hosted a Lantern Festival celebration at the Great Hall foyer, drawing nearly 300 students and faculty. The event, held ahead of the traditional Chinese festival, offered a festive atmosphere where attendees engaged themselves in Chinese culture.
Prof. Su Zibo, the Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute, explained the significance of the Lantern Festival (Yuan Xiao Jie), celebrated on the 15th day of the Chinese lunar calendar. He highlighted customs like moon viewing, lantern riddle-solving, and eating tangyuan, symbolizing family unity and happiness.
The celebration featured diverse cultural activities. Participants crafted red envelopes, practiced paper cutting, and wrote the Chinese character “福” (fortune) in calligraphy. Games like ring toss, symbolizing “catching good fortune,” were popular, while the Hanfu experience zone allowed attendees to try traditional Chinese attire and perform dances or sword demonstrations.
The food tasting area, offering authentic Chinese dumplings, was a crowd favorite. Attendees praised the flavors, with many expressing their delight at the taste and the festive spirit of reunion.
The event concluded with a lucky draw led by Prof. Daniel Duah, the Ghanaian Director of the Confucius Instituteat KNUST, who encouraged participants to join Chinese language classes to further explore the culture.
As the Confucius Institute at KNUST is Ghana’s third, the celebration not only enriched campus life but also promoted cultural exchange, deepening appreciation for Chinese traditions and fostering intercultural understanding.
