By Rebecca Ampah
Kenya and China have commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War with a cultural exchange event dubbed “Echoes of Peace.”
The event, organized by China Media Group (CMG), was held on August 19 at the National Museum of Kenya in Nairobi and brought together over 200 participants from government, media, academia, and think tanks.
CMG President Shen Haixiong, speaking via video, quoted President Xi Jinping’s reflection on history: “Historical memory and truth will not fade with the passage of time. They inspire the present and illuminate the future.”
The program featured screenings of Chinese productions, including the documentary “The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru (2023),” which revisits a little-known World War II tragedy marked by human compassion. To further commemorate the anniversary, CMG announced plans to air a series of multilingual programs highlighting accurate historical narratives.
Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, Zhang Zhizhong, stressed the importance of historical lessons: “The historical lessons of the World Anti-Fascist War should never be forgotten, and the principles of international fairness and justice must never be abandoned.”
Kenya’s Deputy Minister of Information, Communications and Digital Economy, Stephen Isaboke, drew parallels between the Nanjing Massacre in China and the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya, describing them as shared traumas that reflect humanity’s resilience. He also underscored the critical role of media in shaping narratives of peace.
Dr. Oscar Otele, Director of the Department of Political and Public Administration at the University of Nairobi, said: “The lessons of unity, peace, and development remain as relevant today as they were 80 years ago. They must guide us in shaping the future.”
Students also expressed their reflections after the screenings. “We’ve learned a lot from the conversations, the multipolarity of the world and the win-win partnerships that China offers are key takeaways,” said University of Nairobi student George Muhoya.
A photo exhibition was mounted as part of the commemoration, highlighting China’s role in defeating imperialist aggression and reinforcing the enduring post-war order based on peace, multilateralism, and development.
The event also marked a milestone in media collaboration as CMG and the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation signed a memorandum to digitize historical archives. Isaboke described the initiative as “a bridge connecting people and reshaping memories.”
The commemoration drew wide coverage across more than 20 African countries, reaching an estimated audience of nearly 600 million.
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