A rural community in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory witnessed its first outdoor cinema experience in over four decades. StarTimes Nigeria showcased a Chinese film dubbed in Hausa, showcasing the growing cultural ties between the two nations.
The screening of “Detective Chinatown” in Dafa community, Kwali Area Council, was organised by the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria as part of broader initiatives to strengthen bilateral relationships through cultural exchange programs.
StarTimes CEO Joshua Wong, who attended the event, reiterated China’s commitment to fostering stronger ties with Nigeria through media and entertainment. The film screening is part of the “Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages” project, an initiative Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed in 2015 during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
The village head, Alhaji Abdullahi Kaja, praised the impact of StarTimes’ digital TV project on his community, particularly noting its educational benefits for children. However, he highlighted infrastructure challenges, revealing that the village receives electricity only twice monthly.
The initiative represents China’s broader strategy to enhance cultural and technological connections with African communities. Through StarTimes, the project aims to bridge the digital divide by bringing entertainment and educational content to underserved rural areas.
The “10,000 Villages” project was initiated at the 2015 Johannesburg Forum on China-Africa Cooperation as a key international cooperation initiative supported by the Chinese government to provide digital television services across rural Africa.
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