Abuja Hosts China–Nigeria Culture and Tourism Festival to Strengthen People-to-People Ties

Abuja, Nigeria: Nigeria and China deepened their cultural and economic ties this month through the China–Nigeria Culture and Tourism Festival, held from 16–18 August 2025 at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja.

The colourful event brought together government officials, artists, cultural groups and the public for three days of performances, cuisine tastings, craft exhibitions, and discussions on creative industry partnerships. Nigerian officials highlighted the festival as a form of cultural diplomacy with economic benefits, emphasising that culture and tourism can play a key role in driving jobs, investment, and social cohesion.

Celebrating Shared Heritage

The festival featured live performances from both Nigerian and Chinese artists, showcasing everything from traditional Tiv dances to Chinese musical ensembles. Food and craft exhibitions allowed participants to experience the richness of both cultures, while panel discussions encouraged collaboration in film, fashion, and tourism development.

Coverage from Nigerian media outlets and public broadcasters praised the festival’s dual message: celebrating shared heritage while building future partnerships. Images of joint performances circulated widely on social media, symbolising mutual respect and curiosity between the two nations.

More Than Entertainment

Observers noted that cultural exchanges like this are not just for entertainment. They serve as an essential foundation for long-term cooperation by promoting language learning, cultural understanding, and trust. Over the years, Nigeria and China have expanded such engagements through film festivals, orchestral exchanges, museum partnerships, and heritage programmes. These initiatives often pave the way for deeper trade and investment agreements.

Unlocking Economic Potential

The Abuja festival also highlighted opportunities in Nigeria’s growing creative economy and tourism sector. With China’s vast outbound tourism market and Nigeria’s rich cultural assets, both sides see potential in areas such as film co-productions, fashion supply chains, and destination marketing. By leveraging cultural diplomacy, Nigeria aims to attract more visitors and investments, while China can further expand its cultural presence in Africa.

A Step Toward Stronger Partnerships

The 2025 festival underscored how people-to-people exchanges act as a bridge to stronger political and economic cooperation. As analysts point out, cultural diplomacy creates networks that make future trade and policy agreements easier to achieve.

By blending art, heritage, and dialogue, the Abuja festival demonstrated that soft power can drive hard results, strengthening Nigeria–China relations for the long term.

Sources: Diplomats Online | Vanguard News | Punch Nigeria | Wikipedia