Wanjiru Ethan Noah is Africa’s champion in the sixth Chinese Bridge Chinese Show for Foreign Primary School Students.
Wanjiru Ethan Noah became one of five continental champions in the Chinese Bridge contest after a learning journey that began with YouTube and Facebook videos.
Kenyan primary school pupil Wanjiru Ethan Noah has been crowned Africa’s champion in the sixth Chinese Bridge Chinese Show for Foreign Primary School Students, following a learning journey that began with videos on YouTube and Facebook.
The achievement places Ethan among five continental champions in the global competition. Chinese officials have celebrated his success as an example of how language learning and mentorship can help young people build connections across cultures.
From online videos to language examinations
Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan said Ethan and his brother, Ebrahim Matthew, initially studied Chinese without formal classroom instruction. Their interest in the language led them to teach themselves using videos shared on the two social media platforms.
Three years ago, the brothers registered for the HSK Level 1 examination at the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University. Guo said they were the youngest candidates present, drawing the attention of teachers and the institute’s director.
That encounter brought the brothers into contact with teachers who began mentoring them. The support included textbooks and other study materials as they continued learning and progressed through further HSK examinations.
Teachers helped prepare the brothers
Their teachers later recommended them for the Chinese Bridge competition and helped them prepare. They also accompanied the brothers to China for the global finals, extending the relationship that had begun at the examination venue.
Guo highlighted the sustained involvement of the teaching team, saying even a former teacher returned to the competition venue to offer coaching and encouragement. She credited both the brothers’ hard work and the guidance they received throughout their preparations.
The ambassador described a journey that moved from independent online study to structured support, with teachers helping the brothers develop their language skills and take part in the international contest.
A story connecting Kenya and China
Ethan’s performance included a retelling of a story about Chinese explorer Zheng He crossing the Indian Ocean to the East African coast. He described reading about the explorer bringing Chinese tea to Kenya and receiving a giraffe to take back to China.
He used that account to illustrate the longstanding cultural relationship between the two countries, then turned to the familiar Kenyan expression Hakuna Matata to convey confidence in the future of their friendship.
Du Xiaohui, Director-General of the Department of African Affairs at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also praised Ethan’s performance. He said the pupil’s telling of the Zheng He story had impressed the judges and congratulated him on becoming Africa’s champion.
For Guo, the significance of the achievement extended beyond the competition result. She expressed hope that friendship between Kenya and China would continue to deepen through younger generations.
