TV productions captivate Kenyan audiences

Chinese film and TV productions are not only captivating Kenyan audiences with their diverse content and high production quality, but are also making strides in promoting cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the two peoples.

With the signing of new agreements on licensing and co-production between China's National Radio and Television Administration and Kenya Film Commission on Monday, more jointly produced TV programs are expected to be broadcast in the two countries.

Under the new partnership, Citizen TV in Kenya will air 39 episodes of the second season of the Chinese drama series Like a Flowing River and 35 episodes of the Chinese drama series Welcome to Milele Village. Kenya's Bliss TV, on the other hand, will add the Chinese drama series A Very Close Relation to the many Chinese TV series, documentaries and entertainment programs they offer.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of the agreements, Dong Xin, vice-minister of China's National Radio and Television Administration, said that Kenya and China plan to expand their collaboration in television and film to include co-broadcasting, co-production and adoption of technologies such as artificial intelligence.

The move was welcomed by Judith Munyinyi, secretary of information in Kenya's Ministry of ICT, who said the collaboration would highly impact Kenya's media industry, especially due to technology transfer.

Grace Njenga, CEO of Bliss TV in Kenya, said that by showing aspects of traditional Chinese culture, modern lifestyles, social development and change, many Chinese productions being aired in Kenya have not only helped to spread and share Chinese culture around Kenya and Africa, but it has also deepened international understanding of China.

A significant development in the agreement with Bliss TV is the introduction of dubbing where local artists will be voicing the Chinese programs which will be aired in the local Swahili language. Previously, viewers depended on subtitles for translation, she said.

"In addition to creating jobs for the voice artists, the translation of the films into Swahili through dubbing will expand the audience for Chinese films to include the illiterate who cannot read the subtitles," Njenga said.

Timothy Owase, the chief executive officer of the Kenya Film Commission, said Kenya-China media cooperation in areas of training, co-production and technology adoption will spur the growth of the creative economy and unlock jobs for the local youth.

Mwachari Butiko, a voice artist or dubber, from Sonatic Media, a Nairobi-based company, said Kenyans have been watching shows from China since the 1990s, but in recent years there have been more Chinese TV programs broadcast in Kenya, especially TV series, dramas and documentaries. Over the past year alone, Butiko said he has dubbed two Chinese TV series with Sonatic Media so they can be broadcast in Swahili language.

Through the TV programs, Kenyans can have a better knowledge of China and the Chinese people and an understanding of the profound Chinese culture, he said.

"The TV shows give us an insight into the life in China. They bring us closer to Chinese culture," he said.

One of the two TV series he dubbed last year has around 50 episodes and tells about the court life in ancient China, he said, adding that it impressed him a lot.

"From the TV series, I can see a very rich Chinese culture," he said.

Munyinyi, secretary of information in Kenya's Ministry of ICT, pointed out that cooperation with China in the fields of media and performing arts is key to breaking cultural barriers and nourishing friendship.

Wang Xiaodong in Nairobi, Kenya, contributed to this story.