Bridging Cultures Through Sound: When Chinese Meets South Africa

Sebabatso Kazadi, Amohetsoe Mokoena, and Lethabo Noge took first prize in the under-18 division of the non-native Chinese category for their 'My Little Pony' dub. With the theme “When Chinese Meets South Africa,” this year’s competition was open to Chinese language learners across South Africa through an online registration platform.

Recently, the results of the 2026 International Chinese Language Day Chinese Dubbing Competition in South Africa, one of the “Chinese Bridge” programs, were officially announced. The competition was organised by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of South Africa and the Center for Language Education and Cooperation, hosted by Confucius Classroom at Chinese Culture and International Education Exchange Centre South Africa, sponsored by the South Africa-China Economy and Trade Association, and co-organised by Confucius Institutes, Confucius Classrooms, and Chinese-language education schools across South Africa. The competition came to a successful conclusion.

With the theme “When Chinese Meets South Africa,” this year’s competition was open to Chinese language learners across South Africa through an online registration platform. Participants were divided into two major categories: those with a Chinese-speaking background and those without a Chinese-speaking background. The competition further featured five divisions: the Under-8 Native Chinese Division, the Ages 9–12 Native Chinese Division, the Ages 13–18 Native Chinese Division, the Under-18 Non-Native Chinese Division, and the 18+ Non-Native Chinese Division.

A total of 131 dubbing entries were received from Confucius Institutes, Confucius Classrooms, and Chinese language education institutions throughout South Africa. Selected clips from popular animated films and television series—including My Little Pony, The Super Wings, Monkey King: Hero Is Back, Big Hero 6, Yao-Chinese Folktales, Ne Zha, and Zootopia—were used as dubbing materials. Each entry was approximately one to three minutes long.

The competition attracted enthusiastic participation from young Chinese language learners across South Africa. With lively Chinese pronunciation and nuanced emotional expression, the contestants brought youthful energy to the classic film and animation clips. Their performances showcased not only their solid command of the Chinese language, but also their understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture.

To ensure a fair, impartial, and transparent judging process, the competition invited three experienced professionals to form a senior expert judging panel: a former Chinese Language Advisor to South Africa’s Department of Basic Education, a former President of the Chinese Language Teachers Association of South Africa, and the Secretary-General of the Chinese Economic and Trade Association in South Africa.

The judges carefully reviewed and scored every online entry based on four core criteria: Chinese pronunciation and intonation, language fluency, audio synchronization, and overall expressiveness. Taking into consideration both linguistic accuracy and artistic performance, the panel conducted a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation of all entries.

For each division, one First Prize, two Second Prizes, and three Third Prizes were awarded, along with a number of Encouragement Awards.

As a flagship cultural and people-to-people exchange event marking the 2026 “International Chinese Language Day” in South Africa, the Chinese Dubbing Competition used fun and engaging dubbing as a medium to transcend geographical and linguistic boundaries. It greatly stimulated young South Africans’ enthusiasm for learning Chinese, strengthened learners’ practical ability to use the language, and provided a high-quality platform for showcasing and promoting cultural exchange between China and South Africa. The event also contributed to the mutual integration and exchange of Chinese and South African cultures.

Looking ahead, the Confucius Classroom of the Center for Chinese Culture and International Education and Cultural Exchange will continue to advance international Chinese language education in South Africa. It will develop and launch more innovative and engaging people-to-people exchange activities, further promote cultural and interpersonal exchanges between China and South Africa, and contribute to the wider promotion and development of Chinese language learning in South Africa. Through these efforts, Chinese will serve as a strong bond of friendship connecting China and South Africa, opening a new chapter in cultural exchange between the two countries.

1. Lower Grade Division – Lin Kefei – My Little Pony

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AQsDtIGux5xdByuWNT3y_3UqpgWRouHy/view?usp=drive_link

2. Intermediate Grade Division – Xiao Yuxuan – Monkey King: Hero Is Back

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S_ozzu1KYkdp3GyqOTl7WcuT8L8JLUCz/view?usp=sharing

3. Upper Grade Division – Zhang Wu Anqi – Zootopia

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1PlJMvH5eGCOzI_ay3zdXUgnZQeij55by&authuser=0

1. Under-18 Division – Sebabatso Kazadi, Amohetsoe Mokoena, and Lethabo Noge – My Little Pony

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y6q85_Lp9MmPSLHJm8SypWvyuajw1diY/view?usp=sharing

2. Adult Division – Tong Jiaying (Gabriella Madombwe) – Zootopia

https://drive.google.com/file/d/190AXUFkOPb1XZ6KFatgRT8gde9RdbZbs/view?usp=sharing

* Xinyu Zhou, Confucius Classroom at Chinese Culture and International Education Exchange Centre, South Africa.