GHCC Fund Report: When China Met Africa
On 21 February we hosted a screening of the documentary film When China Met Africa. The
film follows two Chinese workers in Zambia – a farmer and a construction project manager –
as well as the Zambian Minister for Trade. This film was selected to show to students and
faculty because it brings together two of the strengths of the GHCC and two popular topics of
undergraduate modules. It was also selected because of its interesting editorial line: there is
no narrator in the film and no ‘agenda’. It attempts to capture the nature of these interactions
between two cultures, revealing the individual relationships as well as some of the
motivations for both the Chinese and the Zambians in engaging with one another.
There were approximately 40 people in attendance. About 15 of those were students from
Politics and Society in Africa, and several of them brought along friends from outside of the
history department. Others came along who had taken the undergraduate modules The Rise of
Modern China, Galleons and Caravans, Empire and Aftermath. Several postgraduate
students and early career staff were also in attendance, and provided stimulating questions in
the discussion.
The Modern China historian, Christian Hess, and the Modern Africa historian, Daniel
Branch, made up a panel discussion at the end of the screening. They provided their own
reflections on the film and on developing Chinese-African relationships, and then responded
to questions from the wide range of students who came along. The discussion raised
questions about the motivations of imperialism and colonialism; the advance of ‘global
capitalism’; China’s historic relationship with postcolonial Africa; the growing African
population in China (not shown in the film); and the political and economic role of the
Chinese in various parts of Africa.
The event was a great success. Already some of the students in Politics and Society in Africa
have made reference to it in class discussions with regards to learning about postcolonial
Africa’s relationships with global superpowers. Dr Hess also chose to show the film again to
a smaller group of his students who could not attend on the night of the screening. The food
and drink provided, and the easy, informal discussion session at the end made for a nice
atmosphere as well.
Finally, our screening of this film also helped the GHCC further develop its relationship with
One World Link in Leamington Spa as we cross-advertised our screenings and they invited
our staff to speak at their screening as well. Although Dr Hess and Dr Branch could not
attend, I went in their place. Hopefully this relationship can develop further and enhance the
regional recognition and awareness of the GHCC in the wider public.