Opera Teaches Culture for Cameroonian Student Sime Nkemeni Darrin

Sime Nkemeni Darrin (right) wins a prize at the 2019 Henan TV "Pear Garden Spring" National Opera Fans Challenge

In 2016, Sime Nkemeni Darrin started learning Chinese. In his first Chinese class, his Chinese language teachers from China greeted the students with a piece of comic dialogue, which fascinated Sime Nkemeni Darrin, who had just been exposed to Chinese language for the first time. "I was amazed that there is a language so different from my mother tongue. And I'm curious about this language and hope to further learn it with my teachers."

During class, the teachers explained the writing of Chinese characters and taught daily Chinese expressions to the students. After class, the teachers and students sat together to share videos and pictures, showcasing the beautiful scenery of China and encouraging them to come to China for further education. This planted a seed in Sime Nkemeni Darrin's heart. He said, "I hope to have the opportunity to visit China in the future."

In 2017, 26-year-old Sime Nkemeni Darrin was accepted for a study program in China, enrolling at Henan University in Kaifeng, starting a new learning journey. After entering the university, he changed his Chinese name from "Ye Weining" to "Liu Bianjing." Bianjing was the name of Kaifeng city in ancient times, while the family name Liu in Chinese has the same pronunciation with another character Liu with the meaning of staying. This unique name embodies his deep feelings for Kaifeng.

Wonderful Life with Yuju Opera

During his study at the International School for Chinese Language and Culture at Henan University, he actively participated in various cultural activities. Once, he and his classmates watched a Yuju Opera called "Huamulan" at the Kaifeng Yuju Theater. The exquisite costumes and moving stories deeply impressed him. After the event, he reached out to the teachers at the theater, hoping to learn Yuju Opera.

By chance, he met Liu Zijie, a young Chinese man who had studied Yuju Opera for many years. Every week, he took time to learn Yuju Opera at Liu Zijie's home. "Zijie would explain classic excerpts from Yuju Opera to me. When encountering difficult words, he would also explain them with historical allusions to help me understand."

Through Liu Zijie's introduction, Sime Nkemeni Darrin also became a student of Liu Zijie's teacher.

"Lady General Mu Takes Command" and "Dadengdian"... Sime Nkemeni Darrin can list numerous Yuju Opera works. He believes that the essence of Yuju Opera is not only displayed in the performers' movements on stage but also in the unique singing style. During the process of learning Yuju Opera, his emotions often fluctuate with the development of the story. He said, "The stories in the opera not only gave me a deeper understanding of society and human nature but also made me reflect on my own behavior in real life."

Over the past five years, he has made many friends through learning Yuju Opera. Outside of school, he and his teachers and classmates who enjoy Yuju Opera have participated in performances in various places. For him, every moment since his encounter with Yuju Opera is precious.

Chinese Proficiency is the Foundation

Yuju Opera originated and thrived in Henan, carrying rich regional culture and embodying the profoundness of Chinese culture. Sime Nkemeni Darrin said that to learn Yuju Opera well, mastering Chinese language is essential.

His most common method of learning Chinese is "listening to teaching materials." To keep his sense of Chinese language "fresh," he maintains the habit of listening to the recordings of "Developing Chinese" published by Beijing Language and Culture University Press every day. During the process, he reads aloud and records the new words. In his view, listening skills is crucial for language learning. Through extensive listening in the process of learning Chinese, he can enrich his vocabulary and improve his spoken Chinese by imitating pronunciation.

In addition to his own courses, he also "audits classes" at the School of Journalism and Communication to learn some Chinese pronunciation techniques and reading tips. With the improvement of his Chinese proficiency, his diction in Yuju Opera performances has become clearer, and his understanding of the content has become more accurate.

Summing up his experience in learning Chinese, he lists three steps: mastering pinyin, doing extensive listening exercises, and daring to communicate in Chinese. The most important thing is consistent practice and consolidation day by day.

As for the future, he is certain that he will continue on the path of learning Yuju Opera. "Learning Chinese and Yuju Opera are the two things I enjoy doing the most right now. I feel happy and satisfied when I put efforts into what I love." Sime Nkemeni Darrin said.

(Author: Bo Shengyi)