‘Kin Ethiopia’ Revives Cultural Diplomacy with Sold-Out Concerts in Beijing

By Samuel Getachew (Beijing, China) (Special to The Reporter)

Nearly four decades after the original People-to-People musical initiative aimed at celebrating Ethiopia’s cultural diversity, a modern revival of the show has taken shape—this time on the global stage.



Dubbed “Kin Ethiopia”, the two-hour showcase debuted in Beijing with back-to-back sold-out concerts featuring a fusion of traditional and contemporary Ethiopian music and dance. The overwhelming turnout prompted organizers to add a third performance in Hebei Province to meet surging demand.

“We are elated our effort to introduce—and reintroduce—Ethiopia to China has been so warmly received,” said Kamuzu Kassa, artist, curator, and founder of Shakura Productions. “Our music, our art, and our people have found a home in a country that has stood by Ethiopia’s progress for the last 15 years.”

The performances come amid deepening bilateral ties between China and Ethiopia. Over the past two decades, Beijing has invested heavily in Ethiopian infrastructure, including airports, industrial parks, roads, and higher education institutions. Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier, has also emerged as a popular gateway for Chinese tourists across the continent.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, a milestone celebrated in Addis Ababa earlier this month with a visit from Chinese artists and cultural delegates.

Kamuzu, who headlined the tour, also signed agreements with several Chinese cultural institutions, including the China Arts and Entertainment Group, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and Bridging Culture & Media Company. The partnerships aim to promote Ethiopian music and art to Chinese audiences on a long-term basis.

Mingzhou Zhang, director of Bridging Culture & Media, said the group is also exploring publishing translated Ethiopian literature—including a Chinese edition of a book authored by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed—as part of an effort to preserve and share Ethiopia’s rich historical legacy with new generations.

“These partnerships will help us elevate Ethiopian music and culture to a global platform,” Kamuzu said. “There is something uniquely powerful about our sound that resonates far beyond our borders.”

Future tour stops are already in motion, with performances slated for Russia, South Africa, and Brazil—fellow BRICS member states. Organizers are also in discussions to expand the tour to India and other nations.

The Beijing concerts, held at the Beijing Library Auditorium and inside the Ethiopian Embassy, were a blend of cultural exchange. Chinese performers joined their Ethiopian counterparts in cross-cultural collaborations.

Zewdu Bekele, a beloved vocalist from the Wolayta region of southern Ethiopia, said he was deeply moved by the crowd’s energy. “To see people dancing to our music, without knowing the language it—it was unforgettable,” he said. “That’s the power of music. It brings people together.”

Other performers included Oromiffa singer Aadam Mohammad, known for his distinctive traditional attire and genre-bending arrangements. “We came here not just to promote Ethiopia, but to share our music with the world,” he said.

One of the evening’s standout moments came from Tigrayan artist Gere Chuchu, whose performance earned a rare standing ovation. “We sing the music of harmony, love, and understanding,” he said. “It’s what the world needs more of.”

Among the crowds that packed the opening night of was Li Peng, a young aspiring artist who admitted she had never heard of Ethiopia before. She couldn’t even place the country on a map—but by the end of the concert, she was on her feet, trying to mimic the energetic dance moves of the performers who frequently invited the audience to join in.

“This is a beautiful tradition,” Peng said afterward. “I hope to get used to it—and maybe, one day, visit their country.”

For Ethiopian officials, that sentiment is exactly the goal. With tourism high on the national agenda, Ethiopia is betting on cultural diplomacy to spark interest and lure travelers to the Horn of Africa. In June, Prime Minister Abiy told lawmakers that Ethiopia had attracted over one million tourists, thanks in large part to the reach of its flagship carrier, Ethiopian Airlines.

The second Beijing concert, held inside the newly inaugurated Ethiopian Embassy, brought another surprise: a haunting rendition of a Mandarin folk song sung by Selam Getachew, a vocalist from Gonder, accompanied by a traditional masinko and visuals of the ancient Fasil Ghebbi castle projected behind her.

The performance moved Zhang Loe, a 61-year-old retiree, to tears. “This is the music of my youth and my many milestones,” she said, wiping her eyes as she swayed to the music. Her husband nodded in agreement, visibly touched by what he called “a rare experience of the world’s culture.”

“It’s remarkable. Unique,” he said. “I hope we’ll have more of this—more chances to hear the music of faraway places.”

The concerts blended Ethiopian sounds and visuals with an array of artistic expressions—musicians, dancers, and even a circus troupe performing styles drawn from Ethiopia’s many regions. The aroma of freshly brewed Ethiopian coffee drifted through the venue, adding yet another sensory layer to the experience. Curious Chinese attendees inquired where they might buy similar beans.

For some, the connection to Ethiopia goes beyond music.

Zun Chao, a merchant from southern China, considers the country his second home. He spent nearly a decade working on a construction project in Addis Ababa, where he met his Ethiopian wife. Today, the couple has three children, the youngest of whom was born in China.

“To me, Ethiopia is where everything started—my job, my family, my understanding of another culture,” he said. “I still speak Amharic and Oromiffa. Hearing this music brings me back to the happiest, most productive years of my life.”

Among the guests was Tewedaj Alemayehu, an Ethiopian national who traveled from Guangzhou, where he runs a modest export business. After arriving in China for graduate studies nearly a decade ago, he now speaks fluent Mandarin and helps Ethiopian clients navigate the Chinese market. He hadn’t been home in five years, but brought a few Chinese friends along to the concert.

“We are like cultural ambassadors,” he said. “We try to tell our friends about Ethiopia’s uniqueness, but sometimes it’s hard to explain. This concert helps—it gives them a window into the Ethiopia we know and love.”