On August 31, 2023, the finals of National Mandarin Language Sketch Competition in Mauritius were held at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, Phoenix. The event was organized by the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage with the aim of promoting the Chinese language and culture, reflecting the multicultural characteristics of Mauritius. Over 600 attendees, including Limbajee Bhiwajee, Chief Art Officer of the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage of Mauritius, Zhang Xinhong, Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, the organizing committee and judges of National Mandarin Language Sketch Competition, as well as Chinese language enthusiasts from various sectors of Mauritius, were present at the event.
The theme of the 2023 National Mandarin Language Sketch Competition was "Patriotism." Since its launch in June, the competition has garnered significant interest from Chinese language enthusiasts and organizations across various sectors of Mauritian society, with a record-breaking 19 teams participating. Following initial script evaluations, 15 teams engaged in an intense preliminary competition in early July, and in the end, five teams advanced to the finals.
For the first time, the Confucius Institute at the University of Mauritius participated in this event. The teachers and students from CI-UoM wrote, directed, and performed a drama titled "Choice," centered around the theme of patriotism. Throughout the rehearsal period, they tackled numerous challenges, brainstormed ideas, and collaborated diligently to prepare for the drama performance within a constrained timeframe.
In the final competition, Confucius Institute's drama, "Choice," received enthusiastic applause from the audience and earned high praise from the judges. This was attributed to its contemporary theme, intricate character dynamics, and the actors' skilled and nuanced performances. "Choice" ultimately clinched the third place in this year's National Mandarin Language Sketch Competition, with the lead actor Mohamoodally Mohummud Arshad receiving the Best Male Actor award.
"Choice" tells the coming-of-age story of Arshad, a young man from a Mauritian Chinese family. Arshad grew up closely attached to his grandmother. After graduating from high school, he aspired to study in the UK. However, his grandmother persuaded him to go to China and learn traditional Chinese medicine by recounting stories from their Chinese family heritage. She hoped that Arshad would return to Mauritius in the future to treat and help people while promoting traditional Chinese medical culture. Arshad followed his grandmother's advice and went to China for his studies. While in China, he met his girlfriend, Xinglan. Upon completing his studies, he faced the challenging decision of balancing love, family, career, and responsibility. To fulfill his grandmother's expectations and his mission to return to Mauritius and serve the community, Arshad reluctantly made the difficult choice to break up with his girlfriend. Over time, Xinglan came to understand Arshad's decision, and she later became a Mandarin teacher in Mauritius. This allowed them to reunite and continue their love story. The script of "Choice" vividly portrays how, despite the geographical distance between Mauritius and China, the Mauritian Chinese community still maintains a strong connection to Chinese culture. Additionally, it illustrates how the emotional ties between the younger generations of the two countries continue to flourish, enhancing a century-old bond.
Mr Soobiraj Avala-Gurriah, the Principal Arts Officer at the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage in Mauritius, expressed great delight during the award ceremony. He noted that it was positive to see the active participation of people from various ethnic backgrounds and age groups, especially the youth, in this year's National Sketch competition. This reflects the Mauritian government's consistent commitment to respecting and promoting multiculturalism, harmony, and shared development. The 2023 National Mandarin Language Sketch competition demonstrated originality in terms of theme, creativity, and presentation style. They showcased new levels of thought content and artistic impact.
Arshad and Xinglan Reunited in Mauritius to continue their story
The cast and crew took their final bow
Mohummud Arshad received the Best Actor award
CI-UoM secured third place in the 2023 National Mandarin Language Sketch Competition
Group photo of organizing committee, award presenters, and the winning teams
The crew list for the Confucius Institute at University of Mauritius' competition entry, "Choice":
Executive Producer: Fu Mingduan
Producer: Li Xiaoxia
Director: Zhang Jianwei
Screenwriters: Zhang Jianwei, Liu Linyan
Stage and Production: Yu Pengcheng, Sharon Too
Sound Effects: Han Meng
Narrator: Zhang Peilan
Lighting and Makeup: Liu Shan
The list of casts and their respective roles in the production:
1. Mahamoodally Mohummad Arshad as Arshad
2. Zhang Xinglan as Xinglan
3. Lan Fong Chan King Tong as Grandma
4. Yeung Yin In Yong as Qiu-Classmate
5. Liang Dong Sheng as Master Liang