"My father once worked and lived in Africa, so I’ve always had a deep affection for this Continent. Once heard this project was in Africa, I was eager to have a try," said Chinese architect Tang Wensheng, discussing his role as the lead designer of the Central African Center for Culture and Art, which once again demonstrates the enduring friendship between China and Africa.

On the Triumph Boulevard in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, stand the People's Palace and the Stade des Martyrs, both constructed with Chinese assistance in the 1970s and 1980s. Across the street, a highly anticipated new cultural landmark — the Central African Center for Culture and Art — is under construction.

"The People's Palace is the seat of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s parliament, and the Stade des Martyrs, which can accommodate 80,000 people, frequently hosts major events," said DRC's Minister of State for Infrastructure and Public Works, Muvuni. He added that the Central African Center for Culture and Art is "another shining example of cooperation between the DRC and China".

Tang Wensheng, from the Central-South Architectural Design Institute headquartered in Wuhan, is leading the design of the Central African Center for Culture and Art. Upon entry into Tang Wensheng’s office, reporters saw a series of design blueprints and panoramic renderings showcasing the "ingenious concepts" behind the main structures of theater, school building and other facilities of the Center.

The main body of this building comprises a cultural center and the National Institute of Arts of DR Congo, featuring a 2,000-seat grand theater, an 800-seat small theater and a campus for the National Institute of Arts accommodating 2,000 students.

of which, the appearance modeling of Cultural Center, the core building, is distinctive, resembling a round African drum. Tang Wensheng learned about the appearance of African drums from his father's descriptions during his youth. In the 1980s, his father worked as a Chinese engineer assisting in the construction of farms in Somalia. Since then, the customs of Africa and the stories of friendly exchanges between Chinese and African people have left a profound impression on Tang Wensheng’s mind.

"In Chinese culture, the circle symbolizes reunion," said Tang Wensheng. The design of the Cultural Center has integrated Chinese and African cultural and artistic concepts, symbolizing the enduring friendship between China and Africa.

The design of the National Institute of Arts of DR Congo has also embodied the charm of "China-African fusion". Through repeated research, the Chinese design team found that the traditional Chinese courtyard and covered corridor design, if employed, could make the spatial distribution of school buildings better suited to the local climate.

"Chinese architectural culture emphasizes courtyards and in Africa, we designed them as narrow courtyards," said Tang Wensheng. The elongated narrow courtyard design utilizes mutual shading between buildings to create cool and pleasant outdoor spaces. According to the design, the different departments of the National Institute of Arts are arranged as enclosed independent courtyards and interconnected by long covered corridors. The covered corridor serves both as shelter from rain and sun protection, with the combination of narrow courtyards and corridors perfectly adapting to local climate characterized by high temperatures, frequent rainfall and intense sunlight.

The design of the Central African Center for Culture and Art embodies cross-cultural exchange and localized adaptation throughout: perforated lattice brick — a local architectural staple for ventilation and heat dissipation — incorporate traditional Chinese ruyi motifs for refined elegance; Congo River sand forms the primary exterior coating, showcasing regional rustic charm; abundant local copper resources enable widespread use of indigenous copperplate artwork — a craftsman’s specialty — in interior decoration.

As one of the key projects under the "Eight Major Initiatives" of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the construction of the Central African Center for Culture and Art has been valued highly by the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In 2019, DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi personally laid the foundation for this project. Subsequently, he conducted multiple inspections and extended condolences to the project and construction personnel. In 2021, during an inspection, Tshisekedi expressed confidence that upon completion, this project would play a significant role in cultural exchanges between Africa and China. In May this year, during Tshisekedi’s state visit to China, the two countries issued a joint statement on establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership, which specifically mentioned the Congolese side's high appreciation for China's support for the project of Central African Center for Culture and Art.

"We all look forward to moving into this beautiful architectural complex," said Mwendanga Musengo Desire-Salomon, Dean of the National Institute of Arts of DR Congo, who frequently visits the construction site of Central African Center for Culture and Art, marveling at the architectural design blending cultural profundity with local authenticity.

Mwendanga said with great anticipation that culture and art possess immense power to build bridges between people's hearts. This palace of culture and art will make significant contributions to nurturing more artistic talents and promoting international cultural exchanges in the future. Upon completion of the Center, teachers and students of the Institute will relocate to the new campus for work and study, while their academic achievements and creative works will be showcased in the Center’s theater to the world. He expressed his hope that African and Chinese artists could perform together and exchange ideas here in the future.

Tang Wensheng also expressed profound insights regarding the significance of arts as a "bridge between hearts." He recalled to reporters a story from the project research period: during a visit to the National Institute of Arts of DR Congo, the student band played the Chinese classic "Jasmine Flower" to welcome the Chinese guests. "Deeply moved, I sang an African folk song taught by my father, with students accompanied me,"

Since then, Tang Wensheng has been called the "Chinese architect who sings African folk songs" by his friends in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Tang Wensheng said that the seed of China-Africa friendship planted in his heart during his youth has now grown into a tree bearing fruits. In the future, with the completion and operation of the Central African Center for Culture and Art, this seed of friendship will undoubtedly be sown in more hearts, and the path of China-Africa cooperation will grow ever broader.