China’s growing influence in Africa is extending beyond trade and infrastructure into language and culture, largely through its Confucius Institutes. Since 2004, Beijing has established institutes in 49 African countries, promoting Mandarin and cultural exchange while offering scholarships that attract thousands of students. For many, like Benin’s Miradie Tchekpo, learning Chinese opens doors to jobs and cross-border trade. Yet critics warn that these institutes also advance China’s political agenda and could sideline local cultures. With South Africa now hosting 10 Confucius Institutes and smaller nations like Lesotho also embracing them, the trend underscores how cultural diplomacy is becoming central to China’s African strategy.
DW
