Wang Fan standing on Dala hill located in Kano in 2009, a northern area of Nigeria. Photo: Courtesy of Wang Fan
Wang Fan, the associate editor of social media at China News Service studied at the University of Jos in Nigeria for a year and a half for his master's degree several years ago. He had near death experiences several times.
He explained that he suffered from malaria and typhoid fever at the same time.
"I was burning up to 40 C for days. A professor at Peking University who was at my school even died of malaria when he got back to China."
Once when he got to Jos, a riot broke out and hundreds of people died. During the time he was there, three riots occurred.
Another time, he was almost killed by a taxi that was so old and shabby that its brakes did not work.
What the experience brought
Zhao Lei is a professor at the School of Asian and African Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Zhao spent two years at University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania for his master's degree in Swahili.
According to Zhao, the Chinese government is funding more students to study in Africa. The university he teaches in, for example, has doubled the quota and is planning to send more students to Africa.
For him, life in Africa has shaken his values and taught him how to remain optimistic in difficult situations.
"Life in Tanzania is very hard for the locals, but they still are very happy and dance and sing every day. It makes Chinese wonder what truly brings happiness, and what the goal of striving is," Zhao said. "I believe that's what most Chinese people feel when in Africa."
He said that the biggest advantage for studying in Africa is to broaden one's horizon and to understand a civilization that is different from Eastern and Western civilizations. "Besides, experience in Africa could be of an advantage for students to further their studies in Western universities."
Wang also benefited from his learning experience in Africa.
"After I returned, I took part in proofreading and examining two books about Hausa, and whenever the news agency I work in reports on topics about Africa, my colleagues turn to me," he said.
The future of study in Africa
A lecturer at the School of Asian and African Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University, Ma Xiujie, spent seven years in South Africa and just received her PhD in linguistics in 2017 at Rhodes University. Some Chinese students have consulted her about studying in Africa.
"I believe that in the future, more Chinese students will choose to study in Africa, though the increase of students would be limited because the economic and educational development in Africa is still a long way from other countries," Ma said.
She said that under The Belt and Road Initiative, the cooperation in economy, politics and culture between China and African countries is becoming more frequent, and China needs talents that really understand Africa, especially for people who study specific subjects such as African politics, geographical conditions and mineral conditions.
"To make sure the China-Africa cooperation goes smoothly, we need to understand the real Africa with our own eyes."
