Students learn to write Chinese characters in Accra, Ghana, Feb. 13, 2026. The Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana on Friday held a New Year garden party for Ghanaian students ahead of the Chinese Spring Festival, offering a lively introduction to Chinese culture. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

ACCRA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana on Friday held a New Year garden party for Ghanaian students ahead of the Chinese Spring Festival, offering a lively introduction to Chinese culture.

The event featured opera performances, drama activities, and an exhibition of artworks created by participating students from primary, junior, and senior high schools, as well as the university community. Students also took part in calligraphy and sketching sessions, including painting opera masks, while sampling a variety of Chinese snacks.

Liu Baijun, the institute's Chinese director, said the event aimed to deepen students' understanding of the Chinese New Year. "We organized this event to build a bridge between China and Ghana and let more Ghanaian students from primary schools, middle schools, or colleges know more about Chinese culture," Liu said.

Beverly Sowah, a local Chinese language teacher at the institute, praised the students' enthusiasm and creativity, noting that the opera masks they painted often carry symbolic meanings, with different colors and designs representing distinct characters and stories.

Agnes Dacosta, a sophomore student at the University of Ghana, said the event provided participants an opportunity to experience Chinese culture during the Chinese New Year celebrations. ■

A student poses for photos with a mask in Accra, Ghana, Feb. 13, 2026. The Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana on Friday held a New Year garden party for Ghanaian students ahead of the Chinese Spring Festival, offering a lively introduction to Chinese culture. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)