Music Builds a Bridge for People-to-People Ties
2025 CNPC Cup ‘Chad’s Good Voice’ Chinese Song Contest Concludes Successfully
The red studio of Chad National Television resonated with music and applause on the afternoon of October 23, as the final of the 2025 CNPC Cup ‘Chad’s Good Voice’ Chinese Song Contest took place as scheduled. Ten young Chadian singers competed in a spirited finale, using music to celebrate Sino-Chadian cultural exchange and deepen the friendship between the two peoples.
Jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Chad, CNPC Africa Company, CNPC International (Chad) Ltd., and the Confucius Institute at the University of N’Djamena, the event drew wide participation. Distinguished guests included Osman, Secretary-General of Chad’s Ministry of Tourism and Culture; Qin Hao, Political Counselor of the Chinese Embassy; Hagel, President of the University of N’Djamena; and Lu Jiangbo, General Manager of CNPC Africa Company. More than 500 attendees—from the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Chad, the local Chinese community, and various sectors of Chadian society—gathered to enjoy this vibrant showcase of cultural harmony and friendship.
The event opened with a series of warm-up performances highlighting cultural integration. Children from the Golden Tiger Martial Arts School, dressed in traditional uniforms, presented Shaolin Kung Fu that drew rounds of applause from the audience. Primary school students from the Confucius Institute’s Chinese language center at the University of N’Djamena recited ‘Ode to Sino-Chadian Friendship’ in fluent Chinese, demonstrating their steady progress in the language and expressing the friendship between the two nations in their youthful voices. A student choir from the Confucius Institute then performed “Bridge of Hearts,” whose lively melody set an uplifting tone for the final competition.
At 2:30 p.m., the final officially began. The top ten contestants took turns on stage, delivering soulful interpretations of lyrical ballads and dynamic renditions of pop songs. Some incorporated rap and energetic dance moves, blending Chinese lyrics with African rhythms to highlight their creative cross-cultural flair. After intense competition, Gao Naijie, a student from the Confucius Institute at the University of N’Djamena, won the championship with a heartfelt performance of “I Want a Home.” Benjamin, an employee of CNPC International (Chad) Ltd., and Solomon, a fellow student from the Confucius Institute, took second place respectively. David, from the CNPC Pipeline Bureau Chad Branch, and five other contestants received third place awards.
As the second season of ‘Chad’s Good Voice’ , the contest went through four stages—registration, auditions, preliminary rounds, and the final—selecting the top ten contestants from among 65 Chadian participants. Competitors included CNPC local employees, students from the University of N’Djamena, and young members of the public, reflecting the event’s inclusiveness and openness. The final also featured a guest performance by Kadeux, a popular Gen Z Chadian singer, whose vibrant stage presence drew enthusiastic audience interaction and vividly captured the cultural dialogue between Chinese and Chadian youth.
“True cooperation extends beyond economics and trade—it lies in cultural integration and heart-to-heart connections,” said Lu Jiangbo, General Manager of CNPC Africa Company, in his speech. He noted that while CNPC remains committed to supporting Chad’s energy industry, it also actively fulfills its social responsibilities by promoting local employment and improving livelihoods. The ‘Chad’s Good Voice’ contest, he added, exemplifies CNPC’s implementation of the consensus reached at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit, serving as a bridge of music to strengthen people-to-people ties between China and Chad.
