Africa Chapter East Branch Held ‘Peace and Unification Korean Speech Contest for Locals’ in Kenya

The 20th PUAC Africa Chapter (Head: Im Chang Soon) held a Korean speaking contest under the theme of ‘Peaceful Unification of the Korean Peninsula’ as its first unification activity project following an inauguration meeting.

The contest held on November 20th (Sat) in Nairobi, Kenya within the jurisdiction of East Branch (Head: Kim Seung Mi) was participated by students from the University of Nairobi’s Department of Korean Language and from King Sejong Institute at Kenyatta University. The two universities both rank high in the country.

As in 2020, this year's contest was also held in line with the COVID-19 guidelines of Kenya’s health authorities: In the preliminary round, finalists were selected through the review of manuscripts and video presentations. Thirteen students who made it to the finals participated in an offline event held in the convention room of the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi.

In her opening remarks, branch head Kim Seung Mi said, “I hope that this event will serve as an opportunity to inform Kenya of the Korean government's unification policy properly and increase Kenyan youths’ interest in the peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula.”

In his congratulatory speech, Ambassador Choi Young Han of the Korean Embassy in Kenya said, “Recently, Korean music and cultural contents are spreading rapidly in Kenyan society. Interest in the Korean language is rapidly increasing among Kenyan youths. I am grateful that their attention is now spreading to Korea’s history and peaceful unification,” adding, “I hope that this event will be an opportunity to raise awareness of Koreans’ commitment to the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula across the world so that the world as a whole can strive to realize the peaceful reunification sooner than later.”

List of winners
Grand prize: Machere Julius Mbui (University of Nairobi/Department of Korean Studies)
Excellence prize: Nyamasyo Sandra Kavee (Kenyatta University/King Sejong Institute)
Outstanding performance prize: Triza Wanjiru Mwangi (University of Nairobi/Department of Korean Studies)
Consolation prize: Sikinan Konchellah (Kenyatta University/King Sejong Institute)
Consolation prize: Diana Kerubo (Kenyatta University/King Sejong Institute)

After the awards ceremony and commemorative photo shoot, they sang the song of unification with the students, held an evaluation session, and concluded with a closing declaration.