When Liu Chen plucks the strings of her kora alongside her Malian husband Adama Yalomba Traore’s ngoni, their Beijing home transforms into a stage for cross-continental harmony. Featured in CGTN’s Global Civilizations Dialogue program, this couple’s musical partnership offers a resonant metaphor for cultural understanding.
“Our instruments speak the same language,” Liu told reporter Wendyl Martin, describing how West African lute-like instruments share structural similarities with China’s pipa. Their collaborative performances blend Malian folk melodies with Chinese musical motifs, creating what Traore calls “sonic handshake between civilizations.”
“Music dissolves borders before politics even starts talking,” Liu remarked during the interview.
The couple’s story coincides with growing cultural exchanges between China and Africa, which saw bilateral trade reach $282 billion in 2022. Academics note such personal narratives help humanize broader geopolitical partnerships, while diaspora communities find resonance in stories celebrating hybrid identities.
As Traore prepares for their first West Africa tour with Chinese musicians, their journey underscores how cultural diplomacy thrives not in boardrooms, but in living rooms where love and artistry intersect.
