In an unexpected cultural synergy, Togolese musician Yao Modeste Douhadji-Combey has channeled the pastoral beauty of China's Jiangxi Province into his latest musical creation. The artist, known for blending West African rhythms with global influences, recently completed a three-month residency in Wuyuan County – a region celebrated for its UNESCO-listed traditional villages and油菜花 (rapeseed flower) fields that paint the landscape gold each spring.
"The harmony between ancient architecture and nature here speaks through music," Douhadji-Combey told KhabarAsia.com, describing how local Nuo opera performances and tea-picking folk songs influenced his composition "There." The track incorporates traditional Chinese instruments like the guqin zither alongside the West African djembe drum.
This cross-cultural project coincides with growing artistic exchanges between China and African nations. Earlier this year, the Chinese Ministry of Culture announced plans to expand its international artist residency program, with several African creators scheduled to participate in 2026.
