Africans Celebrated Russian Language Day

Highlights included open lessons and online lectures dedicated to Pushkin’s works, readings of his poetry, workshops on Slavic calligraphy, engaging literary quizzes and film screenings, as well as teleconferences and round tables that brought together Russian and African advocates of the Russian language as a language of education and science, culture, and international communication.

In particular, in Burkina Faso, home to the first Russian House of the Center for Public Diplomacy, a round table titled “The Russian Language as a Bridge of Friendship Between Russia and Africa” was held in honor of the holiday. Participants watched a documentary marking the 90th anniversary of renowned Russian linguist Lyudmila Verbitskaya. Key topics of the presentations and discussions included the promotion of the Russian language abroad, the specifics of teaching Russian as a foreign language in Burkina Faso, opportunities for African students to receive an education in Russia, as well as future projects of the Center in this field. Similar topics were addressed during a festive teleconference between the Russian House in Guinea and representatives of Yaroslavl State Pedagogical University.

Art exhibitions were also opened to mark Russian Language Day. For example, in Guinea, the exhibition “The Russian Alphabet in the Drawings of Marina Khankova” was organized, along with an exhibition on the history of the Russian literary estate, with the participation of the Ostafyevo – Russian Parnassus Museum-Reserve. Guests of the Russian Houses also showed great interest in an exhibition of illustrations for Pushkin’s works provided by the Center’s partner, the All-Russian A. S. Pushkin Museum.

Meanwhile, in Namibia, where the Center for Public Diplomacy opened its representative office only a few months ago, the Center’s specialists organized a vibrant event at the National Library of the Republic. Namibian guests enthusiastically immersed themselves in the world of Russian culture — from Pushkin’s beloved fairy tales to the rich historical heritage of the Ostafyevo estate.

All events were held in an atmosphere of warmth and creativity, bringing together representatives of two continents through their love of the Russian language and literary heritage, strengthening mutual understanding and the foundations of humanitarian cooperation between Russia and Africa.