Ifeoma Gladys Amuche recently stunned the world and the Chinese in particular when she emerged the best graduating student from the College of Southwest University (SWU) Chongqing, China.
The 22-year-old Nigerian girl, also known as Chen Yue, her Chinese name, majored in Chinese language. This was after she had studied Chinese language for two years before getting admission to the SWU.
The young Nigerian cultivated her interest in Chinese culture and poetry and participated in the Chinese Poetry Conference competition which brings together amateurs and scholars alike to deepen her knowledge of China.
Chen had expressed the desire to live her dream when she said “I hope to learn Chinese culture well and become China savvy.”
She is living that dream at the moment after thrilling a mammoth crowd with a speech she presented in Chinese on behalf of her graduating course mates, which went viral on YouTube.
Her name (Ifeoma) in her native Nigerian Igbo language means “something precious” and Ifeoma has indeed brought precious moments to her life to the glory of her native country with such immense talent.
“Life is precious in the confidant; the four seas meet flesh and blood relatives. I feel at home at the Chinese Poetry Conference,” she once said.
Her interest was triggered back in 2016, when she was in Nigeria. She had contacted the Confucius Institute by chance. “I found that Chinese culture is so profound” she declared and then set a goal to learn Chinese and go to China.
After more than two years of Chinese study, Chen came to Chongqing and got admitted into Southwest University in September 2019.
“Thoughts on a Tranquil Night” is the first poem that Chen studied after coming to China. Because of this poetry, Chen admires Li Bai, a Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
Heaven has made our talents; we’re not made in vain.
A thousand gold coins spent, more will turn up again.
This Li Bai’s phrase has become Chen’s motto, “I want to be like him. See my value, and live my life calmly.”
She became even more passionate saying “to learn Chinese poetry, passion is important.” She gets her recipe – watching costume dramas.
“While watching the drama, I will take a pen to record the idioms that appear on TV.” Chen opens her mobile phone album to show the notebook full of idioms, and the notes are clean and tidy.
“Many international students love Chinese poetry like Chen,” said Qiu Rui, associate professor of the International College of Southwest University.
“The college has organized a Chinese poetry recitation group. It also held a poetry conference for international students, with poetry quizzes and role-playing activities to experience Chinese poetry vividly,” Qiu said.
Qiu also admitted that it is difficult for foreigners to learn ancient Chinese poetry. For example, the moon is the poetic imagery of homesickness in Chinese poetry, but it is difficult for foreigners to understand at first. “After each class, Chen will discuss poems with me and learn and recite one every week,” Qiu said.
Chen is motivated to study further, in a bid to be a professional conference interpreter after graduation and become China-savvy even more.
Since the news of this success story went viral, Nigerians have been elated and lauded the courage and resilience of the young Ifeoma. She absolutely reflects the Nigerian spirit of excellence, passion and confidence and a shining example of youth empowerment through functional education.
