Chinese martial arts gain popularity in Africa

Although many African martial arts practitioners do not have good training grounds and equipment, they create their own conditions to practice martial arts. They practice on grass fields and dirt roads. They take used tires as sandbags, and make sticks by themselves.

Chinese martial arts are also winning the hearts and souls of the Rwandan youth.

According to Rukundo, the Confucius Institute at the University of Rwanda and the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda have supported the academy through organizing kung fu competitions, which have motivated young Rwandans to learn kung fu.

"The government of Tanzania is giving much support to Chinese martial arts which are attracting tens of thousands of Tanzanians, especially the youth," said John Mapepele, a senior communications officer with the Tanzanian Ministry of Culture, Arts and Sports, at the inaugural Tanzania women sports festival dubbed Tanzanite in September, where kung fu was featured by young Tanzanian girls aged 10 to 14.