Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU), through its Li Ka Shing School of Professional and Continuing Education (LiPACE), hosted a prestigious African Cultural Night on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the HKMU Main Campus. As a major provider of full-time Higher Diploma programmes and part-time professional and continuing education in Hong Kong's post‑secondary sector, LiPACE is the first tertiary education institution in Hong Kong to launch a dedicated series of activities under the theme of the “2026 China–Africa Year of People‑to‑People Exchanges”.
The event underscores HKMU LiPACE's commitment to facilitating Hong Kong's role as a super-connector between Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world, a mission reiterated in the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan. In a significant show of collective unity, all four African Consuls‑General in Hong Kong – representing Egypt, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Nigeria – were in attendance.
Celebrating South African Heritage and Leadership
Given the proximity of the event to South Africa Freedom Day (27 April), and in recognition of his role as “the Dean of the African Consuls-General in Hong Kong”, Mr. Mojalefa Mogono, Consul-General of South Africa in Hong Kong, attended as the Guest of Honour. The evening featured vibrant South African cultural performances, offering attendees an immersive experience of South Africa's rich heritage.
A Hub for International Education Dialogue
The Cultural Night also served as a pre-conference social gathering for participants of the “Inaugural Roundtable on Dialogue of University Continuing Education Schools”, which LiPACE is hosting on 23–24 April 2026. The Roundtable brings together representatives of universities from more than 10 countries, including three African universities: The American University in Cairo (Egypt), University of Cape Town (South Africa) and Bulawayo Polytechnic (Zimbabwe). Their presence further cements the occasion as a representative platform for advancing China-Africa and HK-Africa educational cooperation.
A Year-Long Series of Cultural Engagement
The 22 April event is the centrepiece of a broader series of cultural engagements orchestrated by LiPACE throughout 2026 to promote people-to-people bonds:
Consul-General in Hong Kong Mr. Baher Sheweikhi visited Tsang Pik Shan (Sung Lan) Secondary School to deliver opening remarks and gave a general introduction of Egypt, while Dean Dr. Benjamin Chan shared insights on the cultural connections between Egypt and Hong Kong. Students engaged with ancient Pharaonic culture through replica artefacts and hieroglyphic writing workshops.
Consul-General in Hong Kong Mr. Mojalefa Mogono presented certificates to secondary school winners of the “Zulu Love Letter Competition”, celebrating messages of love and care transmitted through traditional beadwork. The certificates of recognition were co-issued by the Consulate General and LiPACE. Notably, LiPACE maintains a dedicated South African Arts and Craft Room at its Kwai Hing campus for students of the Higher Diploma in Creative Culture and Arts Practice. The students' art work is arranged to be exhibited during the South African National Day celebration on April 23 (Thursday) hosted by the Consulate General.
The series continues with a gathering involving Mr. Ellias Mutamba, Consul-General of Zimbabwe in Hong Kong to hear from his sharing about African management and leadership. Zimbabwe holds a special MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) relationship with HKMU LiPACE. LiPACE was especially privileged to welcome the Honourable Foreign Minister Prof. Dr. Amon Murwira on campus during his last visit to Hong Kong in May 2025.
Looking ahead, the series will conclude with a Nigerian fashion and costume showcase.
Strengthening People-to-People Bonds
This vibrant gathering marked the launch of a dedicated series of activities by LiPACE to commemorate the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. LiPACE stands as a leader in Hong Kong's tertiary education sector by initiating this focused, year-long engagement. This initiative reinforces our firm commitment to facilitating Hong Kong's vital role as a 'super-connector' between the Chinese Mainland and the world, a mission clearly articulated in our nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan. Education and cultural exchanges build the bridges that foster mutual understanding and enduring partnerships.
LiPACE has implemented the “Three-I initiative” (Internationalisation-in-place, intercultural awareness and inclusion) since 2019. This initiative aimed at imparting real experience for students to learn about other cultures in Hong Kong. Africa has played an important role in the implementation of Three-I. All 4 consulate generals of African countries in Hong Kong (South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Zimbabwe) have collaborated with LiPACE on cultural activities in the past 2 years. The level of support from these consulates towards the work in promoting educational and cultural exchanges between HK and Africa is highly appreciated. Looking ahead, LiPACE will continue to use “culture” as the medium for conducting exchange due to its acceptance by young people and versatility for implementation.
香港都會大學李嘉誠專業進修學院（HKMU LiPACE）於2026年4月22 日（星期三）晚上6時，假香港都會大學校園舉辦盛大的非洲文化之夜。作為香港專上教育界別中提供全日制高級文憑課程及兼讀制持續教育的主要機構，香港都會大學李嘉誠專業進修學院是香港率先以『2026 中非人文交流年』為主題而舉辦一系列活動的院校。
學院將是次活動緊扣國家「第十五個五年規劃」的核心主題，積極推動香港成為連接國家與世界各地間的「超級聯繫人」。活動不僅彰顯香港在國際舞台上的獨特角色，更展現與各方的團結與合作。駐港的四個非洲國家總領事館（埃及、南非、津巴布韋及尼日利亞）的總領事，共同見證這一重要時刻。
慶祝南非文化遺產與領導地位
鑑於活動日期接近南非國慶日 (2026 年4月27日)，活動有幸邀請到作為駐港非洲總領事團團長的南非駐港總領事Mr. Mojalefa Mogono擔任主禮嘉賓。當晚的表演嘉賓是來自南非的藝術團隊，為一眾嘉賓帶來沉浸式的文化表演和文化體驗。
國際教育對話樞紐
文化之夜亦作為「首屆大學持續教育圓桌會議」參與者的會前活動，該會議由香港都會大學李嘉誠專業進修學院於2026年4月23日至24日主辦。圓桌會議匯聚來自超過10個國家的大學代表。為加強與非洲的聯繫，會議邀得三所非洲大學代表出席，分別是埃及的開羅美國大學(The American University in Cairo)、南非的開普敦大學 (University of Cape Town) 以及津巴布韋的布拉瓦約理工學院 (Bulawayo Polytechnic)。他們的出席進一步鞏固了此次活動作為促進中非及港非教育合作平台代表性的地位。
全年文化交流系列活動
全年的文化交流系列活動已由 3 月開始並會延續至 12 月，而4月22日的活動則是此系列的重點活動：
加強人文交流
這場充滿活力的聚會是李嘉誠專業進修學院舉辦『2026 中非人文交流年』一系列活動的重點活動。香港都會大學李嘉誠專業進修學院是在本港高等教育界中首間以『2026 中非人文交流年』為主題而舉辦一系列活動的院校。這正配合國家《第十五個五年規劃綱要》明確提出，要透過教育與文化交流築起溝通橋樑，促進彼此了解，建立長久而穩固的伙伴關係。大學積極推動香港在中國內地與世界之間擔當『超級聯繫人』的重要角色。
學院自 2019 年起推行『3-I 文化倡議活動』（在地國際化、跨文化意識及共融），旨在為學生提供學習體驗，讓他們在香港親身認識不同文化。非洲一直在計劃中佔有重要位置，過去兩年，駐港四個非洲國家總領事館（南非、埃及、尼日利亞及津巴布韋）均曾與學院合作舉辦不同的文化活動。學院對各總領事館在推動香港與非洲之間教育及文化交流方面給予的支持深受鼓舞。展望未來，學院將繼續以『文化』作為交流的媒介，因為文化不但更容易為年輕人所接受，亦具備高度靈活性，有助於開展多元化的交流活動。
