
Collective Futures: Reflecting on Afro-Asian Experiences
The Sino-African relationship has a rich history that dates back centuries, marked by the voyages of Admiral Zheng He in the early 15th century. Between 1405 and 1433, Admiral Zheng commanded a fleet of 317 ships with 28,000 crew members to establish trade routes and enhance diplomatic relationships with the East African coast. Admiral Zheng made significant port calls in Mombasa and Malindi where he established early trade links, exchanged gifts, and shared knowledge and culture, between China and the East African coast.
This series challenges the narrative that Sino-African relationships should be viewed primarily through a Western perspective often overlooking the agency and role of African actors throughout history. It aims to introduce a contemporary nuanced and multidimensional understanding of these relationships as well as exploring the dynamics between African and Chinese people in light of the ascendancy of Pax-Sinica in a multi-polar world.
In collaboration with CASIN (China Africa Shanghai International Network), we delve into human-centric storytelling through a blend of fiction and non-fiction to emphasise the importance of the lived experiences of individuals and communities in world-making. We situate our experiences, while reflecting on our roles and contributions in this emerging multi polar world.

In this series

