Published on: 2026-06-29
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
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The Department of Intercultural Communication at SPbGASU held the traditional annual festival “Dialogue of Cultures.” This event concludes the Russian language course for foreign students of the preparatory division.
Foreign students from 18 countries prepared and presented projects about their countries and cultures. Each presentation became a journey into the world of national traditions, history, and art.
In a colorful array of presentations, there were stories about national and wedding clothing, tea ceremonies, safaris and football, about Amazons, painting, and traditional cuisine. Students from Benin and Mali came to the festival in national costumes. Young people from Indonesia treated the audience to street food called bakwan. Festival participants not only prepared colorful presentations: they danced, recited poetry, played the flute, and held quizzes with prizes. As a result, the cultural festival became a bright, spectacularly diverse event that will be remembered for a long time.
The “Dialogue of Cultures” Festival in the Hall of the Academic Council of SPbGASU
Ernest Niyonkuru(Burundi) captivated the guests with a story about the “land of a thousand and one hills.” He showed the geographical location of Burundi, its rich history—from kingdom to independence—and also introduced the state symbols and famous traditional drums. Ernest paid special attention to Lake Tanganyika, the source of the Nile, and the Karera waterfalls, highlighting the uniqueness of nature and the tourist potential of his homeland.
Téïnin KeïtaandDjénébou Diarra(Mali) dedicated their performance to the ethnic diversity of their country. They talked about five peoples – Bambara, Fulbe, Bozo, Tuareg, and Malinke, their occupations, typical surnames, and vibrant traditional clothing. The girls showed how the patterns and masks on the costumes reflect the connection with ancestors and nature, and also demonstrated samples of handmade national clothing.
Li Hongbo(China) immersed the audience in the refined world of Wenwan – traditional objects for contemplation and self-cultivation. He showcased gourd neck gourds, nuts, and bodhi seeds called “Star and Moon,” explaining their symbolism and the rules for handling them. The second part of the presentation, dedicated to Chinese fragrance culture and the “Four Treasures of the Scholar’s Studio”—brush, ink, paper, and inkstone—as well as the art of Qinggong, where the beauty of nature and spirituality merge in exquisite interior objects, aroused special interest.
Hoang Ngoc HyandPham Xuan Dong(Vietnam) presented their country as “the heart of Southeast Asia.” After describing its geographical location and millennia-old struggle for independence, the speakers moved on to the economic miracle following the “Doi Moi” reforms, illustrating GDP growth and poverty reduction. Huu also spoke about the culture of rice fields, the ancestor cult, and the legend of the Vietnamese origin from the Dragon and the Fairy, concluding by emphasizing the long-standing friendship between Vietnam and Russia. Dong brilliantly concluded the presentation with a flute performance. He played traditional Vietnamese music, “Evenings Near Moscow,” and the famous “Katyusha,” eliciting heartfelt applause from the audience.
Li ShoandLü Jialè(China) presented a project about Chinese cuisine, which is one of the oldest and most diverse in the world. The students talked not only about the four major Chinese cuisines (Lu, Sichuan, Cantonese, Huaiyang), but also about the proper way to eat with Chinese chopsticks.
Li MinkaandWan Kexin(China) introduced the event participants to Chinese tea culture, telling about the history of tea, its significance for everyday life, and types of tea (green tea (Xihu Longjing, Dongting Biluochun); black tea (Qimen Hongcha, Dianhong); oolong (Anxi Tieguanyin, Wuyi Dahongpao)).
Wan Sho(China) talked about four main styles of wedding photography: traditional Chinese style, retro style, Western style, outdoor style. For each style, Wang Sho described the main colors, typical clothing, and atmosphere of the style.
Vana Musumadi(Zambia) gave a presentation and showed his native Zambia through his own eyes. He talked about waterfalls, animals, delicious food, and his favorite football.
Ebrahim Mareh(Yemen) showed the beautiful nature of its country and also shared an interesting fact: the word “mocha” originated from the name of the Yemeni city of Mocha, through which coffee was sent to different countries around the world.
Sesture Ibala Mish Jorel(Republic of Congo) spoke about the history of his country’s formation, about the capital Brazzaville, as well as about attractions, traditional music, and food.
Mari Theatangream(Cambodia) spoke about the uniqueness of her country’s flag, as Cambodia is the only country whose national emblem depicts a building – the Angkor Wat temple.
Md Sovrov Mia,Md Munnaf Hossain Anik,Ahmed Raihan,Md Mostafizur Rahma,Devonat Shochin,Hossen Pranto Shahadat,Md Rakebul Islam Razbe(Bangladesh) reported that in 1947 Bangladesh became part of Pakistan, and in 1971 the Liberation War began, after which Bangladesh became an independent country. The students also presented dishes of Bangladeshi cuisine (biryani, khichuri, fuchka, and chotpoti).
Antonio Huet Crespo(Cuba) recited an excerpt from a letter by the famous Cuban political and social figure José Martí, leader of the movement for the liberation of Cuba from Spanish rule.
Joachim Katumua, Jose Josue, Santush Klauret Diandra(Angola) spoke about their country’s traditions and demonstrated fiery dances.
Juan Ndong Ebang Bapiye(Equatorial Guinea) spoke about the climatic features of his country.
Setyo Purnomo Putro (Indonesia) serves a national dish
Each report became a vivid window into the world of a particular country, and the Russian language acted as a bridge that allows thinking “beyond barriers,” uniting people and emphasizing the value of each nation. The “Dialogue of Cultures” festival once again confirmed that knowledge of language and respect for the multiethnic world are the foundation of true friendship and mutual understanding.
Representatives of the international activities department of our university attended the festival. After the celebration, they shared their opinions about it. “I want to thank the teachers of the intercultural communication department for organizing such a wonderful event: in a friendly, almost familial atmosphere, I enriched myself with new knowledge and impressions. Bright presentations, colorful stories, and amazing facts about 18 countries of our planet were presented at the highest level. It is impossible not to note the level of Russian language proficiency, which the attendees of the preparatory course improve week by week,” she notedKarina Surkova,head of the preparatory department for foreign citizens.
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