Drumbeats and dance showcase Hong Kong's cultural power

A performance combining vibrant drumbeats and traditional dances from around the globe was held on Dec 8 to celebrate the lively cultural spirit of Hong Kong and showcase the city's soft power.

The 2024 Hong Kong Drum Festival, or "One Beat, One World: Connecting Through the Drum" Carnival And 5G Live Concert, was held at the Art Park of the West Kowloon Cultural District.

The event was organized by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra (HKCO) and presented by Chinachem Group. At the festival, intangible cultural heritage drum teams, such as Hancheng Xinggu and Lanzhou Taiping Drum, from the Chinese mainland, played alongside local lion dancers.

Later, a concert conducted by Chew Hee-chiat, assistant artistic director and resident conductor of the HKCO, wowed the audience with a wide array of music and dance including a Japanese tap dance, a South Korean drum dance, Malaysian drum theatre, a Xinjiang hand drum dance and Indian tabla drumming.

Nawaz Mirajkar, a performer from India who lives in Singapore, said the concert had a meaningful theme, "one beat, one world", which united performers from across Asia.

The event showcased the power of rhythm and was well-received by the audience, emphasising "the universal language of drumming, which transcends barriers and promotes unity", he added.

During the carnival, a number of foreign diplomats in Hong Kong, including those of Japan, India, Hungary, Poland, Egypt, Vietnam, the Philippines and South Korea, brought their local specialties and cultural experiences to visitors, showcasing Hong Kong's ability to integrate Chinese and Western culture and arts.

Pawel Bartosinski, consul and head of finance and administration at the Polish Consulate General in Hong Kong, said the event helped to promote cultural diversity, and that he hoped traditional Polish music and dance could feature at a future event.

He praised the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government's efforts to foster a rich cultural life with its abundance of cultural events. "Hong Kong leads in cultural promotion in Southeast Asia," he said.

Apart from the concert, the festival showcased videos of drum performances filmed in 18 districts across Hong Kong. Drum performances were also on display throughout all districts of the city, offering interactive experiences to local communities.

The event also included a parent-child drum music workshop and the final of the Hong Kong Synergy 24 Drum Competition, which left spectators with an unforgettable experience.