Artistic Harmony: South African Student's Triumph in International Competition Captivates Global Med

Sinovuyo Mkula, a 25-year-old final-year student at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) studying Chinese medicine (natural medicine), has won the prestigious "My dream painting competition." The competition, run by the Secretariat of the Chinese follow-up committee of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the China Manned Space Engineering Office, invites students from schools, colleges, and universities to express their dreams through drawings and submit their works.

Mkula's winning piece, titled "Harmony," is a fusion of elements representing China and South Africa, symbolising the coming together of the two nations to establish balance and order. The left side of the drawing features five elements representing China: water, wood, metal, fire, and earth. The right side presents elements symbolic of South Africa: the Galjoen Fish, Table Mountain, the Blue Crane bird, the Springbok, and the King Protea.

Originally from Tsolo in the Eastern Cape but having spent almost her entire life in Cape Town, Mkula has always had a passion for drawing, although she has yet to pursue art formally in school. Learning about the competition through the Confucius Institute at UWC earlier this year, she decided to participate, reigniting her love for art.

Dr Hang Yang, a Chinese medical doctor and Mkula's supervisor, expressed great pride in Mkula's achievement, stating, "She selected elements that merge both China and South Africa. We are excited that Sino did so well. Sino, well done!"​.

Her accomplishments garnered attention from multiple news outlets, specifically The Daily Voice, a South African newspaper; People's Daily, a Chinese publication; and IOL, another South African newspaper.