African youngsters pursue music dreams in Hangzhou

Watch the video to learn more about the African youngsters chasing their musical dreams in Hangzhou. [Video provided to ehangzhou.gov.cn]

In a small basement in downtown Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, a group of African youngsters gathers every week to talk and enjoy themselves.

Some of them are students and some are businesspeople, but they are all members of Studio 316 – a music studio focusing on promoting African music to Chinese people.

"People are always curious about Africa since its a big continent and want to know what African music is all about. My answer is that there is a typical rhythm and percussion in our music that represents our style," said Blessing, CEO of the studio.

Coming from Zimbabwe, Blessing finished his bachelor's degree at Zhejiang University of Science and Technology and got his master's at Zhejiang University.

After graduating in 2019, the young man spent six months preparing to establish the studio and a band.

"I’ve wanted to own my own studio ever since I was a kid. When I came to China, I saw Chinese people were interested in African music and that has motivated me to start up on my own," he said.

After almost two years of operation, the studio's members can now make a living from it in China. They are invited to commercial shows every weekend and teach classes on African drum and bass.