“On Sunday, I went to the suburbs. I saw a grasshopper and a cricket. The two of them were there bragging...” The kuaiban (bamboo clappers) clatter rhythmically, with witty and continuous words full of charm. It is hard to imagine that the African young man on stage, Arhin William, speaking fluent Chinese and performing the kuaiban piece Bragging with such flair, was a novice in quyi (a Chinese folk art) just a few months ago.
As the evening lights came on, the “Shenyang Crosstalk Gala” special performance was underway at the K11 Chengshi Theater in Shenyang. Arhin William, an international student from Ghana at Shenyang Normal University, sat in the audience, his eyes glued to the kuaiban performers on stage. The punchlines drawn from everyday life made him laugh heartily and ignited his passion to learn this art form. “I had never been exposed to this art form before, but the moment I saw it today, I was instantly captivated, especially by its varied rhythms and unique sound.” William said excitedly, “I really love the Chinese language. Kuaiban has let me feel the rhythmic beauty of this language.” After the performance, William could not contain his excitement and went backstage to apprentice under the young crosstalk performer Wang Chen. “William has a solid foundation in Chinese and is naturally humorous. He’s a promising talent for learning kuaiban.” Wang Chen gladly accepted this “foreign apprentice.”
Kuaiban integrates multiple skills such as storytelling, clapper-playing, and acting, with extremely high requirements for rhythm and cadence. The storytelling part, in particular, demands a precise command of pronunciation and intonation, which is undoubtedly a great challenge for foreign people. “I thought my Chinese was quite good already, but learning kuaiban has still been very challenging. My tongue got tied, the clappers flew out of my hands, and I mixed up the lines... It was common for my hands not to obey my brain.” Since he began learning kuaiban, William has never slacked off. He diligently follows his teacher’s advice to “keep learning, keep reviewing, and keep practicing.” The witty and tongue-twisting lines in Bragging have become his daily practice. “Kuaiban requires daily practice. Otherwise, your hands become clumsy and your speech awkward, wasting all previous efforts.” William said with a smile, “Since I decided to learn, I’ll take it seriously. I won’t let my teacher down.”
Although he has only been learning kuaiban for a few months, with the guidance of professional teachers and his hard work, William has made great progress. He can now perform a complete kuaiban piece with vivid expressiveness. And many classmates have become his “devoted fans,” often gathering around him after class, clamoring for an impromptu performance. “They are proud that I can master this challenging art.” William said, his face beaming with excitement. “I’m also very happy that through my performance, they have come to understand that kuaiban, this art form, originates from China and is a priceless treasure in the world of art.”
“The longer I learn kuaiban, the more I realize that what I love is not just kuaiban itself, but also China’s profound history and culture.” William said, “Even after I return home upon completing my studies, I will keep practicing and share this unique folk art with more people across the world.”
