zuky:
From China Daily (via):
Nearly 600 years ago, 20 Chinese sailors swam ashore an island off Kenya’s east coast, having escaped from a shipwreck.
They went on to marry local women and convert to Islam.
Now a 19-year-old girl who claims to be one of their descendants has come to China to study, having been given a scholarship by the Chinese Government.
Mwamaka Sharifu, from Lamu island in Kenya, will begin her studies in September [2005].
She says she is a descendant of sailors travelling with Chinese explorer Zheng He (1371-1435) in the Ming Dynasty. […]
“I feel proud and happy to be part of it,” she said. “I am looking forward to studying in China.”
Sharifu said she admires Zheng’s courage and adventurous spirit. “I was born as brave as my ancestors,” she said. “It is rare for girls in my Muslim village to go so far to study, to such a big and different country.”
“My mum and dad were worried about me. But I told them I will be fine in my home country.”
I wonder what ended up happening to this young woman, and I’m curious to see if she still views China as her “home country” after she undoubtedly must have experienced at least some racism during her time there.
Cc @cosmicyoruba
Thanks for the cc Adeline, though this link is from my linkspam (it’s me cosmicyoruba) so I’ve seen this already.
I also wish they did a follow up on her story. What were Sharifu’s experiences in China like?