African media professionals visiting China have been impressed by the country's advanced television production techniques, highlighting areas where their own industries can learn and grow.

Following a visit to a rehearsal for the Chinese music competition show Singer 2024 in Changsha, Hunan province, on Thursday, the 18 media workers were particularly impressed by the show's production values.

They compared it favorably to established programs from the United States such as The Voice, American Idol and America's Got Talent.

Singer 2024, which features both international and local singers, airs live every Friday on Hunan Satellite TV and Mango TV online. The visiting professionals, hailing from seven African countries, including Eritrea, Lesotho and Nigeria, are participating in a 14-day tour organized by the Ministry of Commerce. Their itinerary includes visiting TV stations and media enterprises in Changsha, followed by visits to similar entities in Shanghai and Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

Abubaker Lubowa, a photographer from Uganda National Media Group, admired the show's technical aspects. "The lighting, sound effects, microphones, musicians and cameras are just on point. This is something I have never seen in my life," he said.

Despite the language barrier, Lubowa was captivated by the music and particularly enjoyed the performance of Taiwan singer Huang Hsuan. He noted the growth and depth of Chinese music, with artists performing with genuine emotion.

Lubowa emphasized the importance of African TV producers adapting to the shift in viewership away from traditional screens to smartphones and tablets, a trend he has observed in recent years.

Christelle Lebrasse, a senior news editor at Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation, praised the show's exceptional lighting design, describing it as being unlike anything she had seen before. She said the experience created by the multidirectional lighting, and the palpable emotions conveyed by the singers, was immersive. Lebrasse noted the seamless synchronization of the entire production throughout the hourlong rehearsal, highlighting the show's professionalism. She expressed confidence that Singer 2024 would be well-received by audiences in Africa and beyond, given growing global interest.

Tiblet Tesfaye Dejene, a senior journalist from Ethiopia's Wazema Radio, described her experience as exhilarating, with the show's energy prompting her to dance and sing along during the rehearsal. She said the experience demonstrated China's growing global influence, exemplified by the show's inclusion of international singers. She commended the Chinese people for their welcoming nature, friendliness and dedication to hard work.

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