By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee 

The Korea-Africa Foundation held an Af-PRO (Africa Professional) lecture on November 18 at Busan University of Foreign Studies.

This lecture, delivered by Yang Moon-hee, CEO of Lili, was presented under the theme “Dance, Community, and Life: The Power of Art from West Africa,” reflecting her deep passion for West African dance and artistic expression.

Yang began her journey in dance through classical ballet in elementary school, later developing a strong interest in Black music and dance during her junior year of university in the United States. This experience introduced her to the genre of Afro-Contemporary, which became a turning point leading her to devote herself to West African dance and artistic traditions.

During the lecture, Ms. Yang noted that awareness and understanding of African music and dance in Korea remain relatively low compared to Japan, Taiwan, and China. While recognition of Afro-inspired arts is gradually increasing in Korea, she emphasized the need for continued interest and deeper engagement.

She also highlighted how diverse cultural elements from the African continent are spreading globally, underscoring the importance of fostering more active cultural exchange between Korea and Africa.

Ms. Yang expressed her aspiration to continue collaborating with local artists from West Africa such as Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire and to contribute to artistic fusion by serving as a cultural bridge between Korea and the region.

The session also included an interactive segment where participants sang together, along with engaging stories about West African music and culture, creating a lively and enriching learning experience for the students.