20 August 2025
In recent years, China has expanded its presence in Africa through large-scale investments, infrastructure projects, and trade agreements. Publicly, Beijing often frames its relationship with African nations as a “partnership of equals.” However, beneath the surface, troubling patterns of prejudice and mockery directed at Africans by the Chinese society continue to emerge.
Incidents of Mockery and Racism
Multiple incidents highlight the uneasy undercurrents in this relationship. In 2017, a Chinese laundry detergent commercial went viral for its blatantly racist depiction of a Black man being “washed” into a lighter-skinned Chinese man. Similarly, during Lunar New Year celebrations in 2018, a Chinese state broadcaster aired a skit featuring an actress in blackface holding a monkey, reinforcing deeply offensive stereotypes about Africans.
Such episodes are not isolated. They reflect broader societal attitudes, where Africans living in China often report facing discrimination in housing, employment, and social life.
COVID-19 and the Guangzhou Evictions
The situation became particularly stark during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Guangzhou, home to a large African community, Africans were evicted from their apartments and denied entry to hotels, even if they had no travel history or symptoms. Videos and testimonies showed African migrants forced to sleep on the streets. This wave of targeted suspicion was met with outrage across the African continent, with several governments summoning Chinese diplomats for explanations.
The Irony of “Friendship” Diplomacy
China often presents itself as Africa’s ally, contrasting its approach with the colonial legacy of Western powers. Yet, the repeated mockery and mistreatment of Africans within China undermines this message. While African leaders may appreciate loans and infrastructure projects, ordinary Africans increasingly question whether China truly views them as equals—or merely as pawns in its global strategy.
African Reactions and Calls for Respect
Outrage over these incidents has grown stronger. African social media users, activists, and intellectuals have condemned China’s hypocrisy. Many call for African governments to demand greater respect and dignity in bilateral relations, reminding China that economic deals cannot excuse cultural contempt.
A Path Forward
The China-Africa relationship will likely remain economically important, but cultural respect is equally crucial. Unless China addresses racism within its borders and challenges demeaning portrayals of Africans, trust will continue to erode. True partnership requires not only trade and infrastructure, but also genuine equality and respect between people.
