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Interview: Chinese Wushu in EthiopiaMany Ethiopians say that they have so many things to learn from China. And among them, Master Wondimu Belihu said that Wushu, which was also called Chinese Kongfu, is what he wants to learn from China and to promote in Ethiopia in his lifetime.Wondimu, 40, is the founder and president of the Ethio-Li Lianjie Chinese Wushu Union. He is well-known among the sport circle in Ethiopia not only because of his good understanding and practice of Chinese Wushu, but also due to the fact that he is the first person to teach his countrymen Chinese martial art. Together with his colleagues, Wondimu has currently established 10 Wushu training centers throughout the country, seven in Addis Ababa, and the remaining in far northern town of Bahir Dar, and in Awasa and Jima with the former situated in some 250km south of the capital and the latter about 300km southwest of the metropolis. "We started from 20 members and have admitted 650 people into the union, including 58 women members and 72 school boys and girls under 15 years old since the Wushu union was launched on March 29, 1998. "The union members are so interested in Wushu training that our training centers are full of trainees from six o'clock in the morning to eight at night," Wondimu said proudly. Referring to his reasons to establish the Wushu union, Wondimu said excitedly that "Chinese Wushu is a marvelous sport which left me a very deep impression when I was a child," noting of all Chinese Wushu schools, Shaolin Wushu is his most favorite. "I used to major in Wushu in Beijing, China in 1975 for four years. Ever since that period of study, I made up my mind to introduce Chinese Wushu to Ethiopia." In addition to holding often Wushu seminars and giving performances in the capital and various parts of Ethiopia, Wondimu has so far published two books about Chinese martial arts. One is "Chinese Wushu Secret", the other is "Chinese Qigong (a system of deep breathing exercises) and Curing Diseases". The two books are very much welcome at the market with the total number of 50,000 of copies having been made by publishers, he said. To offer Wushu fans an easy access to the sport, Wondimu said, some 50 union members are under training free of charge after they were found too poor to pay membership fees. "Wushu must be for the people not for money," the master stressed. Being a master of Wushu, Wondimu has been very serious about the exercise for decades. "Practice Wushu has become part of my daily life. Regardless wind and rain, I always get up at five o' clock in the morning for a two-hour Wushu exercises." Because of his example, Wondimu's four-year-old son, who is living in the United States, has also become interest in Chinese Wushu and has started practicing simple part of the game, according to the master. Speaking of his future plan about the Wushu union, Wondimu disclosed that his union is doing everything to prepare an international Wushu competition scheduled for November 2001 in Amenia. "We are under procedure to invite Wushu coaches from China to give us coaching. We have also started preparing for the 2004 Olympic Games because Wushu has been officially accepted by the International Olympic Committee. "However, my biggest wish is to devote all my life to promote Chinese Wushu in my motherland," Wondimu said, noting "I feel half of my body belongs to China because I really love Chinese Wushu."
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