世界上有1000多条运河，哺育了沿线4000多座运河城市，10000多个古镇。随着世界运河历史文化城市合作组织（WCCO）的影响力不断扩大，世界运河城市的朋友圈也在日渐扩容。

生活在运河城市和古镇的人们，因为运河的联接，因为运河语言的相通，而走到一起来。世界运河高能“朋友圈”，将不断推动运河文化国际化传播。

大运河传媒推出“世界运河‘朋友圈’”系列报道，走近来自世界运河城镇岸边的一个个人，讲述他们在国际舞台上精彩绽放的故事。敬请关注。

9月12日，在津巴布韦首都庆典中心，“今日津巴”总编辑莫妮卡·切鲁有幸获邀参加中国驻津巴布韦大使馆举办的庆祝中华人民共和国成立76周年暨中津建交45周年招待会等活动。来自中国大运河原点城市的扬州和韵艺术团带来了精彩纷呈的节目，成为全场的亮点。她感受到这不仅仅是一场文艺表演，更是一次心灵之旅。为此，她特意写了一篇文章，阐述艺术无国界的力量——

这场活动印证了充满热忱的基层艺术所蕴含的强大力量：它能搭建深刻的联结，让观众沉醉于一场美妙的文化对话——而这场对话的通用语言，正是节奏与旋律。

表演环节衔接流畅：从“长嘴壶茶艺”展现的沉静韵味（背景伴奏为古琴与琵琶的古朴乐声），过渡到活力四射的《欢乐手鼓》舞蹈表演。

以京剧唱腔演绎的《万里江山》高亢激昂，让整个场地都沉浸在一种兼具永恒力量与美感的动人氛围中。

表演的真正高潮出现在压轴环节：中津艺术家联袂献上的《送我一支玫瑰花》惊艳全场。琵琶清脆婉转的旋律，与非洲鼓深沉浑厚的节奏自然交融。这场融合完美诠释了表演者的使命——以艺术搭建桥梁，而非筑起高墙。

这一使命正是“和韵艺术团”的核心宗旨。该艺术团于2024年1月在中国扬州成立，并非由国家资助的大型团体，而是一支出色的基层非营利性集体。其名称“和韵”既体现了“多元共生”的理念，又巧妙暗合其发源地“运河”的谐音，以此致敬根源。

艺术团的故事与其表演同样振奋人心。这支由艺术家、教育工作者和文化倡导者组成的跨代际团队，全凭热忱而非盈利驱动。他们以志愿者身份自费开展全球文化交流之旅，将大运河的活态文化遗产，带给那些此前从未接触过它的海外观众。

他们创新的“艺术+”模式，意味着每一场海外演出都是一次“共创”——与当地艺术家即兴合作、融合碰撞，最终打造出全新的、属于双方的作品。上与津巴布韦鼓手成功完成的融合表演并非特例，而是其理念的实践体现，也与“津中建交45周年”的庆祝主题高度契合。

和韵艺术团用行动证明：最牢固的联结不仅诞生于宏伟殿堂，更源于艺术热忱构筑的共同语言。他们留给观众的，不仅是一场精彩表演的记忆，更是一种真挚、喜悦的联结感。

更重要的是，他们让人们意识到：艺术家不应是“靠施舍度日、叙事被他人左右的可怜人”，而可以是“掌握主动权、能按自己意愿讲述故事的创意实践者”。

英文原文：

A NIGHT OF HARMONY WITH THE HEYUN ART TROUPE

Monica Cheru - Managing Editor

Last Friday, those lucky enough to garner an invite to the latest cultural fete by the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe at Celebration Centre were in for a performance that was more than a show; it was a journey.

It was a testament to the power of passionate, grassroots art to forge profound connections, leaving the audience mesmerized by a beautiful dialogue of cultures spoken through universal language of rhythm and melody.

The performance flowed from the meditative grace of the “Long-spout teapot kung-fu”, set against the background the ancient sounds of the guqin and pipa, to the vibrant energy of the “Joyful Tambourine” dance.

The soaring Peking opera-style vocals in “Boundless Rivers and Mountains” filled the room with an evocative feeling of timeless power and beauty.

The true crescendo was the final act: a stunning China-Zimbabwe collaboration on “Send Me a Rose.” The melodic twang of pipa effortlessly marrying the deep, resonant heartbeat of an African drum. This fusion was the perfect embodiment of the performers’ mission: to build bridges, not walls, through art.

This mission is the core of the Heyun Art Troupe. Founded just last January in Yangzhou, China, Heyun is not a state-funded giant but remarkable grassroots, non-profit collective. Their name reflects a belief in unity through diversity, even cleverly paying homage to their roots as a homophone for “Canal.”

Their story is as inspiring as their performance. This intergenerational group of artists, educators, and cultural advocates operates on passion, not profit. They are the volunteers who have self-funded cultural journeys across the globe, bringing the living heritage of the Grand Canal to audiences who had never experienced it before.

Their innovative “Art+” model means every overseas performance is a co-creation, improvising and blending with local artists to create something entirely new and shared. Friday’s triumphant fusion with a Zimbabwean drummer was not an exception, but their philosophy in practice, fitting in perfectly with the theme of celebrating 45 years of diplomatic relations between Zimbabwe and China.

The Heyun Art Troupe proved that the most powerful connections are built not in grand halls alone, but through the shared language of artistic passion. They left us not just with a memory of a great show, but with a feeling of genuine, joyful connection.

And more important, at the thought that artists need not be beggars whose narratives are shaped by handouts, but creative entrepreneurs who can grab agency to tell their stories exactly as they wish.

制作 曹宇

编校 延晨 徐蓉

一审 桂艳 张莉

二审 肖东 董明

三审 晖军