The Russian Embassy in South Africa this week hosted a cultural event celebrating artistic collaboration and shared heritage, while reinforcing ties between BRICS nations and the Global South.

The twofold occasion, blending a prestigious international photo exhibition with a cinematic homage to Russian folklore, underscored the deepening cultural diplomacy between Moscow and Pretoria.

The evening opened with the launch of the 10th Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest Exhibition, showcasing works by photographers from Russia, South Africa, China, India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Syria, and beyond.

Named in honour of the late Russian photojournalist Andrei Stenin, the contest spotlights compelling storytelling through imagery, with themes ranging from social justice to environmental activism.

Russian Ambassador Roman Ambarov highlighted South Africa’s role in the exhibition.

“South Africa holds the record for the number of the contest roadshow exhibitions outside Russia.” said Ambarov. “Thanks to active media promotion, photographers from South Africa regularly participate and win in it,”

The event transitioned into a screening of The Flying Ship (2024), a feature film based on the 1979 Soviet cartoon.

The viewers, including government officials, academics, journalists, and Russian-university alumni, appreciated the aesthetics of Russian folk tales, folklore and legends by which the story was inspired.

The evening closed with Ambassador Ambarov awarding prizes to winners of the embassy’s online quiz held in commemoration of Russian Diplomat’s Day.

The event underscores Russia and South Africa’s growing cultural synergy within BRICS frameworks. Earlier this month, the two countries agreed on a language exchange programme that will see indigenous South African languages being taught at Russia’s Tyumen State University (UTMN) and the Patrice Lumumba Peoples’ Friendship University (RUDN), while Russian language courses will be offered at the University of South Africa (UNISA).

Both countries have positioned themselves as advocates for equitable cultural collaboration in the Global South. As BRICS pushes for a multipolar world order, such initiatives highlight the bloc’s potential as a hub for South-South creativity.