‘Russia is already part of who I am’: African students in Moscow

Moscow, Russia – Moscow’s Patrice Lumumba Peoples’ Friendship University – better known as RUDN – offers a view of a relationship often discussed in the language of diplomacy, trade and security.On the eve of the Russia-Africa Summit, due to begin on Wednesday in the capital Moscow, RUDN’s corridors are crowded with students speaking Russian, English, Arabic and dozens of African languages.There are national celebrations, cultural showcases, food from across the continent and student clubs that turn the campus into what one graduate calls a “mini-city”.For Africans who have come to study, work and build careers in Russia, the relationship is not an abstract geopolitical project. It is shaped by friendships, education, professional ambitions and the daily experience of life in Moscow.Keturah Musonda, a Zambian medical graduate, said she has not regretted coming to Russia.“I think Moscow is one of the best cities in the world,” she said, praising its transport system, the range of events and the opportunities she found beyond the classroom. Her student years at RUDN were filled with theatre, singing, student unions and medical studies. “My student life was quite colourful,” she said....