Chinese Popular Culture and Its Reception Among Secondary School Students in Akure, Ondo State

Chinese popular culture, including Mandarin-dubbed anime, Chinese drama series, and Chinese music, has gained remarkable traction among Nigerian secondary school students through social media platforms. This study examines the reception of Chinese popular culture among secondary school students in Akure, Ondo State, South West Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted, with questionnaires distributed to 240 secondary school students across four government and private schools in Akure metropolis. Results indicate that 68 percent of respondents consume Chinese popular culture content weekly, primarily through YouTube and TikTok. Chinese historical dramas are the most popular format, valued for their dramatic narratives and distinct visual aesthetics. Mandarin language curiosity is significantly higher among heavy consumers of Chinese content at 79 percent compared to non-consumers at 23 percent. Parental responses to Chinese content consumption are mixed, with some parents expressing concern about cultural displacement while others view it as a harmless entertainment choice. Few respondents connect their Chinese content consumption to any formal educational engagement with Chinese Studies. The study concludes that Chinese popular culture provides an accessible and organic entry point for cultural engagement among young Nigerians and recommends that secondary school Chinese Studies programmes leverage popular culture as a pedagogical bridge to formal Mandarin instruction in Ondo State and the broader South West zone.

Keywords: Chinese popular culture, secondary school students, Akure, Ondo State, cultural reception