(CFP)

Jidi Majia, a famous poet from the Yi ethnic group, won the 2014 Nkiva Humanitarian Award on October 10 in Cape Town, South Africa. The award, which was created in 1999 and named after famous South African human rights leader Richard Nkiva, commends leaders and cultural celebrities who have maintained active connections with the people. Jidi Majia is the first Asian to win the award.

Jidi Majia, 53, started writing poetry in 1982. Many of his poems take inspiration from culture and history of the Yi people, who—numbering more than 11 million—mostly inhabit southwest China. Over 20 of his poetry collections have been published at home and abroad. His most famous collection, Rhapsody in Black, is available in English, French, Russian, Japanese, Spanish and Romanian, and has been distributed in over 30 countries and regions .

Jidi Majia is also an initiator and leader of various cultural activities, such as the Qinghai Lake International Poetry Festival and China (Qinghai) World Mountain Documentary Festival.