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A Selfless Christmas

Kelly Smith - Winner of The Ahuntahunu Special Prize for Best Research - The ACE Children's Christmas Story Writing Competition 2020 • December 12, 2021

Kwadjo is fifteen years old. He has spent Christmas fourteen times excluding this year's. Over the past years, Christmas has been about gifts, travelling and parties. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the mood of Christmas 2020 has been different. Most people are concerned about their health, so they are staying safe by moving around less but others are being careless.

As a younger child, Kwadjo always counted each day in December starting from the 1st looking forward to the 25th. All because of the gifts, travel and parties that came along with it. This year has been so different, the usual way of spending Christmas would have been a risk to the health of the public due to the outbreak of the very dangerous Covid-19. A simpler Christmas is what they called it. Kwadjo's mom always asked him three days before Christmas for things he wanted. He loved this question so much that even though he was born in March, he loved December more. The items Kwadjo would list would make his mom laugh and say, ‘’ My son, what you need is half a section of what’s in the mall”. This had been the normal banter between Kwadjo and his mother for years. In spite of Covid-19 hanging over Christmas festivities, the 25th of December 2020 had been extraordinary for him, his family and some others.

For Christmas 2020, they planned on travelling around the country to see different tourist sites. Kwadjo has always been a proud Ghanaian and insisted on visiting tourist sites mostly in his country. However, on Christmas Morning of 2020, he woke up with that dream being shattered because of the pandemic.

"Dear God, please have Santa bring for us all, the gift of healing." he prayed.

After praying, as he was about to race downstairs to catch a glimpse of his Christmas presents, whether nineteen or twenty gifts, a thought hit his mind.

"Christmas has always been about me and the presents I receive. Christmas in general is all about happiness, yes."  he agreed with himself.

"But should Christmas be about only my happiness?  No." he answered himself.

Realising he was conversing with himself, his thoughts continued.

"Christmas shouldn’t be self-centred. It’s about love, compassion, care and giving. Care and compassion don't need to be expressed only at Christmas. It needs to be shown every day, just highlighted at Christmas", he thought to himself.

“Kwadjo!" I heard my father call out. "Won’t you come and see what we got for you this year? Kwadjo, I got the Rolex watch you wanted with a few other gadgets."

"Dad!” I called back.

"Yes son, what is it?" Dad asked

Next to him, I asked back "How much is the Rolex watch? "

"It's only a few hundred cedis." Dad responded.

Not wanting to blow my mind, I asked again.

"How much food could have been bought with that money?"

"A lot." Dad replied.

"Dad, I want this year’s Christmas to be the real Christmas."

Not really knowing what that meant and where it came from, but I felt a spark in me that urged me to push forward.

"I want us to present the kids on the street who are less privileged with food and gifts. "

"My son do you know how many street kids are out there?" Dad laughed and asked.

I shot back, ‘’Do you know how many kids wrote to Santa?’’

 He replied, "Santa is not real.”

Exactly!" I said. "Santa is not real but you are. You can make a little effort and it will make a great difference! Stories over the past years have been centred on how Santa shared gifts, well, this year, I’m Ghana’s new Santa!" Knowing how dumb I sounded.

Kwadjo's father bought into the idea. He and his parents went out and ordered for a lot of food, drinks, gifts and other fun party items for children. They set off to a less privileged neighbourhood not far from theirs to share them. Before they began sharing, Kwadjo caught the eye of a girl who had no shoes on and asked her how she spent her Christmas each year.

She responded “To me, Christmas doesn’t exist, I have to beg people each and every day in order to get some food to eat. I sleep at the same spot whether rain or shine, Christmas day is really no different."

This made Kwadjo sad. He thought, “It is a fact that I won’t be able to put a smile on every child’s face but at least the smiles we manage to get I pray will encourage others who are better off to also do something to bring a bit of joy to others."

Not too long after Kwadjo and his family began to share the food and items, a huge van came to park nearby. It was a food delivery van from a popular restaurant. They had seen what Kwadjo and his family were doing and decided to come and share as well. When they opened their van, the aroma of jollof rice and fried chicken was up in the air, taking over the nostrils of everyone in the area. Immediately the children started to jump up and down, some running around shouting "Bronya aba oooo! Bronya aba doo ooo! "Christmas is here! Christmas is finally here!.

Kwadjo found the children's excitement both joyful and sad. He smiled and looked on as some rushed from the queue he was serving with his gift packs in the direction of the restaurant van. The smell of  jollof and fried chicken was so good Kwadjo wanted to go for some as well, but he knew he must focus on his mission.

Within a space of two hours, lots of  vans, mini trucks and saloon cars had come around with loads of stuff. An event organiser came with tent builders to put up several tents to shield people from the scorching sun.

Kwadjo and his family as well as those others who cared, shared not just food, drinks, toys, face masks and hand sanitisers but also love. Because of Kwadjo’s thoughtfulness, generosity and selflessness, many children and even some adults had their very first great Christmas!

From then on, they began to look forward to the happiness and love that comes along with the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. God gave his son as a gift to the world. Kwadjo understood that Christmas is all about giving and spreading love to everyone, whether you know them or not.


Esi's Blog

The Days: A Review

By Esi Arhin • June 3, 2023
Ama Ata Aidoo's The Days , a picture book for children is a delight to read. Illustrated by Albert Buete Puplumpu, the book offers relatable descriptions of days of the week and their unique characters in a fun way. The theme of differences and similarities resonates clearly. The author employs the use of rhythm, rhyme, repetition and imagery to deploy the story. In comparison to how days behave, it plays on the characteristics of animals and things to enforce its message while encouraging children in an unsuspecting way to apply their mathematical skills. The simplicity of style and subject makes it an easy read for young children. At the same time, it holds a certain appeal for adults because of the subliminal meaning portrayed for those who understand the battles fought in daily existence. This book explores the possibilities in each day, painting a picture of life and its unpredictability in general. It assures the young that differences are normal and in fact to be expected. For adult readers it reinforces our knowledge and understanding of daily life challenges, leaving a sense of balance. The performance potential it holds is most exciting. Each day's character stares the imagination and evokes an actor in the reader. The colourful illustrations depict familiar images in ethereal bliss, typically that of the old village wall. The front cover captures the theme beautifully. It shows the different characters of days by seamlessly fusing together colours symbolizing the differences in days. The illustrations are very effective in enhancing the story. Although "Each day has hours of ten, ten and four..." "All the days are not equal" indeed. Children are sure to be entertained and learn about diversity. I'm enamored! The Days is far more than a good read. Children, gather round!

Navrongo Calls

By Esi Arhin • September 5, 2022
Navrongo, the capital town of the Kassena-Nankani district lies south of Paga, the main border crossing between Ghana and Burkina Faso. It sits at the tropical Savannah belt, Upper East of Ghana. I first made my way there sometime in September 2002 through a friend who couldn’t believe I had lived all 27 years of my life in southern Ghana, never having traveled up north. He insisted I needed the exposure and so he dragged me with him. He said I had not lived If I had not seen the sun rise on the Tono dam. So, one fine morning at 5:00 am, I jumped into his pick-up truck, and we headed up north where he had made a home away from fanteland. It was the longest road trip I had ever embarked on at the time, 15 hours on the road to be precise. Takeaway the breaks we took at Kumasi, Kintapo and Tamale. I barely noticed the hours pass as we chatted all the way with the company of Fela Kuti and Bob Marley playing in the background on repeat. To this day, the ride to Navrongo remains one of the fondest memories I have of traveling Ghana for work or leisure. This part of the country is home to two ethnic groups, the Kassims and the Nakanas. Historically, it is said that these two ethnic groups have had relative independence because the Ashantis didn't invade them. However certain treaties established by the British in 1898 an Anglo-French convention came up with an agreement to divide the lands. The Kassims and Nankanas were subsequently separated from their relatives who today live across the border, Burkina Faso. Older indigens of Navrongo know it as Navoro, which means (to put your foot down on soft ground). Today, the town is indeed soft ground to live and explore what new opportunities it has to offer, including access to tertiary education locally. The siting of Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences campus to the township has brought much warmth to the once laid back and very quiet town. Yet, it still remains relatively calm in comparison to Bolgatanga which is 30 kilometers away by road, about 40 minutes’ drive. It is an important market town in the area. The people are mainly subsistence farmers and rearers of cattle and goat. Navrongo is known for its famous mud-built cathedral and grotto, Our Lady of Seven Sorrows. Although it doesn't haven many formally designated places of tourist attraction, it is by its character a great attraction. The warmth of the people, the native architecture, fabrics, the market, the guinea fowl joints, the easy connection between humans and cattle in full glare, make up a total unique culture for experiencing. Marked places of interests in addition to the mud-built cathedral are the Tono dam, which is one of the largest agricultural dams in West Africa, also the first ever solar plantation and the health research centre. It is awesome to watch the sun rise ever so gracefully on the Tono dam.The rising of the sun is said to symbolise the journey of the sun in the sky. At about 5:00 am one morning my host and I set off on a drive to see the famous sunrise on Tono dam. The joy of watching the sunrise on the dam is next to none, with nature at its best early morning. The sun’s golden rays added a burnt orange colour to the smoky clouds. A small ball of light emerged from the sky at first. It then slowly starts to get bigger and illuminate. As if on cue birds began to chirp in glorification of the glow of the orange goddess. Its beauty is beyond description, I cannot do it justice. Suddenly, out of the blue it bursts out into a gleaming ball expanding at a moment's look. The first rays are gentle and soft on the eyes. It is a rare joy, eternally etched in memory. I have seen many a sunrise over the years but this one was magnificent, just as my host promised. It was worth every bit of the journey. One thing I found most fascinating is the hand production of ethnic fabrics by the women of Navorongo. They grow and eat their own food. They make their own beer(pito), their own beauty products from largely local materials. They build their homes with their bare hands also with local materials. They made ordinary what appeared phenomenal to me. There are some fairly decent guest houses and lodges to stay in, especially for low budget travelers. Moving around is not difficult, there are taxies and motor cars available for hire as well as collective rides. For a fun night, there are lots of drinking spots and bars to hang out and dig into some well spiced charcoal grilled guinea fowl or beef kebabs. You may sample grilled guinea fowl in as many grilling spots as you like. That is a sport in itself. I've had several opportunities to return to Navrongo after my first visit. With each visit the land and it’s people grow on me. Memories of Navrongo call. Nearly two decades after my first trip there, my heart still misses a beat at the mention of her name. Could it also be that the face of that handsome Kassim man still smiles on me?
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