M’Pofo’s First African Christmas

M'Pofo's African Christmas

Lou-Anne raced up to M'Pofo's big Baobab tree, skidding to a halt in a cloud of dust. She put both hands to her mouth and shouted, "M'Pofo, where are you?"

"I'm over here," trumpeted M'Pofo, coming out from behind the Baobab.

"What on earth are you wearing on your head?" asked the curious girl.

"Have you never seen a Christmas hat before?" asked M'Pofo, taking off the red hat with its white bobble and holding it out to Lou-Anne.

"Well, no, I haven't," answered Lou-Anne, "Why are you wearing it when it is so warm outside?"

"Because it is part of the Christmas celebration," replied the elephant with a chuckle.

Lou-Anne scratched his head, "What is Christmas, M'Pofo? I've never heard of it?"

"Have you never heard of Christmas, Lou-Anne? Well, it is today," he said excitedly.

"No, I can't say that I have, M'Pofo," replied his friend with a puzzled look.

"It is the most wonderful time of the year," said M'Pofo as he grabbed Lou-Anne with his trunk. She squealed with delight as M'Pofo started to dance and sing simultaneously, twirling Lou-Anne. Soon the friends were both laughing.

Other animals gathered around to see what was going on in no time. M'Pofo's hat was the centre of attention. Several times he had to explain why he was wearing it.

Vakawu, the very clever vervet Monkey, asked Lou-Anne, "So, do you also know the history of Christmas?"

"Actually, erm, I'm not entirely sure," spluttered Lou-Anne, who was now as red as M'Pofo's Christmas hat.

"Well, I'd like to know," said Zabara, the pretty zebra, "Won't you tell us please, M'Pofo."

"Yes, I'll tell you what Christmas is really about. So, many years ago," started M'Pofo, before Nyati the Buffalo interrupted.

"This sounds like a great story, M'Pofo," exclaimed the excited buffalo.

"It certainly is, Nyati, and if you're quiet for a few minutes, then I may even be able to finish it! So, where was I?"

"You were just starting many, many years ago," said Zabara helpfully.

"When Nyati interrupted you to say how good the story was," added Gabala the giraffe, cutting into Zabara's sentence.

"Quiet! Everyone but M'Pofo be quiet," snorted Ubejane, the grumpy old rhinoceros, "or we will never finish the story."

The animals were quiet again, and M'Pofo picked up where he had left off, "There was a young black-maned lion. This lion was special and cared about all the animals, even those he usually wanted to eat. He gave them nice food and presents. His birthday was on the 25th of December, and today we celebrate his life by celebrating his birthday. So that the other animals would know who he was, he wore a bright red hat with a white bobble on the top, just like this one I'm wearing. This story was passed down to us by three wise old elephants who taught my forefathers how to share joy and happiness like that black-maned lion did with all of his friends."

"That explains the red hat," stated Vakawu, the very clever vervet monkey, "but what other Christmas traditions are there?"

"Usually we sing special songs, eat special foods, put up decorations, meet friends and family, and share presents with each other," answered M'Pofo. "Actually, I have presents for all of you," he trumpeted happily. I was about to start decorating. Who would like to help me? While we decorate, we can sing some Christmas carols."

The animals were all excited and more than happy to help M'Pofo. "Where do we start with the decorations, M'Pofo?" asked Lou-Anne.

"I have these different coloured pieces of quartz, which are strung on thin vines and glow in the dark. I would like them hung from the branches of my Baobab tree," answered M'Pofo.

"We can take care of that," volunteered Vakawu, "Come on, chaps, let's get on with it," he said, motioning to his fellow monkeys to give him a hand. They were up in the top branches of the Baobab, laying out the quartz vines in no time.

Next, M'Pofo pulled out a whole store of different coloured old leaves from the Autumn. Then, he turned to Uluwembu, the many-legged, known to friends as Ulu, the spider. "Ulu, could you use your most wonderful spider silk to tie the leaves onto the branches of the Baobab?"

Before Ulu could answer, Piet, the cuckoo, jumped into the discussion. "Maybe Ulu and his spider friends could ride on our backs," he waved a wing showing another twenty or so cuckoos. "We could fly up with a few leaves in our beaks, and they could tie them on."

"A most excellent idea, dear Piet," replied Ulu as he climbed onto the bird's back as the cuckoo picked up a beak full of leaves and flew to one of the longer branches.

The following decoration that the elephant pulled out was long strings of colourful ivy. "Let us wrap this around the trunk of the tree. So, you giraffes could take care of it?" asked M'Pofo, looking at Gabala and Twigga.

"Oh yes, it is going to be so very pretty," answered Twigga. She grabbed a mouthful of ivy and ran around the tree. Gabala called, "Slow down, Twigga, I need to hold one end of it firm otherwise, you just pull it along behind you, and we can't wrap the tree!"

The other animals were soon busy as Lou-Anne had found M'Pofo's book of Christmas Carols and popular Christmas songs. Soon the jungle was resounding to the tunes of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Rhino, Hark the Herald Elephants Trumpet, the Little Drummer Bushman, O-Mopani-Tree, and Silent Night. However, Wutu, the wise old owl, muttered that there was never any silence at night in the bush. Lou-Anne called him an old Scrooge, and after that, Wutu was singing as loudly as anyone else.

The big Baobab tree was decorated in almost no time, and the singers were all hungry and thirsty.

"We've done a wonderful job of decorating, and we've sung all the songs I know. Now it is time to share out the presents and food."

In the dark, M'Pofo's Baobab tree glowed so brightly and in so many colours that all the animals were amazed and chattered excitedly amongst themselves. Soon the food was piled high, and M'Pofo prepared to address the happy friends.

"You each have a present in front of you," he said, "Pick it up and give it to your neighbour and say, 'I wish you a merry Christmas'".

In no time, the presents had all been unpacked. Much to their delight, everyone had received a red Father Christmas hat with a white bobble on top of it, and all the animals were wearing them proudly.

"Friends," began M'Pofo, "today has taught you about sharing, enjoying and appreciating the celebration of Christmas with others. So please share your favourite foods with your friends and enjoy yourselves."

Little one, as you can imagine, the party continued until long after the animals' bedtimes, because the usual rules don't apply on Christmas Day. Be thankful for what you have received. I feel there is no better present than the time to be together with friends and family for many.