Merry Kisimusi Band
Julia Kozub
The holiday season generally starts about two weeks before Christmas and continues until the New Year. It is a public holiday in most countries with colleges, schools, public and private institutions closing during this time. Like in other countries, prior to schools closing for the holiday, Christmas carol programs and events are popular and taken very seriously by students.
In Africa, many people travel long distances to their home villages to be with family, friends and extended family. Christmas trees are mostly common in cities and will be found decked out with lights, bells, stars, snow scenes, tinsel and other ornaments. Santa and his reindeer are popular in some places and growing in popularity in others. Parents purchase new clothing for children, who wear and show them off on Christmas day, and gifts and cards are exchanged among family and friends.
West Africa is fairly new to Christianity but is rich in local Christmas traditions. Many have their roots in pre-Christian cultures, like the masquerades in Sierra Leone and Nigeria, while others are Africanized traditions practiced around the world.
In Senegal, the religious feast is gaining ground, according to churches in the country where 95% of the population is Muslim. There is a Catholic minority in southern Senegal. This minority, growing tourism and western television have all had an impact in urban areas. Many non-Christians have begun giving each other presents on December 25th. Santa is becoming a common figure in shops in southern Senegal.
In Guinea to the south of Senegal, Christians are also strongly outnumbered. Mostly modern French religious Christmas traditions have been adopted, including Midnight Mass, eating local dishes together with family and exchanging gifts.
Guinea-Bissau is a poor country which makes the bacalao and gift traditions reserved for only a small part of the population. The Midnight Mass and street parties on December 25th is a time when all citizens can participate. Even some of the Muslim majority joins in the street parties, as there is no history of religious tension.
Further south, in Sierra Leone and Liberia, Christmas celebrations are even more marked by poverty and post-war society. This means many cannot afford to participate in traditions and in some cases mourning casts a dark shadow over the holiday.
Even with this harsh reality, Christmas is a great social occasion for Christians in both Sierra Leone and Liberia. It is marked as an almost exclusively religious holiday in Liberia, which is highly influenced by freed American slaves. The low-profile celebrations are centered on church services and family unions.
In Sierra Leone, celebrations are lively and mix partying and ancient traditions. Pre-Christian traditions and popular costumes have been mixed with religious sermons, making the Sierra Leonean yuletide a unique celebration.
Spectacular and ancient masquerades and masking ceremonies now play a major part in Christmas celebrations in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Both children and secret societies participate in this very colorful party. In the cities, the police musical bands and other bands play Christmas songs in the streets during the month of December.
African-Americans in the US and Caribbean have looked to Sierra Leone historically when trying to create non-European Christmas traditions. Historians say masquerade parties with roots in Sierra Leone were performed at Christmas by slaves brought to the New World and modern families try to find inspiration in West African Christmas customs.
Nigeria has more Christians than any other West African country. Old rooted masquerade parties are part of the Christmas celebrations. Nigeria is culturally diverse with varying Christmas traditions. Most have masquerades, often performed by children, while others have integrated old dances into the celebrations.
For most Nigerians, Christmas is about family and meeting up with old friends and extended family. Families also attend Midnight Mass and watch the Ekon Play, where a drama group dances with a doll symbolizing the Christ Child that spectators may hold for a small donation. After exchanging gifts, old and young participate in street life with rousing parties for the next two days.
While Americans and Europeans long for a white Christmas, exiled Nigerians are dreaming of a celebration with family, friends, the heat and parties in their villages back home. These times are marked by endless activities and merrymaking.
Over 40% of the people in Togo are Christians. French Christmas traditions are common. Unlike other West African countries, Santa Claus and Christmas trees have become part of tradition. Only Christmas dishes remain Togolese.
In Muslim-dominated Sahel, some villages have started celebrating Christmas. Small groups in Burkina Faso and Mali are blending African religious practices with the Christian faith and have come up with unique Christmas traditions. New traditions are still in the making here.
In southern Mali where Islam, Christianity and African religions coexist in most villages, the Dogon people are blending masquerades from an ancient death cult and traditional songs and dances with Midnight Masses and a local lamb dish inspired from biblical tales into the Christmas celebration.
In many Burkina Faso villages, children mix clay, straw and water to build masterpieces outside their compounds, illustrating the biblical theme of the crib. The nativity scenes are highlights in the village Christmas decoration and stand until the rain washes them away, often close to Easter.
Christmas in South Africa is a time in summer to revel in sunshine and the spirit of the season. Christmas trees, both real and not, are decorated with bells and stars with gifts underneath for children, family and friends.
In South Africa the main event of the Christmas season is attending Christmas church services. For some these are midnight services or Mass on Christmas Eve where carols are sung and gifts are offered in honor of Christ. This love offering is an integral part of the service. Christmas Eve celebrations are grand in urban areas when carols are sung and special services are held. Christmas is an exciting time when diverse populations give in to the spirit of the season.
There are a staggering 12 million Aids orphans, 13 million internally displaced and 3.5 million refugees in Africa according to the United Nations and the Inter Press Service News Agency. The good news is there are an unnamed number of charities around the world working daily to make a difference in the lives of those in need of help. These charities provide everything from medical assistance and education to food and clothing. Some charities specifically focus on making sure children in Africa have basic necessities and some even work relentlessly to bring a little bit of holiday cheer to those who might be otherwise forgotten.
Goat, chicken, turkey, beef and fish are some of the traditional staples of the holiday celebration meal in Africa. Side dishes include a variety of vegetable dishes, rice, fruits, soups and desserts. Specialties vary by country, here are just a few:
In South Africa family barbecues (braais) at the beach are common or traditional dinners with paper hats, mince pies, vegetables, turkey, yellow rice, roast beef, plum pudding (a vestige of the British colonial legacy) and many more wonderful dishes are brought out for a grand holiday feast. Open-air lunches are also a common choice for South African families as their Christmas dinner.
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