THRILLS AND SPILLS AT ANGOLA 2010

"Letter from South Africa" is Omoseye Bolaji's regular weekly column published in the Nigerian newspaper, True National News. The column comes out every Monday. True National News is circulated all over Nigeria on a weekly basis.


February 1 2010 edition

Letter from South Africa (Column)

With Omoseye Bolaji

Thrills and spills at Angola 2010


The latest edition of the Africa Cup of Nations finals has just petered to an end. The cornucopia of football, and galaxy of proficient footballers essentially did Africa proud, with Nigeria doing quite well to get to the semi finals; though they could have done better!

The tournament, held in Angola in southern Africa started on a horrific note with the Togolese contingent being targeted and relentlessly fired on by miscreants. At least three people were killed and it is an indication of the “celebrity status” of the world we live in now that the western world seemed to be more concerned with the plight of Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor - as if one particular human life is more important than others!

In South Africa the interest in the tournament was immense but less than if the national team (Bafana Bafana) had qualified to take part in the continental fiesta. But since South Africa would be hosting the first (senior) World Cup ever to be hosted in Africa , and Angola 2010 was set to showcase the best of African football witnessing preparative competitive soccer. It was also natural that South Africans would wish other southern African teams (like Malawi , Zambia , Mozambique and hosts Angola ) good luck in the tournament.

But the initial ambience in South Africa was shock that the western world seemed to be linking the shootings (the attack on the Togolese) in Angola to shortcomings in security in Africa in general! As if the world would be at risk during the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa . Hence not only football honchos like Danny Jordaan, but hordes of sports journalists publicly stated that equating Angola with South Africa was ignorant and ridiculous .

Nigeria of course qualified to take part in Angola 2010 and large numbers of South African football fans supported the Super Eagles. Hence the shock when Egypt gunned down the Eagles 3-1 in the opening match of their group; nor was Nigeria ’s laboured win over Benin (1-0 thanks to a Yakubu penalty kick) anything to enthuse about. Millions were hoping that the Eagles would get their act together and try to go on an impressive run to show that Nigeria is still a footballing powerhouse.

It was quite gratifying to see Nigeria putting on a competent performance against Mozambique in their third match and winning by three goals to nothing. Mozambique had given Nigeria two tough matches during the World Cup qualifiers but also did the Eagles a great favour by defeating Tunisia 1-0 which helped Nigeria to qualify for the South African finals. Strikers are more likely to hit the back of the net with goals under their belt, so it was pleasing to see Peter Odemwingie and Obafemi Martins getting off the mark in the game against Mozambique .

Odemwingie has done well in the main for the Eagles since breaking into the team during the 2004 African Cup of Nations finals when he scored two brilliant goals against South Africa . His pedigree has always been unassailable, and another highlight for him was his superb goal against Tunisia in Abuja last year. Against Mozambique in the Nations Cup finals, his two goals were well timed with a symmetry that could hardly be bettered – he scored just before half time; and again just after the second half had kicked off

In the main, Southern African teams held their heads high among such exalted opposition. The highlight in the group stages was Malawi ’s sensational 3-0 win over Algeria ; the same Algeria that has always been among the top brass in African football; the same Algeria that defeated mighty Egypt to make it to the World Cup finals this year. It was not just that Malawi won the game - they comprehensively won with some superb finishing.

Angola did well to qualify for the quarter finals of the tournament. Their progress could have been a lot easier of course if they had not bizarrely let a four goal lead slip in their very first game against Mali ! But Ghana ended the hosts’ progress in the quarter finals.

As for Cameroon , they arrived at the tournament with the usual respect they command in the continent, with ace striker Samuel Eto’o stating from inception that he would relish banging in the goals. Yet he generally cut a forlorn, ineffective figure, especially in the first game which his country lost against Gabon ; and even in the 3-1 win against Zambia despite his (Eto’o’s) goal. He did little as his team bowed out eventually to Egypt .

Not that many Nigerians would be wishing Cameroon too much progress! There can be no doubt about it that no African team has suffered more at the hands of Cameroon than Nigeria over the decades – especially at the Nations Cup finals. In 1984, 1988, and 2000 (at home!) the Eagles met Cameroon in the very final of the Nations Cup but lost them all. Hence Nigeria ’s 2004 rare win over Cameroon (2-1) in the Nations Cup quarter finals was really something to celebrate for Nigerians!

Yet to be fair, kudos to Cameroon ’s Samuel Eto’o in particular, a magnificent player when at his peak. All time top scorer at the African Cup of Nations Finals. Scored vital goals in TWO European Champions league finals for Barcelona (2006, and 2008) to help them lift the great trophy. And he still added to his goals tally in Angola anyway, helping his country to the quarter finals, where they lost rather unluckily to an opportunistic Egypt .

Another of Nigeria ’s arch rivals, Ghana were to do very well at the Angola tournament. They lost their first game to Ivory Coast (3-1) and they were without some key players. Michael Essien of Chelsea is one of the most powerful, vibrant, dexterous midfielders in the world, and losing him was always going to be a blow. Yet Ghana still made it to the final where they met Egypt.

Last week Nigeria met Zambia in the quarter finals of the Nations Cup finals and many felt that this was probably a good chance for Nigeria to at least grace another semi final of a Nations Cup since 2006. Nigeria did win on penalties thanks mainly to the exploits of goalkeeper Enyeama; thereafter Ghana lurked in the semi finals last Thursday where the Super Eagles lost 1-0 to the Ghanaians.
* This article was written before the final of the tournament (which Egypt won 1-0 against Ghana); and the third place match where Nigeria defeated Algeria to clinch bronze

THE RADIANCE OF THE KING

"Letter from South Africa" is Omoseye Bolaji's regular weekly column published in the Nigerian newspaper, True National News. The column comes out every Monday. True National News is circulated all over Nigeria on a weekly basis.


January 25 2010 edition

Letter from South Africa (Column)

With Omoseye Bolaji

The radiance of the King

History is replete with the awe inspiring "omnipotence" of kings, throughout not only Africa but all over the world; till date the powerful monarchs and aristocrats still exist in so many regions of the world.

These monarchs often had frightening powers traditionally. Think about Herod of the Bible, for example, who had more or less powers of a king; and the demise of John the Baptist. Whilst we are told that Herod was unhappy to do it, he still had John's head (after decapitation) on a platter in order to please a lovely damsel!

In Africa, ancestral kings had such awesome powers that it is frightening to think about. There was pomp, there was ceremony, splendour, and riveting routines whenever the king was in court. The importance of the king and a glimpse of his powers can be seen from this excerpt from Ola Rotimi's classic Ovonramwen Nogbaisi where the king himself says:

"Let the land know this: Ovonramwen Nogbaisi is henceforth set to rule as king after the manner of his fathers before him...no matter how long and stout the human neck, on top of it must sit a head. Henceforth, a full moon's my glow - dominant, and un-open to rivalry throughout the empire"

Of course in England, the Royalty is still very powerful despite the conventions of modern parliaments and Prime ministers. The Queen still commands a great deal of respect world wide and the dignity associated with the throne still exists. Even as far as the oriental world, royalty survives globally.

Hence when Barack Obama the American president of America visited Japan late last year and bowed in front of the Emperor, back at home in America many were incensed. For many black Africans they would consider Obama's gesture as a kindly, broad minded one; showing respect for traditional leaders as only we authentic Africans can!

In Nigeria, kings and chiefs held sway over their empires and peoples for centuries before the white man came - and the good thing is that many of them still exist - and flourish; combining western orientation and awareness with ancestral practices. Of course historians remind us that even when the country (Nigeria) was colonised the British used the “Indirect rule” system of government wherefore the kings and traditional leaders were utilised whilst governing the sprawling territories; the facile "Dual Mandate" system being operated. In theory at least!

In South Africa, the most obvious monarchy system is of course the Zulu kingdom which still commands lots of following with ancestral practises, rites, traditions still being performed. The nearby kingdom of Swaziland is very much a monarchy too, no matter how eurocentric observers might criticise the extent of such powers ten years into the new millennium!

It is quite remarkable that despite the fact that we are in the new Millennium, the awe and prestige associated with the aristocracy still lingers on, in countries like South Africa and Nigeria. Certainly I was dumb founded with the resounding pomp and pageantry of the King of Ibadanland, Oba Odulana Odugade in August 2008 when I had the great honour of being conferred with a Chieftaincy title by His majesty.

It was just like one would imagine the scenario to be a couple of centuries ago in the king’s courtyard – with an ambience of exceeding festivity and gaiety; the king’s special drummers swinging into action in proficient fashion with the famous “talking drums” complemented with fulsome praise recitations; the gunshots punctuating the elaborate ceremonies; the army of proliferating people hanging on every word from the King, aristocrats and chiefs; and for good measure there was a fair sprinkling of pontifical rain too!

Perhaps some readers, upon seeing the title of my Column here - The radiance of the king - were seduced into thinking about Camara Laye's novel The Radiance of the King (Le Regard du Roi in its original French) which largely celebrates the fantastic elegance and pomp of an African king, with everybody trying to please him; including the very humble carver who spends such a long time working on churning out a special axe to please the king.

Yet my own opinion is that the author (Laye) somewhat undermines the overpowering effect and aura of the king in his book by presenting the king as rather weak, young and almost by association effeminate.

It is much easier to imagine a Morena (King) as imposing both in size and aura. Then we can associate him with "Kabiyesi" - as the Yorubas say - he who must be obeyed unambiguously, with transcendental reverence!

Tebogo and the pantophagist launched

"Letter from South Africa" is Omoseye Bolaji's regular weekly column published in the Nigerian newspaper, True National News. The column comes out every Monday. True National News is circulated all over Nigeria on a weekly basis.


January 18 2010 edition

Letter from South Africa (Column)

With Omoseye Bolaji

TEBOGO AND THE PANTOPHAGIST Launched


My new book, Tebogo and the pantophagist (2010) was formally launched in Bloemfontein, South Africa the other week. It was the seventh Tebogo Mokoena Mystery book. For writers and literary aficionados, such an occasion is always one to relish.

Hence the launch - which was held at the Batho Hall in Mangaung, attracted quite a number of those who relish and love the world and genre of writing. It was nice seeing some old faces again as they filed in, joked, confabulated and exchanged opinions and ideas.

There were fine poets like Tiisetso M Thiba and Richard Seape (Skietreker); the latter is a well known poet who garnered some controversy when he published his first book in Afrikaans (titled Apartheid ek gaan jou boks) The impressive Pule Lechesa, essayist, critic and poet was also in attendance. Thabo Mafike, publisher, prolific author and also a motivational speaker, was present too. So was Julia Mooi, a female writer who incidentally published a study on some of my works last year.

My mind went back to book launches in Nigeria and how it has got to the stage where largely, rich philanthropist aka chief launchers etc have to chip in to make books viable. At least four of my books in Nigeria have been launched in such a way - the last ones at the University of Ibadan Conference Centre in late 2008.

If only we could recreate the old days when books were cheap and everybody could buy them easily; the days when virtually everybody had impressive personal libraries at their homes throughout west Africa- the days when the art of reading and exchanging books reached an apogee!

The reviews and comments on my new book took some time at the launch; they were varied and (to me) sometimes controversial - I did not agree with some of the comments (when did writers ever agree with critics!!!) Anyway I include two or three minuscule excerpts here:

From Daniel Pela who said: "The beauty of the Tebogo Mystery series is that it largely encourages many of we black people at grassroots level to read and enjoy mystery books with local touches, the way our people talk, go to the pubs and shebeens, interact, the occasional skeletons in closets etc. It is heart warming to have our own detective like Tebogo operating like more heralded white sleuths like Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot or Ellery Queen”.

Charles Matorera observed: "In this latest adventure, common sense largely prevails again. Phantasy, irritating snobbery and over-contrived situations are largely kept in abeyance. The main criticism is that it is highly unlikely that a scientist can be so much a food lover (pantophagist); in reality such a person would most likely live in another world as it were, and skip things like lunches"

Critic Peter Moroe considered Debbie’s character in the book; concluding: "Her attitude here reflects how many black women who grew up in the townships would feel in a situation like this, with the condescending approach to animals. But note that both Tebogo, and Shasha (who is besotted with Debbie) condemn her attitude; this type of approach is typical of Bolaji’s fiction which tends to be conciliatory and broad-minded.'

It rather excites me that the Tebogo Mystery series is almost ten years into since inception! The first one I wrote and published was Tebogo Investigates (2000); this has now been followed by Tebogo's spot of bother (2001) Tebogo fails (2003), Ask Tebogo (2004) Tebogo and the Haka (2008), Tebogo and the epithalamion (2009); and now Tebogo and the pantophagist (2010)

Some of the members of the media at the launch asked me a few questions after the formal launch of the new book. One of them was: "Mr Bolaji, it appears that the early books in the Tebogo series had simple titles but rather complicated plots. But the last three have difficult titles but simple plots! I mean how many people in the African black world will know about the haka; what is the epithalamion; what is the pantophagist?”

I laughed but another reporter and reader came to my rescue somewhat by stating that it was not exactly true to say all my recent plots have been simple; he pointed out that he found the plot of Tebogo and the haka quite as complicated or even more than the early ones; and it was good to learn a few things from the recent books.

I tried to answer the question as simply as I could but to be honest I am not a fan of writers going out of their way to behave like celebrities. I have always believed that whatever we write must do more or less all the speaking for us (res ipsa loquitor?); and who knows all the arcane promptings and inspiration of writers anyway?

TRIBUTE TO SEGUN ODEGBAMI

"Letter from South Africa" is Omoseye Bolaji's regular weekly column published in the Nigerian newspaper, True National News. The column comes out every Monday. True National News is circulated all over Nigeria on a weekly basis.


January 11 2010 edition

Letter from South Africa (Column)

With Omoseye Bolaji


TRIBUTE TO SEGUN ODEGBAMI

It is a situation that usually bemuses and perturbs my South African friends who are ensconced in the sporting media. That is, my invariable reply when they ask me who I believe the best ever football (soccer) player was world-wide?

I always answer: Segun Odegbami! Of course Odegbami is not a national hero in a country like South Africa, the way he is in Nigeria. and the young/er Nigerian soccer lovers are generally unlucky not to have seen the great Odegbami live in action, weaving his intricate magic on the right flank for club (IICC Shooting Stars) and country decades ago.

Naturally, the football "experts' expect one to mention the likes of Pele, Maradona, Johan Cruyf, Puskas, or even current rave Lionel Messi whilst talking about the best player the world has ever seen. Often, I am at pains to tell these sceptics that yes, I know all about Pele, (I grew up watching videos of the man at his best); and I was among those who watched Maradona live at his pomp in 1986...

But yet I always still insist that Segun Odegbami is the best player I have ever seen on the field of play. I am sure many Nigerians lucky enough to see Ntate (“sir”) Odegbami at his best from around 1977 to 1981 will agree with me. But yet this is still inadequate because in 1984, Odegbami, coming back from an early retirement was still so good that he ripped defences like Mas Fes to shreds far away in Morocco where he scored another magnificent goal.

Basically, Odegbami was a soccer genius. He was a very intelligent, brilliant player, a real crowd pleaser and magisterial to boot!. He was perhaps at his best the fastest footballer the world has ever seen; going down the right flank like a dervish, brilliantly dribbling, tying defenders in knots; flamboyance per excellence!

And he scored lots of goals too, great goals, whether cutting in from the right and then unleashing a "banana shot"; or just a plain intelligent tap in; or hitting the net with his “computerized” headers after soaring in the air so majestically. What a player!

Although few soccer fans of that era might remember, Odegbami easily dominated at a time when Nigeria was blessed with brilliant right wingers; the likes of Baba Otu Mohammed; Sam Okpodu or even a burgeoning Tarila Okorowanta. But Odegbami was by far the best of the lot, feared and respected all over Africa (at his peak many players were consigned to mark him out of games) It was a great, great tragedy that Nigeria never made it to the World Cup finals at that time.

Whilst playing for his country, Odegbami was often lethal, with unbelievable body swerves and breath-taking speed. Among his best ever performances were against two North African countries: against Egypt in a World Cup qualifier in 1977 (which the then Eagles won 4-0); and of course against Algeria in the 1980 Nations Cup final (Lagos)

In that latter match (against Algeria) Odegbami was imperious for his country. Algerian full back Krouchi, was reduced to rubble as Odegbami turned on his phenomenal skills, especially in the first half. Apart from scoring two goals in that half, Odegbami adroitly created at least three other clear scoring chances for the late Muda Lawal. All squandered. But at least Nigeria won 3-0 in the end.

Does South Africa have such outstanding fantastic footballers? A country's best players can often be seen to the fore during that nation's finest hour - for example when Holland won the European Championship in 1988 the world witnessed confirmation that Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Marco van Basten were indeed world class.

South Africa's best moment came in 1996 when the country won the Africa Cup of Nations finals with excellent players like Doctor Khumalo, Shoes Moshoeu Shaun Bartlett and Mark Fish showing their prowess. Moshoeu was probably the most outstanding during this tournament.

Right now South Africa has prominent players like Benni McCarthy (though aging and hardly a regular choice at Blackburn in England as I write) Steven Pienaar has also been doing well, and Teko Modise is often dubbed the outstanding player locally in the South African league. None of these players however with the greatest respect, can hold a candle to the likes of Odegbami, or Adokiye Amiesiemaka or even Etim "Maradona" Esin or Austin Okocha

Those who witnessed Segun Odegbami at his prime would easily remember the incredible respect footballers all over the continent had for him during his playing career; watching him with awe as he juggled the ball, dribbled, feinted this way and that and embarked on his superb runs down the right flank. What a player!!!

Nonpareil literary repository

'Letter from South Africa" is Omoseye Bolaji's regular weekly column published in the Nigerian newspaper, True National News. The column comes out every Monday. True National News is circulated all over Nigeria on a weekly basis.


January 4 2010 edition

Letter from SA (Column)

With Omoseye Bolaji

Nonpareil literary repository


The National English Literary Museum (NELM) in South Africa is rightly regarded as the best literary library of its type in the whole of Africa. Put simply, the museum has in its cavernous folds incredible stored material on writers in South Africa and the whole of Southern Africa in general.

Hence it is no surprise that a medley of important scholars, researchers and writers lucky enough to visit the museum (based in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape of South Africa) sing the praises of the museum to high heavens. Writers black and white, male or female are staggered to see the meticulous details of their work in this unique museum.

For example the NELM stores not only books and "literary critical" material but also things like original manuscripts, juvenalia, and extensive press cuttings. The library does all it can to have COMPREHENSIVE records of every writer, including articles, studies, interviews.

So long as you are a writer who has contributed somewhat to literature, the NELM has information on you, including the early (South Africa) writers like Olive Schrivener or Sol Plaatje - the first black South African to write and publish a novel. The NELM is very much interested in material that can generally be considered "criticism" and staffers go out of their way to procure this.

Researchers, scholars. writers etc from all over the world regularly travel to the NELM to marvel at what it has to offer. The NELM makes research so easy, yet so comprehensive; literally at the press of a button. All one has to do is just know the name of the pertinent author and in seconds the information comes tumbling out...books published, studies (including books and articles) on the author, supplementary information, press cuttings etc

Just taking one example, say one is interested in Es'kia Mphahlele, the great South African black writer and academic. At the NELM all the books he has published are available and all the books written about his works too; then there are sundry articles published by Es'kia, and also articles published on his works too. Everything is there.

Oh, as if all this was not enough, it must be stated that the staff of NELM are absolutely fantastic, courteous people who go out of their way to garner information and cater for all vistors interested in writing. Their love for the world of writing is so palpable.

Internationmal scholars and researchers who have recently visited the NELM include Randolph Vigne, Ann Laughton, Jackie Shipster, Patrick Flanery, Miriam Nicholson, Marcia Blumberg, Torsten Sannar, Mathew Furlong, Robert Frasier (who published an excellent critique - book - of Ayi Kwei Armah) among many others.

On a personal note, for me, it was a thrill visiting the NELM having contributed to South African English literature. Like other writers I used to dream of visiting that NELM one day and the first time I was there I could not believe how efficient and all-encompassing that museum is. The punctilio and excellence here is out of this world.

But still one has to wonder, wish and pray that Nigeria could have such a "literary museum" that would shake the world like the NELM. With so many world class Nigerian authors, it behoves them to come together and prevail on the powers that be to establish a literary museum like this. Imagine visitors from all over the world descending on such a place; maybe the query is on Chinua Achebe. Then the computer (data base) locates ALL his books, filed away in his own special section. Then there comes (also electronically) all the books, articles and press clippings written on his literary work over the decades...

It was a coterie of renowned white writers in South Africa who had a dream of creating the NELM ...and the dream has come true now. How nice it would be for Nigerian icons like Achebe, Soyinka, J P Clark, etc to come together and create a literary repository like this in Nigeria too!

The Wretched of the earth

"Letter from South Africa" is Omoseye Bolaji's regular weekly column published in the Nigerian newspaper, True National News. The column comes out every Monday. True National News is circulated all over Nigeria on a weekly basis.

December 28 2009 edition

Letter from South Africa

With Omoseye Bolaji

THE WRETCHED OF THE EARTH

What is our real legacy as modern (educated) black Africans? Should we metaphorically pull the wool over our eyes and blind ourselves to the unedifying past? Should we, like the cliched ostriches, bury our heads in the sand? I have in mind here terrible legacies like the trans Atlantic slave trade that affected and devastated west Africa in particular centuries ago.

The horrific plight of slaves in the past, especially the mind-boggling journey across the Atlantic ocean in those dark days is something modern Africans can hardly imagine. The African-Americans in the USA, just like Africans, are heirs to such a terrible legacy.

A lot of literature has sprung from the unravelling of the slave trade, especially from the American (“nigger”) angle. Probably the most famous was the book, Roots, penned by Alex Haley which spawned a fantastic TV series and movies popular all over the world for decades.

Creative writers, academics and bards continue to churn out works that reflect this extraordinary suffering of the black slaves of that time, starting from their arduous journey from the heart of Africa, to the castles, ports and then the trans-Atlantic journey. The horror of the whole thing is portrayed in the process.

One of the most trenchant, latest additions to this literature is Zong (2007) a fantastic imaginative, yet very haunting poem that focuses on the horrors of such slaves whilst crossing the ocean. The author of this incisive poem is the female Canadian, NourbeSe Philip, who is now making waves with the publication.

Actually her work, Zong (2007) is based on real life experience, the bare facts which can be seen from an actual court case in 1783 which captures the horror of those days, the way slaves at the time were not regarded as human beings at all; with 300 slaves more or less killed in this episode. The owners (of the ship) were not even charged for murder, but only an insurance case for lost goods followed! The whole episode was unconscionable, callous, and cruel, with the unfortunate slaves just cannon fodder for commercial interests.

Philip’s poem goes further in dwelling on the inhumane manner female slaves were treated, worse than sex objects with no sanitary conditions to cater for them and sexual abuses. It is a heart rending, evocative creative work yet based on reality. The work has been making waves around the world, including in South Africa.

We can not forget of course, the compliance of our forefathers, our then African leaders in fomenting and institutionalizing the horrific slave trade. African leaders then were (like now?) manipulated by the meretricious wares and inducements of Eurocentric trade dealers. The great African writer, Ngugi wa Thiong'o details this brilliantly in his monumental work, The beautyful ones are not yet born, but we need not go into details in a column like this.

Back to this work of Philip’s which has shown that modern writers can recreate the grisly past with brilliant empathy. The realism is augmented with the poet using African languages to highlight the plight of the slaves, including the women treated in such callous fashion. The work is put simply a triumph.

This type of re-creations of the past echo what many people are saying that the horrific African, exploitative past should not just be swept under the carpet. For example there have been increasing calls by esteemed leaders and academics (in Africa in particular) for an African renaissance which would also incorporate some sort of reparations to the mother continent. Personalities like the erstwhile South African President, Thabo Mbeki and Ngugi wa Thiong’o have added their voices to such calls.

But for Nigerians, such calls for African renaissance or even reparations are nothing strange. Oluadah Equaino decades ago adumbrated on this in his writings; the late Chief MKO Abiola will always be remembered for similar calls too and he contributed prodigiously to African sports as a sort of fillip; even Olusegun Obasanjo somewhat conscientised the world in this wise too in his own way.

The Canadian, Philip’s work provides glimpses into an unedifying past, a tragic episode that went on for too long a time, with the victims literally crying out with pathos…

The allure of the Festive season

"Letter from South Africa" is Omoseye Bolaji's regular weekly column published in the Nigerian newspaper, True National News. The column comes out every Monday, and is circulated all over Nigeria.

December 21 2009 edition

LETTER FROM SOUTH AFRICA

The allure of the festive season

With Omoseye Bolaji


Yes, the festive season has arrived now, and the celebrations and special ambience will resonate around the world for a few weeks. It is a period that has come to assume the patina of merriment.

How well I remember when I was a youngster based in Ibadan (Oyo State). We knew only too well at the time that Christmas in particular came but once a year and how we enjoyed and savoured the occasion! It was about endless merriment, hilarity, poignant moving songs, crackers and fireworks, and general camaraderie.

The highlight for a number of years back in those days was visiting Father Christmas. In those days the vestiges of the multinational supermarkets (Kingsway, Leventis etc.) still lingered on for some time. Visiting Father Christmas was such an exhilarating delight then!

At the time, we kids could hardly contain our excitement knowing we would be riding on the train for children, then entering a dark intriguing grotto; and then wonders of wonders, meeting Father Christmas himself who would give us sundry gifts! Such was the situation at Kingsway in those days. And when it was all over, the children would be gripped with the transcendental excitement and afterglow, describing the train journey, the almost frightening darkness and meeting the great man (Father Christmas) himself.

Of course we were young. Very young. Not for once did we consider such unedifying possibilities that maybe this was a "capitalistic, elitist" charade; we just knew that it was a great highlight of our lives. Until we outgrew it all.

Hence all over the world now, the magic and allure of the Christmas period persists. For the young in particular it is still a much anticipated period. For much of the western world (eg Europe) the period is concomitant with cold weather which does not dampen much of the enthusiasm.

From a neutral point of view, and even for many cynics, the so-called festive season is a time to relax after (generally) working throughout the year, take a break, let their hair down, relax with the family, re-charge the batteries as it were.

Christmas time in South Africa is a splendid time indeed, with the gaiety and camaraderie all around. A striking sight at around this time in the shops, especially the supermarkets (Shoprite/OK, Clicks, Pick and Pay, Spar etc) are the lovely ladies working there dressed as charming Father Christmas or Santa Claus)

Congenial festive season music, people gaily dressed, Christmas trees, lurid decorations and buntings, teeming masses of frenetic, joyous celebrating people (called jabulani here) …that’s the quintessence of the festive season for you.

Even in the smaller, or small shops Even in the smaller, or small shops “Father Christmases” are redolent. I remember some years ago, a friend of mine who runs a Photography agency in South Africa was celebrating Christmas in his own way. Apparently he had bought the special Father Christmas clothes, but the gentleman who should have been Santa was nowhere to be found; and as the outfit in this case necessitated an omotelele (lanky) Santa Claus, my friend begged me to be Santa Claus for a few hours!

I flinched initially, but soon obliged. It was a completely unexpected scenario for me dressing up as Father Christmas, mingling with kids and handing out all sorts of gifts to them; the children were full of enthusiasm and glee, adumbrating how I used to feel as a kid going to Father Christmas. Though alas, this time there was no train for the kids!

As youngsters we have countless dreams, aspirations, ambitions desires etc. With this in mind, I must admit that never had I imagined ever being Father Christmas one day!