‘Na so I see am’ By Anthony Maliki

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Mari Christmas

Over the years, I have been desirous of starting a column but inspiration failed me whenever I tried to begin. I hope this first step would trigger continuous driving interest. I hope to continue the column every Thursdays. And, I thought I should reflect on the Christmas as I write this first edition from Abinsi, my serene lovely Jukun village in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, known its sweet Christmas festivities.

Sometimes I don’t understand why Christmas is so infectious. Every year, as commemoration of Christmas approaches, the mood and even the weather changes. A kind of anxiety feels the air with individuals and families on the edge trying to make ends meet even as the reason for the season is Jesus in all His solemnity.

Honestly, as a kid and a young man, my major concerned is with the rice and stew not really about the cloths and shoes. Growing up with my maternal grand uncle in Kaduna, Jos and later Makurdi, I can say as kids we had the best of the Christmas season with some of the times ferried to the “Father Christmas” grotto and don’t understand why the frenzy taking the whole family to see a man in red with fake beards and at the end of the day given a tiny leather bag with some balloons and and uninteresting plastic items. The money that was spent at Father Christmas would have been used to buy bread for myself and eat with the rich stew residue of the Christmas day left for the kids to lick. I can bet that the residue of those days can be turned into a big pot of stew today because of high concentration of undiluted condiments.

Christmas in Makurdi during our youthful days were a different ball game characterized with a lot of fun. It was the first time I watched the majestic “Mammy Water” dance in all its splendour.

Also, I knew the real meaning of Boxing Day in Makurdi. Our older brothers would surely look for trouble and engage in fights, on December 26 around our Jukun environment at Wurukum, saying it was meant for Boxing. And, I believed. Moving in a group, they fight dirty leading to injuries for just no reason.

Besides, many people drink to stupor with some beaten up in the course of getting high on various brands of liquor celebrating more than the celebrant. And, instead of celebrating a Merry, they celebrate a Mari (slap in Hausa) Christmas. Na so I see am.