By Albert Njebusi*
Young Amary Mariane beamed with joy as she received her gift from Christmas gift-bringer, Father Christmas at the National Museum in Yaounde.
“It is a beautiful toy and I like it,” the nine-year-old said smiling.
Mariane is one of about 130 kids who took part in the national museum’s 2024 Christmas tree celebration on Monday, December 23. In its third edition this year, the Christmas tree celebration marks the end of activities of the national museum for the year.
The event this year brought together the museum’s staff, their children and the kids who had participated in the summer holiday workshops, creating an atmosphere of unity and festivity. The holiday workshop took place in July and August.
The over 127 kids watched with excitement as Father Christmas, with his signature red coat, arrived the ceremonial scene. His presence lit up the scene as he distributed gifts to all the children, making each one of them feel special with a hug and souvenir picture.
Speaking while presiding over the event, the Deputy Director if the national museum, Eta Ojang Ivan said the get together was part of the missions of institution that is home to artefacts and historical treasures representing the richness from the ten different regions of the country. The national museum, he said is a milieu where social cohesion is promoted.
Besides, Eta Ojang said the traditional Christmas tree activity closes the year 2024 and offers avenue for reflection on better perspectives envisaged for 2025.
The event was another opportunity for kids to display their creativity and skills they had developed during the museum’s summer workshops. The workshops, which included arts, story telling and cultural education, had provided the kids with the tools to express themselves and learn about the rich cultural heritage of Cameroon.
Parents of participating kids expressed their gratitude to the management of the national museum for the novelty.
“It is very important to encourage kids to always want to come for holidays workshops. Knowing that after workshops, there will be gifts at Christmas,” said one of the parents present at the vent who identified herself as Madame Ela. “The national museum is doing a great job, they should maintain that spirit,” Ela added.
Besides the gifts, the children together with their parents were treated to a variety of fun activities from singing Christmas carols to playing traditional holiday games.
And to young Mariane, “God should bless the national museum for her toy” as she hopes to come back next year.
*Albert Njebusi is a journalism student at the Advanced School of Mass Communication (ASMAC), Yaounde.
