Christmas Arrives at Lajwahé: Blonyabe Yɛ Lajwahe

Christmas Arrives at Lajwahé is a classic African Christmas story written in captivating rhyming prose.
Christmas arrives, but Lajwahé is not quite ready. How would the canna lily gardens respond? What would seamstresses do, tailors too. What are the goldsmiths up to, photo studios too? Are you ready to join the masquerades on their comical adventures? And more, awaken handyman skills in children as they build Christmas decorations unique to Ghana. And really what is Christmas all about. Let’s find out!\nBlonyabe yɛ Lajwahe ji Afrika nikɛɛmɔ-lala fɛo ko ni kɔɔ Blonyabaa kɛ eyeli he.
Asako he ni Blonya ba pue yε Lajwahe. Ani canna lily fͻfͻi tromii baateshi aŋa lε lo? Mεni yei-anikpεlͻi baafee, hii-anikpεlͻi hu. Shikaserelͻi eka amεtoi, mfonirishãlͻi hu. Obaafata Kakamotobi shwεlͻi asãsãasͻfeemͻ lε he lo? Hã gbékɛ̃bii ajie amεwabiiaŋ kε Blonya saamͻ nibii klamͻi, Ghanabii anͻ srͻtoi komεi. Agbεnε hu, mεni hewͻ ni ayeͻ Blonya.
Ba ni wͻya gblεshi kε taoͻ fɛ̃ε naa.\nREVIEWS
"What to Expect: Christmas, Africa, African Culture, Ghana
Christmas isn’t always a picture of snow, Christmas trees, and turkey dinners (or
whatever your particular holiday tradition might be). In Ghana, Christmas looks very
different. The sun shines brightly, and the air is hot and dry. Families celebrate with
boiled rice and stewed chicken. Yet, some things are wonderfully, magically the
same: families still dress in their nicest clothes, gather to sing carols and share food,
and exchange gifts, stories, and memories. Whether you live in the East or the West,
Christmas is a special celebration of faith, love, and family that brings everyone
together.
Christmas Arrives at Lajwahe is a unique exploration of Ghanian culture as it relates
to the well-known festivities of Christmas. Bright, vibrant illustrations show how
Christmas can look in this part of Africa and how different it is to the images familiar
to Western children, but the text itself, written in rhyming prose, underscores shared
values and traditions. At the end of the volume, recipes, craft projects, musical
scores, Bible verses, and discussion questions invite readers to join in the
celebrations, while appendices offer a wealth of information about Christianity,
Christmas, Ghanian culture, and Ghanian Christmas traditions.
Reflecting the multilingual nature of the book, every line of text is offered in both
English and Akan, inviting readers to grapple with and enjoy the unique flavor of
Ghanaian language through translation.
Christmas Arrives at Lajwahe is a distinctive book that provides readers with an
interesting take on a well-known holiday.
— The Children’s Book Review