Excerpts from Voice of America (VOA) Program:
A Special Christmas Edition of Africa World Tonight.

---

Broadcast: 25 December, 2000

BILL:

IT’S 16 HOURS 30 U-T-C ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 25th AND THIS IS A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EDITION OF AFRICA WORLD TONIGHT.

           

CART:         AWT THEME UP AND FULL AND UNDER.

CART:         TEASER/ The needle sews clothes for many, but it has no shelter from the cold.

BILL:

THAT’S MARYKNOLL FATHER JOSEPH HEALEY OF DAR ES SALAAM TANZANIA – AND HE’LL BE TELLING US LATER HOW THAT GHANAIAN PROVERB DESCRIBES THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST.

…………….

GOOD EVENING, I’M WILLIAM EAGLE.

BILL:	AND I’M HERE IN THE WASHINGTON STUDIOS OF THE VOICE OF AMERICA AFRICA SERVICE. ALSO TONIGHT.. FIREWORKS AND FAMILY BRING CHRISTMAS HOME TO NIGERIA.USING LOCAL TRADITION TO TELL ABOUT JESUS.AND, CHRISTMAS IN ETHIOPIA.
BILL:	THOSE STORIES, PLUS PLENTY OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC – BOTH TRADITIONAL AND MODERN. ALL COMING UP ON OUR SPECIAL HOLIDAY EDITION OF AFRICA WORLD TONIGHT.

CART:       AWT STING      

CHRISTMAS COMPARISON (HEALEY-EAGLE Q & A)

HOST:

CHRISTMAS IS A DAY TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST. IT’S A DAY WHEN CHRISTIANS ATTEND MIDNIGHT MASSES AND CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICES – AND A TIME OF READING SCRIPTURE AND THE WELL KNOWN BIBLE STORIES ABOUT THE BIRTH OF THE SON OF GOD. IN AT LEAST ONE DIOCESE IN EAST AFRICA, AFRICANS ARE LEARNING ABOUT THE BIRTH OF JESUS IN ANOTHER WAY – THROUGH ADAPTATIONS OF TRADITIONAL STORIES AND SAYINGS. AT THE HEAD OF THE EFFORT IS FATHER JOSEPH HEALEY. HE’S AN AMERICAN MARYKNOLL MISSIONARY PRIEST LIVING IN DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA. HE’S ALSO THE MODERATOR OF THE AFRICAN PROVERBS SAYINGS AND STORIES WEB SITE. I ASKED FATHER HEALEY WHY HIS GROUP RELIES ON TRADITIONAL OR IMPORTED STORIES TO TELL THE NEWS OF JESUS – RATHER THAN JUST USE BIBLE STORIES.

             

           

             

TAPE:                                                HEALEY                                          3:15
OUT CUE: “. African family can and should live” “

MC:     THAT’S FATHER JOSEPH HEALEY – AN AMERICAN MARYKNOLL MISSIONARY PRIEST LIVING IN DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA.

WE’LL BE HEARING FROM HIM AGAIN LATER IN THE SHOW.

You can call up his WEBSITE ON AFRICAN PROVERBS. It’s at www.afriprov.org

You can ALSO SEND FATHER HEALEY

e-mail: JGHealey@aol.com.

Regular letter at: Maryknoll Society, PO Box 867, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

 

INSERT SONG: Linder Eder: “DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR” (#5) afr 3:51
GHANA / HEALEY EXCERPT

MC:    SINGER AND ACTRESS LINDA EDER AND THE BROADWAY GOSPEL CHOIR WITH “DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR.”

MC:     FROM DAR ES SALAAM TO ACCRA.

HOST:

IN GHANA, THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS ARE NOT JUST ABOUT FAITH, BUT ALSO ABOUT FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

EVERYONE IS GREETED WITH THE SPECIAL AKAN WELCOME – AFISHIAPA (ah-fee-shia-PAH) MEANING MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

FATHER JOSEPH HEALEY SAYS IN GHANA, THEOLOGIANS ARE USING A PROVERB TO EXPLAIN BIRTH OF JESUS

TAPE:                                                HEALEY                                          1:03

OUT CUE: ” our Christian faith, the Gospel message”

Mc:      THAT’S FATHER JOSEPH HEALEY – A MARYKNOLL MISSIONARY IN DAR ES SALAAM.

WE WANTED A CLOSE-UP VIEW OF CHRISTMAS IN GHANA. SO V-O-A’S RICHARD KOTEY SPOKE TO ONE MAN WHO’S PLANNING HIS CHURCH’S CELEBRATION — BISHOP CHARLES PALMER BUCKLE. HE’S THE HEAD OF THE KOFIRIDUA DIOCESE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN GHANA.

V-O-A’S RICHARD KOTEY REACHED HIM IN KOFIRIDUA WHILE HE WAS LISTENING TO GHANAIAN RELIGIOUS MUSIC AND ASKED HIM CHRISTMAS MEANS TO HIS FLOCK.

(ED NOTE: THIS HAS MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND, AND AT THE END)

TAPE:                                                KOTEY                                          VO: 4:33

CART:        BRIDGE (music FROM q & a.. fade under)

! $ NIGERIA / FIREWORKS (Osehobo-eagle) 12/06/00

MC:     THE CHRISTMAS SEASON IS A TIME OF SHARING FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN EDO STATE, NIGERIA. IT’S ALSO A TIME FOR CAUTION – AUTHORITIES ARE WARNING CITIZENS TO WATCH OUR FOR THIEVES WHO WORK WHILE OTHERS ARE DESTRACTED REJOICING.

DESPITE THE WARNING, REPORTER VICTOR OSEHOBO SAYS THE PEOPLE OF EDO STATE ARE PREPARING FOR A JOYOUS HOLIDAY.

TAPE:                              OSEHOBO                    4:20

ETHIOPIA CHRISTMAS (EAGLE-KRISTOS Q & A)

BILL:   ETHIOPIA IS ONE OF THE WORLD’ S OLDEST CHRISTIAN CULTURES. IT EMBRACED CHRISTIANITY IN 330 AD. ETHIOPIANS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS ON JANAURY 7 WITH A PILGRIMAGE TO LALIBELA – WHERE THIRTEENTH CENTURY COPTIC CHRISTIANS BUILT 11 UNDERGROUND CHURCHES TO AVOID PERSECUTION. THE HOLIDAY FEATURES PROCESSIONS OF THE NATIVITY AND OTHER CHRISTMAS ICONS THROUGH THE STREETS. ON CHRISTMAS EVE, THE FAITHFUL STAY AWAKE WITH A VIGIL OF BEANS AND BREAD. CHRISTIANS LIGHT CANDLES and SPEND THE NIGHT SINGING, DANCING AND PRAYING. THE HIGHLIGHT OF CHRISTMAS DAY IS A DINNER FEAST – FOR WHICH FAMILIES WHO CAN AFFORD IT COOK A GOAT.

MALAKEGENET (OR MONSIGNEUR) GEZAHEGN [GEZ-HINE’] KRISTOS OF THE ETHIOPIAN TWAHEDU ORTHODOX CHURCH IN SMITHTOWN, NEW YORK. HE EXPLAINS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AMERICAN AND ETHIOPIAN CHRISTIMAS CELEBRATIONS.

TAPE:                              eagle-kristos Q & A&                       5:15

            OUT CUE: “…….light of the world”

MC:     THAT’S MALAKEGENET (OR MONSIGNEUR) GEZAHEGN [gez-HINE’] KRISTOS OF THE ETHIOPIAN TWAHEDU ORTHODOX CHURCH IN SMITHTOWN, NEW YORK.

THOUGH ETHIOPIA IS ONE OF THE OLDEST CHRISTIAN CIVILIANS IN THE WORLD, IT ALSO HAS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST REPRESSIVE HISTORIES. MALAKEGENET KRISTOS SAYS HUMAN NATURE DOES NOT CHANGE OVERNIGHT – DESPITE THE CHURCH’S EFFORTS. IT’S A STRUGGLE, HE SAYS, TO CHANGE THAT HUMAN SIDE – WHICH MEANS ENDING THE TEMPTATION FOR WAR. AND CHRISTIANS HAVE LONG KNOWN SUFFERING – EARLY CHRISTIANS WERE CRUCIFIED, TORTURED, AND STARVED.

BUT THIS YEAR, THERE’S GOOD NEWS, ERITREA AND ETHIOPIA HAVE JUST SIGNED A PEACE AGREEMENT – AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER TWO YEARS, THEIR SOLDIERS WILL BE HAVING A CHRISTMAS OF PEACE.

CD:     Merry Xmas, War is Over (Lennon)            3:21

FADE OUT: at 16:30

MC:    (16:30 ONLY) IN WASHINGTON, THIS IS WILLIAM EAGLE FOR THE VOICE OF AMERICA.

I’M –WILLIAM EAGLE — – IN WASHINGTON. HAVE A VERY MERRY HOLIDAY!

CART:THEME UP TO TIME

***********************

CD:     BRING BACK UP IN FULL AND UNDER (DO THEY KNOW IT’S

CHRISTMAS) CHRISTMAS SYMBOLS /HEALEY

HOST: GIVING IS JUST ONE OF MANY TRADITIONS AT CHRISTMAS TIME.

SOME TRADITIONS ARE BASED NOT SO MUCH ON THE BIBLE – BUT ON OLD SECULAR – AND EVEN PAGAN BELIEFS.

FOR EXAMPLE, HERE IN THE WEST, MANY OF US HANG MISTLETOE FROM THE DOORWAY. WELL, MISTLETOE IS NEITHER A MISTLE NOR A TOE.

IT ACTUALLY IS A SHRUB WITH SMALL YELLOW FLOWERS AND WHITE STICKY BERRIES. IT GROWS ON APPLE AND OAK TREES.IN SCANDANAVIA, IT IS THOUGHT TO BRING PEACE – WARRING PARTIES COULD DECLARE A TRUCE UNDER IT. IT’S ALSO THOUGHT T O MEAN LIFE AND FERTILITY. NOT ONLY IS IT A CHRISTIAN SYMBOL, BUT IT’S ALSO A SECULAR SYMBOL, MEANING DEEP ROMANCE OR LASTING FRIENDSHIP FOR THOSE WHO KISS UNDER IT.

(OPT) MANY HOMES ARE ALSO DECORATED WITH HOLLY AT CHRISTMAS. THE PLANT HAS SHINY GREEN PRICKLY LEAVES AND RED BERRIES. IT STANDS FOR PEACE AND JOY. HOLLY WAS ACTUALLY THE SACRED PLANT OF SATURN – A GOD HONORED BY ROMANS. CHRISTIANS IN ROME DECORATED THEIR HOMES WITH HOLLY TO AVOID PERSECUTION DURING THE PAGAN FESTIVAL TO SATURN. IN TIME, THOUGH, IT LOST ITS PAGAN ASSOCIATION AND BECAME A SYMBOL OF CHRISTMAS. (END OPT)

AS FOR REINDEER – RARELY SEEN IN AFRICA BY THE WAY – THEY BECAME ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRADITION OF SANTA CLAUS. HE’S SAID TO LIVE FAR AWAY IN THE NORTH – -AND REINDEER BY THE WAY ARE FOUND IN THE FAR NORTHERN PART OF NORWAY, SWEDEN AND FINLAND. ANCIENT MAN USED THOSE REINDEER TO DRIVE THEIR SLEDS. EVEN TODAY, THE LAPPS OF THE ARTIC NORTH USE THE DEER TO PROVIDE MEAT AND MILK, HAIR FOR WEAVING, AND HIDES FOR TENTS AND CLOTHING.

SO MUCH FOR SECULAR SYMBOLS. BUT FATHER JOSEPH HEALEY IN DAR ES SALAAM SAYS THERE ARE EVEN SYMBOLS BORROWED FROM THE MIDDLE EAST.

TAPE:                                 HEALEY                      4:30

OUT CUE: “….Maji in the faith story of the Gospel.”

MC:     THAT’S FATHER JOSEPH HEALEY IN DAR ES SALAAM. SPEAKING ABOUT SOME OF THE TRADITIONS THAT THE WEST HAS INHERITED FROM AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST.

Remember you can reach FATHER HEALEY:

e-mail: JGHealey@aol.com

Regular letter at: Maryknoll Society, PO Box 867, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

CD: O Holy Night (Donna Summer, Cut #9) 4:12