by A drumming boy in Lagos asks if Santa is real or not, what a savanna is, and why cities grow so large
A Letter to Santa from Lagos, Nigeria
Dear Santa,
Hello Santa! My name is Chidi and I am 8 years old. I live in Lagos, in Nigeria, a huge, busy city full of music and color. I love drumming and playing football in the street. I want to know once and for all: is Santa Claus real or not? My geography question is: what is a savanna? And my social studies question is: what makes a city grow so large? Thank you, Santa!
Love, Chidi (age 8)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, hello Chidi! A boy who drums and plays football in busy Lagos surely has plenty of energy. You asked, once and for all, if I am real or not, so here is my clearest answer: I am real in the same way that courage and friendship are real. You cannot see courage, yet you feel it when you are brave. You cannot hold friendship, yet you know it is real when a friend stands by you. I am just like that. I am the realness of giving and good cheer, and you carry a little piece of me whenever you are kind.
Your geography question: what is a savanna
A savanna is a wide, grassy land with scattered trees and long warm seasons. Parts of your own Nigeria have savanna, home to amazing animals and tall golden grasses. The savanna is different from a thick forest because it is open and sunny, giving herds plenty of room to roam. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: why cities grow large
Cities grow large when many people move to them looking for work, school, and new chances for a better life. Your own Lagos is one of the biggest cities in all of Africa, full of markets, music, and hardworking people. As more families arrive, the city builds more homes, roads, and shops to make room for everyone. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Drum a happy beat for me, Chidi. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
