by Efua, age 9 from Lome, Togo, asks Santa about writing letters, Togo’s narrow shape, and its Christmas celebrations.
Dear Santa, my name is Efua, and I am nine years old. I live in Lome, Togo, where my mama says our whole country is so thin and narrow you could practically drive across it in an afternoon.
Dear Efua, a country you can cross in an afternoon makes for one of the quickest, friendliest stops on my whole African route, your mama picked a truly cozy hometown.
Santa, I have three questions.
Can I write a letter to Santa? My teacher says every child in the world can, no matter where they live.
You absolutely can, Efua, and your teacher is exactly right, every single child everywhere can write to me, and I read every letter that arrives. Yours has already made my whole day a little brighter.
My mama says Togo has a long, narrow shape stretching from the coast up into West Africa. Is that true?
It is true, Efua, Togo stretches long and thin from the Atlantic coast up into the interior of West Africa. I always enjoy that narrow, winding shape guiding my route from the coast inland.
My mama says Togo has Christian, Muslim, and traditional believing families all living together, and Christmas is celebrated warmly by our Christian neighbors. Is that true?
It is true, Efua, Togo is home to a rich mix of religious traditions living side by side, and Christmas is celebrated with real warmth among Christian families. That kind of everyday respect between neighbors of different beliefs is really something worth celebrating.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Efua Adjei
Lome, Togo
P.S. Will you write back to me too, just this once?
I already have, Efua, right here in this very letter.
