When Christmas Bells Jingled in DELSU

By Sunny Awhefeada

The atmosphere was joyous and this could be seen in the smiles, laughter, hugs and banters that characterized the beginning of that evening. Colours, especially red, green and white, dominated the scene. The spectacle was carnivalesque (apologies to Aghogho Agbamu)! It was one of those rare moments when anxiety-laden students would feel at ease to exchange convivial banters with unsmiling hard aced dons. Thankfully, examination which is one cause of friction between students and dons was far away. So, that evening leveled all as everybody got enveloped by the immunity conferred by the convivial ambience. Constant nature was not left out of that evening’s experience. The setting sun in its majesty and indescribable colour glowed outside the hall. The mellowing wind carried the sound of the piano beyond the venue and it quickened steps in the direction of the hall. The trees too swayed and waved leisurely acknowledging the tuneful melodies. The birds indulged themselves in aerial gymnastics. Those around and within the hall knew that there was so much to look out for that evening. The audience brimmed and every space was taken up, even the gallery was thronged. The band from the Department of Music was untiring and dexterous as it reeled out one memorable song after the other. Those who could dance sprang up to do so. Others danced on their seats, nodded their heads, sang along or hummed. The event did begin before the event. Thus was the presaging of the enchanting evening of The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols of the Delta State University, (DELSU) Abraka, which took place exactly one week ago.

Christmas remains a special event for many reasons. The thought of it being an occasion meant to celebrate and memorialize the birth of the messiah, Jesus Christ, is unique among the reasons, especially the spiritual essence inhered in its salvific anchor. Beyond the idea of the Messiah’s birth are the ideals he represents as they conjure love, joy, peace and hope for humanity. These ideals came to play at DELSU at the said event put together by a committee chaired by Professor Florence Ngozi Ugoji, the University’s Dean of Education. The event approximated rhapsody and it was so therapeutic that the harsh and sordid reality of the Nigerian condition went on suspension for the three hours that it lasted. The colourful apparels in sync with the spirit of yuletide, the enthralling melodies emitted by the pianos, sonorously angelic voices, smiling members of the university community and the mellow, yet dry harmattan wind attest to the reality that Christmas was in the air. For that moment, DELSU was shut out of the buffetings of the world as the voices chorused “joy to the world/the Lord is born”. Smiles, laughter and approbation took turns as the biting pain of subsidy removal was temporarily obliterated. The soothing essence of psychotherapy as engendered by songs descended on the Convocation Hall venue of the evening of carols.

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The Vice Chancellor, Professor Andy Egwunyenga, characteristically moved the inspired audience in his opening remarks which dwelt on the ideals of Christmas. Greeted by applause again and again, Professor Egwunyenga emphasized and re-emphasized the notions of love, joy, peace and hope and how these have become eternal virtues that sustain humanity. Then the songs flowed and it was an evening of rivers of songs. Every segment of the University community had a slot and time. A guest artist also featured. Staff unions rendered eternally soul lifting songs; staff in various units took turns to give vent to melodies which exposed hidden talents; students from the University secondary school as well as pupils from the Staff school sang cherished and evergreen carols to the approbation of an enthralled audience. Nine lessons drawn from both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible were also read. The guest preacher, Rev Fr. (Dr) Anthony Mario Ozele, dwelt on the spiritual underpinnings of the season and the promised redemption which awaits humanity. He admonished the audience to remain hopeful and hold onto the ideals of love and peaceful coexistence despite the socio-economic and political conundrum into which the country has been plunged. Fr. Ozele, the fisher of men, deepened and expanded the message of yuletide revealing its socio-spiritual paradigms.

A significant feature of the evening was the unrehearsed duet performed by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Egwunyenga and his wife Professor Joyce Ebele Egwunyenga. Flawlessly rendered in their mother tongue, with all the accompanying nuances, the song transported those who understand Enu-ani language to their childhood and evoked a strong sense of nostalgia. Those familiar with the rendition commended the couple for doing a spontaneous performance that was almost flawless. The audience erupted in approbation to celebrate not just the song rendition, but the exemplary couple both of them have turned out to be. The Registrar, Mrs. Ufuoma Ufiofio, who also had a duet with Professor Ese Odokuma-Aboderin, did an insightful vote of thanks while the Vice Chancellor mounted the podium once again to make the closing remarks. A closing prayer, exit songs accompanied by the mellow piano and blaring saxophone marked the exeunt. The carol ended on that stage, but it played on in the hearts of the audience for that weekend as the bells jingled in their minds.

The reprieve the DELSU carols offered was largely psychological and, like everything psychologically motivated, it has an expiry date. By the Monday of the following week, colleagues had started yawning to seek relief from the Nigerian duress. The suspension of reality had run its course and once again Nigeria encroached on DELSU. The last seven years or so have been socio-economically and politically traumatic for Nigeria and her citizens. Adult Nigerians have now realized and quite painfully so that politics does alter things. Politics rupture conventions and undo lives, especially when it is bad politics. By politics one is actually referring to leadership and the two of them are not mutually exclusive. They intersect to offer us governance. If Nigerians affirm that the last seven years have offered us Christmas without Christmas it is because we have been afflicted by bad leadership that conjured policies that have pauperized us.
The celebratory essence of Yuletide is fast eluding us and the Christmas bells no longer jingle. The spiritual anchor of Christmas is also assailed by the general state of disillusionment. Faith is under attack due to the failure of the State to ensure the welfare and security of the people. The economic lockdown afflicting Nigeria has made Yuletide loom like a problem. This is as it concerns the pecuniary sustainability of the attendant celebrations. Christmas clothes and shoes for the children, food and drinks for the season, travels, home decoration among other essential rites have become items of frustrations for most Nigerians. A few “fortunate” ones like my friend, Dr. Emmanuel Emama, are free from these unnerving encumbrances because their sects forbid them, although we both ate Christmas rice and Christmas ukodo the other year! Unfortunately for me, my friend has refused to “carry” some of us along so that we can seek relief! What bothers most parents right now is the impending payment of school fees for the second term which begins in January. Things are really the opposite rosy. Government after government has continued to devalue the way of life in Nigeria. Things can be and could have been better if only those running the nation have her interest at heart. Nigeria has become like that mango tree planted by the roadside!