African Mother Christmas (S2 Epi3 in English)

Loading player...
Celebrate the holidays with African Mother Christmas, a truly local story from African Story Magic with Gcina Mhlophe.
Set against the scenic backdrop of the Valley of a Thousand Hills, near Hillcrest outside Durban, this uplifting story reflects the hot KZN summers, the end of the school year, and the excitement of Christmas festivities.
Thando and Buntu love the long summer days swimming in the river and taking the train to Durban for Christmas shopping—a cherished tradition and the only time they get new clothes.
But this Christmas holds a magical surprise, as African Mother Christmas brings joy and wonder to the valley in a way no one could expect.
“This special story was inspired by our own African way of life in the not-so-distant past, where we celebrated the end of harvest in late August, and September was our New Year in the African calendar. We would be giving thanks for the richness and fertility of our land,” says Gcina Mhlophe.
Listen to this episode now in English or isiZulu and share this special festive story with your family!

Episode 3 Credits:

Author and Storyteller: Gcina Mhlophe
Voice of Thando: Snovuyo Ntuli
Voice of Thando's Father & Rickshaw man: Sky Tshabalala
Voice of Father Christmas: Darren Maule
Voice of Durban store owner: Carmen Reddy

Production Team:

Production Engineer: Lango Cele
Production Assistant: Ntsikelelo Khanyile
Executive Producer: Diane Macpherson
10 Dec 2024 English South Africa Kids & Family · Books

Other recent episodes

The Singing Chameleon (S2 Epi5 in English)

This is a story about a lonely chameleon who lived on a riverbank a long time ago. All the other river animals shunned him. They mocked and disliked him, calling him ugly and a disgrace. The chameleon always tried to hide and be alone, away from all those who hated…
21 Jan 12 min

Unwabu Oluculayo (S2 Epi5 in isiZulu)

Lena indaba yonwabu oluhlala lodwa osebeni lomfula kudala. Zonke ezinye izilwane zasemfuleni zazimgwema. Bemubhuqa, bengamthandi, bembiza ngomubiza nehlazo. Unwabu njalo wayezama ukucasha futhi abe yedwa, kude nabo bonke ababemzonda. Kodwa ngolunye usuku, kwafika ushintsho olukhulu ekuphileni kwakhe, konke ngenxa yethalente lakhe elikhethekile: isipho somculo. Ngalolo suku wayeshaya insimbi encane ebizwa…
21 Jan 15 min

ABC Prayers (S2 Epi4 in English)

Gcina Mhlophe brings to life the heartwarming tale of a young herd boy with a big dream — to go to school and church like the other kids in his village. But his father has other plans, insisting he stay home to look after the cattle. Refusing to give up,…
7 Jan 9 min

Imithandazo ka-ABC (S2 Epi4 in isiZulu)

UGcina Mhlophe uveza indaba ethinta inhliziyo yomfana omncane ongumalusi onephupho elikhulu — ukuya esikoleni nasesontweni njengezinye izingane zasendaweni yakubo. Kodwa uyise unamanye amacebo, uthi akasale ekhaya elusa izinkomo. Enqaba ukuyeka, umfana uqala ukufunda izinhlamvu ngosizo lomngane. Ngolunye usuku, uthandaza kuNkulunkulu ngendlela ehlukile kuye—ngokuphindaphinda izinhlamvu zamagama ngokuzwakalayo. Indoda edlulayo izwa lo…
7 Jan 6 min

UMama uMasoKhisimusi wase Afrika (S2 Epi3 in isiZulu)

Gubha amaholide ngo-Mama uMasoKhisimusi wase Afrika, indaba yasendaweni ngempela evela ku-African Story Magic noGcina Mhlophe. Njengoba ibhekene nesizinda se-Valley of a Thousand Hills, eduze kwase-Hillcrest ngaphandle kweTheku, le ndaba eyakhayo ikhombisa ukushisa kwehlobo lase-KZN, ukuphela konyaka wesikole, kanye nesasasa lemikhosi kaKhisimusi. UThando noBuntu bayazithanda izinsuku zasehlobo ezinde bebhukuda emfuleni futhi…
10 Dec 2024 13 min