The Christmas Star of Nigeria: A Journey Home to Remember

By Ope Temi

One Christmas. One magical Star. Seven gifts to find. And a journey that will change the meaning of home forever.
Eleven-year-old Ayo Adeyemi has grown up in Britain hearing the same promise every year:
"One day, we will spend Christmas in Nigeria."
This year, it is finally happening.
Ayo expects sunshine, family gatherings, delicious food and perhaps far too many relatives asking, "Do you remember me?" What he does not expect is an ancient brass Christmas Star passed down through his family-or the mysterious voice that whispers:
"WELCOME HOME, CHILD OF TWO SKIES."
When the Star begins to lose its light, Grandma reveals an old family story: when people forget the stories that shaped them, the Star forgets how to shine.
To restore it, Ayo, his fearless little sister Tomi and their cousin Zainab must discover Seven Gifts of Memory-a Story, a Welcome, a Song, a Name, a Meal Shared Together, Service and Hope.
Their adventure carries them through colourful markets, family celebrations, music, food, cultural traditions and magical landscapes inspired by Nigeria's extraordinary past. Along the way, Ayo encounters glimpses of ancient Nok cultures, Ile-Ife, the Kingdom of Benin, Hausa city-states, Kanem-Bornu, Oyo, Igbo histories, historic trade networks, colonial rule, independence and modern Nigeria.
But something is following them.
The mysterious Harmattan of Forgetting wants names forgotten, songs silenced and history erased.
And it knows Ayo's deepest question:
Can you truly belong to two places at once?
Filled with adventure, humour, family, faith, history, Nigerian culture and plenty of puff-puff, The Christmas Star of Nigeria is a heartwarming story for children ages 8-12 about discovering that heritage is not about living in the past-it is about knowing what stands behind you while courageously walking toward the future.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0HKD39959
• ISBN13: 9798175436618
• Release Date: September 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 528 Pages
• Weight: 1.39 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"