I’m a Christmas guy. I love Christmas. It’s my best time of the year. The harmattan. The lights. The carols. “Good King Wenceslas looked out on the feast of Stephen…”“Odun lo so pin O, Baba Rere…” The nice hampers. The dodgy hampers. The teeming malls. Bliss. Joy to the world.

If only brands and companies will give us some really warm Christmas ad. We really could do with some cheer in this country right now.

Back in the days, MTN used to serenade us with ‘Yellow Yellow Christmas’ on radio and on TV. Coke used to make that giant Christmas Tree at The National Theatre. Those brands used to make us feel good about the season, and in the process make us feel good about the brands.

These days most brands are trying to get you into bed pronto. “This season buy a 40″ TV and get a crate of egg free.”

No foreplay. Wham-bam thank you ma’am.

Good luck with that, Brand Managers.

All we want for Christmas is love. 

Hey, Konga, thanks for your Christmas TVC!

Yeah, maybe it’s a year old, and maybe it’s the absence of other warm Christmas ads on TV, but the Konga Christmas spot gives me a warm feeling. It doesn’t try to hard-sell me on shopping on Konga. It just reminds me that Konga is here for me to deliver my love to wherever I want. I like that. Konga is carefully and consistently occupying an emotional space in our minds as opposed to the purely transactional mind-space of Jumia. In the end, heart always win.

Below is the 2016 Christmas spot from Apple. Even Frankie needs some love.

This season, remember the less privileged around you. “The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.” Prov 11:25