Obama

I feel like I should probably attempt to describe what it's like being in Kenya for Obama's election. In case you don't know, Obama's dad was Kenyan. His father is deceased but his grandmother and other aunts/ cousins etc still live here. The family is a Luo - which is as I understand it represented by the opposition party that probably won the last election. The other ethnic group/party is the Kikuos, who were traditionally in power and whose candidate the election was called for. So the Luo's are ecstatic that Obama won but not all Kenyans. A few very opinionated Kikuos I've talked to have been very clear they weren't rooting for him (and many had put money on McCain).

With that caveat, it was very fun going around town and seeing all the Obama paraphernalia - guards wearing pins, lots of bumper stickers, some shirts. The Americans were ecstatic at the results. The head of the office here, an american woman, called a meeting to celebrate - sent an email to the staff saying "god bless america" and bought everyone fried chicken for lunch. The other americans seemed incapable of working they were so giddy. I was buying my car from an american couple in the afternoon and they had spent the day drinking (she worked at the embassy) and singing obama songs. Kids were all chanting obama all day. And still when I meet someone (taxi driver, salesperson) they ask if I'm american and then smile and say "Obama". Actually on the way back from my visit into central kenya last week, we stopped to buy vegetables as they driver wanted some for his family as they were so much cheaper than in Nairobi, and this drunk guy kept talking to me about how he had gone to Harvard and "HEY... OBAMA". And the Prime Minister (a Kikuo) declared November 5 a national holiday.

Now I’m in Mombasa and there are banners on various street corners advertising celebrations for Obama’s win. And the papers here have had him on the front cover for at least the last week. Today the story was about his step-mother (did you know Obama’s mother was his father’s second wife – meaning polygamy? I didn’t) and her memories of Obama senior. Kenya has high hopes for what this will all mean. I hear constant references to increased tourism – well represented in today’s paper

“We must turn Obama’s connection with Kenya into a major economic opportunity…. The tourism board should build a three-star hotel in Kogelo in anticipation of tourists…. I am sure there are many tourists from America and the rest of the world who would want to see the Kenyan history of Obama”.

Were any of you planning on visiting Kenya now because Obama’s dad is from here? Also in that same paper “Blacks will benefit from Obama’s presidency. They will not be treated as trash anymore”. Yikes – that’s a lot of expectations just cause one guy was elected. I also hear a lot of expectations on eased visa restrictions with the US – something else that seems unlikely.

Finally there’s Obama, the Musical. It played for about a week with the last performance the day of the election (5th November here). I saw the final show. It was relatively bad community theatre about Obama’s life and especially the Kenyan part. I think “loosely based” would be an apt description. Michelle came across as a greedy, diamond ring wanting, scared of all things Africa comic relief. And Barack Senior hitting on a white woman played by a black woman just didn’t work for me. Bush was portrayed as a pimp with many hussies??!? McCain was perfect. The music and dancing were great although the lyrics were laughable. In the play Obama had a huge heroin addiction, well acted but a little absurd and drawn out. The picture depicts Obama leading a congo line with Michelle following and then tribal folks etc. They had amended the end that day to incorporate his victory speech.

Anyways, it’s made saying you’re American get you happier responses than I’ve ever before experienced