How Africa became proud of Obama’s victory

THE recent US presidential elections caused a disbelief to the entire continent of Africa which was is in an ecstatic state following the landslide victory of Barack Obama as the first Afro-American president of USA. There were euphoric reactions of people almost in every corner of African countries chanting the name of Obama after his victory was announced. Obama was heard saying that "There will be change for the people in Africa"
Kenyans in the Illinois senator’s ancestral homeland sang and danced with joy as news broke out that Obama has taken a giant leap, Reuters news agency reported. Hundreds of Kenyans, media reports say, gathered in a field at Obama’s late father’s village to watch the results relayed on a big screen inspite of a tropical downpour overnight. “We are going to the White House! We are going to the White House!" relatives sang at the top of their voices as they danced around the family's modest homestead, pausing only to hug each other and hoist small children into the air.

Two school children with their books strapped on their back passing close to a billboard carrying a portrait of a US President Barack Obama along Kawawa Road in Dar es Salaam. Tanzania together with other African nations was happy when Obama was announced a winner in a recent US presidential elections of November 2008.

Well-wishers, family members and armies of local and foreign journalists have descended on Kogelo, the tiny village in western Kenya where Obama's 87-year-old grandmother lives. “We haven't slept all night,” Biosa Obama, Obama's 39-year-old sister-in-law told Reuters, dancing on the spot. "I don't know what to say. This is just too amazing." Nearby, a villager walked past wearing a huge top hat made of newspaper clippings of Obama's picture. Babies have been named after Obama, drinkers knock back "Senator" beers in his honour, pop stars sing his praises and "Obama. Thus this is how it was. Kenya declared a national holiday to let people celebrate Obama’s success. “We the Kenyan people are immensely proud of your Kenyan roots. Your victory is not only an inspiration to millions of people all over the world, but it has special resonance with us here in Kenya,” President Mwai Kibaki said in a statement.

A man standing in disbelief as he looks at the picture of a US President Barack Obama which was drawn by an artist by the door of a kiosk selling food in Gongo la Mboto on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam city, while another person who became more interested to take a photo of the picture on the right, as well as a child in red shirt standing looking at the two in action.

The mood was not different in Ghana. Dozens of Ghanaians joined American citizens – students and workers – at the Headlines Hospitality Centre in the capital Accra to monitor results all night long. The atmosphere was filled with tears of joy, kisses, hugs and dancing as CNN declared their projection that Obama is president-elect. “I am lost for words. It’s amazing and history has been made. Obama has proved to the world that everyone irrespective of race, culture and background is equal. He has made blacks proud,” Alhassah Adamu told Africa News. “I’m proud to be an African and a black. Obama has changed the mindset of the world. Africa has proved a point. We are there,” Derbie, an African-American student said amidst tears of joy. Many Africans fervently hope his victory will mean more U.S. support for local development and an improvement in living conditions for the majority on the world's poorest continent.

Two artists seated in their place of work along Nelson Mandela Expressway in Dar es Salaam, near Mabibo-former external radio service of RTD. The artists sells their products at between US$ 20 and 40 depending on the size of the drawn photo among them is that one of a US President as I captured them by my camera.

However, Derbie quoted earlier warned her fellow Africans to desist from that mentality. She noted: “Obama cannot solve our problems. We can solve our own problems. We should just hope that his policies would favour Africa to improve living conditions. It’s Obama all the way.” In Tanzania, things were the same, there were jubilations all over the place especially in the city of Dar es Salaam, which was decorated with a big portrait of the US president elect immediately after he was sworn in. Artists tried to show their experiences in hand drawing of the portrait of a US president Obama. All this showed that Obama is a person of the people.