29/10/2008 / AFRICA
"Despite his
origins and the colour of his skin, Obama is the same as any other Democratic
candidate: they glare everyone out with their total ignorance of the world
outside the US.
I'm not making any illusions about what's coming next for Africa.
To get out of the doldrums, we only have ourselves to count on. What Obama's
done is incredible, and he should indeed be celebrated, but he has nothing to
do with us. He's shown that there are no bounds for a man who believes in himself,
and that's something we're in great need of in this continent."
"The man you
see sitting to the left of the tree was the one responsible for the display and
had three to four paintings of Obama (like the one you see in the photo) he was
selling. Mostly he'd just hang out there during the day and sell a painting or
two. What was so interesting was this wasn't an isolated event. I spent four
months in Africa this summer (two in Rwanda)
and then the following two travelling from Kenya
all the way down to South
Africa. In every country, Africans were
constantly asking about Obama, who I was voting for, etc. He's really got a
HUGE presence in Africa."
"Obamamania
is in full swing in Côte d'Ivoire.
We see him as a hero, our African representative in the White House. Someone's
even created a support committee for him, called the "Africa
for Obama" committee, and he holds press conferences about the candidate. The
members are liberal thinkers of all nationalities, origins and faiths. They're
bent on letting the entire continent know about the Illinois senator."
"Obamamania
has arrived in Gabon.
Young people have set up fan clubs for "the black candidate in the White
House". You hear people saying things like "the racist whites in the US and
elsewhere will finally realise that black people are not idiots". The
colour of his skin is almost always the centre of debate here in Libreville. He's
"the one". The biggest fans say he's going to "change the face
of the world". Just Barack
Obama's name, which comes from Africa, makes
the continent proud. For the young elites here, he gives them hope of getting
away from the corrupt marshlands of political life in Africa. An Obama
T-shirt sells for 5,000 FCFA [€8] here, which not everybody can afford. In a
few weeks - when he supposedly wins - there'll probably be umbrellas, gadgets,
and loads of other paraphernalia on the market."
This sign
greets visitors just outside Abuja
airport. Like elsewhere in Africa, Obama is
very popular here. Just recently, a few prominent citizens (including the head
of the Nigeria Stock Exchange) were arraigned for organising a bogus fundraiser
for the Obama campaign."
He's a charismatic
personality with an impressive career. I love watching him on TV. He is BLACK.
Not as black as we'd like (like David Palmer from the American series 24), especially when you read his
biography, but anyway... The remodelling of American politics? Yes! But that's
mainly because he's a Democrat. What will he do for Africa?
Nothing! Unless all the US
lobbyists wake up black one day. And so..."
This was
posted in the small crafts market just outside Victoria
Falls. I saw several Obama clippings and buttons in Africa."
Most of the
leaders in Africa are black, and most of them are
not democrat. In the US too,
former American Secretary of State Colin Powell, who's mixed-race, lied to the
Security Council in justifying the Iraq war, and Condoleezza Rice - who's
black - has stayed faithful to the White House neocons until this day. You're
really playing Africans for fools in playing the race card. This election can
effectually represent a change for Americans, in sight of their recent history,
and Barack Obama can help their not-such-a-melting pot to evolve. But that
doesn't concern Africans."
Those who
think Obama's skin colour will make any difference to his policies are grossly mistaken.
He's no more African than his father and his grandmother were. He's black, not
African; the difference is considerable. His election would certainly affect
millions of black Americans, but black Africans, they need to manage by
themselves, not wait for him like a messiah that will come to carry the weight
of their incapacities."
Africa on Obama: "He's black, not African"
Barack and Sarah Hussein Obama, his grandmother. Photo posted on Flickr.
Obama's roots won't go forgotten. And especially not in Africa. Our Observers all over the continent share their excitement and hope, but also their doubt that there will be any change for Africa if the black candidate is elected.
Never before has an African-American candidate come so close to presidency in the US. According to the latest polls, published by Reuters/Zogby on Monday, Obama is ahead of his competitor in five of the eight crucial swing states, including Ohio - the one that tipped the election for George Bush in 2004.
Just a week before the big day, we asked our Observers in Africa what Obama's success means for them.
"I'm not making any illusions about what's coming next for Africa"
COTE D'IVOIRE
Honorat Hermann C is an advertiser at Océan Ogilvy in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. His blog.
"Despite his
origins and the colour of his skin, Obama is the same as any other Democratic
candidate: they glare everyone out with their total ignorance of the world
outside the US.
I'm not making any illusions about what's coming next for Africa.
To get out of the doldrums, we only have ourselves to count on. What Obama's
done is incredible, and he should indeed be celebrated, but he has nothing to
do with us. He's shown that there are no bounds for a man who believes in himself,
and that's something we're in great need of in this continent."
ZANZIBAR
Photo by Skyler Vander Molen.
Skyler Vander Molen is an American travelling in Africa.
"The man you
see sitting to the left of the tree was the one responsible for the display and
had three to four paintings of Obama (like the one you see in the photo) he was
selling. Mostly he'd just hang out there during the day and sell a painting or
two. What was so interesting was this wasn't an isolated event. I spent four
months in Africa this summer (two in Rwanda)
and then the following two travelling from Kenya
all the way down to South
Africa. In every country, Africans were
constantly asking about Obama, who I was voting for, etc. He's really got a
HUGE presence in Africa."
"There aren't only supporters here; fanatics too"
COTE D'IVOIRE
MamadouKone, aka 'Magnaled', is a student from Abidjan.
An Obama T-shirt in the Plateau district of Abidjan.
"Obamamania
is in full swing in Côte d'Ivoire.
We see him as a hero, our African representative in the White House. Someone's
even created a support committee for him, called the "Africa
for Obama" committee, and he holds press conferences about the candidate. The
members are liberal thinkers of all nationalities, origins and faiths. They're
bent on letting the entire continent know about the Illinois senator."
GHANA
Photo: Creative Commons on Flickr.
An Obama bracelet sold in Accra.
"He's the one"
GABON
Marsel Maffe, aka 'Tsira', works in a cybercafé in Libreville.
"Obamamania
has arrived in Gabon.
Young people have set up fan clubs for "the black candidate in the White
House". You hear people saying things like "the racist whites in the US and
elsewhere will finally realise that black people are not idiots". The
colour of his skin is almost always the centre of debate here in Libreville. He's
"the one". The biggest fans say he's going to "change the face
of the world". Just Barack
Obama's name, which comes from Africa, makes
the continent proud. For the young elites here, he gives them hope of getting
away from the corrupt marshlands of political life in Africa. An Obama
T-shirt sells for 5,000 FCFA [€8] here, which not everybody can afford. In a
few weeks - when he supposedly wins - there'll probably be umbrellas, gadgets,
and loads of other paraphernalia on the market."
NIGERIA
Photo taken by "Oyibo" and posted on Flickr.
This sign
greets visitors just outside Abuja
airport. Like elsewhere in Africa, Obama is
very popular here. Just recently, a few prominent citizens (including the head
of the Nigeria Stock Exchange) were arraigned for organising a bogus fundraiser
for the Obama campaign."
"Not as black as we'd like"
BURKINA FASO
Idrissa Martial is an IT management technician from Bourgou. His blog.
He's a charismatic
personality with an impressive career. I love watching him on TV. He is BLACK.
Not as black as we'd like (like David Palmer from the American series 24), especially when you read his
biography, but anyway... The remodelling of American politics? Yes! But that's
mainly because he's a Democrat. What will he do for Africa?
Nothing! Unless all the US
lobbyists wake up black one day. And so..."
ZAMBIA
Photo taken by "Sonomapinot" and posted on Flickr.
This was
posted in the small crafts market just outside Victoria
Falls. I saw several Obama clippings and buttons in Africa." "You're really playing Africans for fools in playing the race card"
MOROCCO
Malika Ahfiri (his pseudonym) is a journalist from Casablanca. Comment originally posted here.
Most of the
leaders in Africa are black, and most of them are
not democrat. In the US too,
former American Secretary of State Colin Powell, who's mixed-race, lied to the
Security Council in justifying the Iraq war, and Condoleezza Rice - who's
black - has stayed faithful to the White House neocons until this day. You're
really playing Africans for fools in playing the race card. This election can
effectually represent a change for Americans, in sight of their recent history,
and Barack Obama can help their not-such-a-melting pot to evolve. But that
doesn't concern Africans."
KENYA
Photo by "Meaduva" on Flickr.
"He's black, not African"
CAMEROON
Nino is a Cameroonian living in Paris. He writes the blog "Nino".
Those who
think Obama's skin colour will make any difference to his policies are grossly mistaken.
He's no more African than his father and his grandmother were. He's black, not
African; the difference is considerable. His election would certainly affect
millions of black Americans, but black Africans, they need to manage by
themselves, not wait for him like a messiah that will come to carry the weight
of their incapacities."
»
Sign up via 
The Observers TV show
Observers' Tips
What we’re working on now...
Most popular
Comments
Change for Africa after Obama's elections?
Submitted by Roger (not verified) on Mon, 10/11/2008 - 18:48.Obama's election to the helm of the most powerful job in the world is hailed in every corner of Africa and the world. His victory is not hailed because he's going to change US policies and sends millions of dollars in Africa, his victory is not going to uproot dictators in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and others from power. What this victory means for Africa is that there is hope, no matter what you are, no matter the color of your skin. His victory, thanks to the American people has helped us Africans believe in dreams, believe that the color of our skin is not a limited factor in reaching any level of the society. The hope he has brought can be compared to Erik Weihenmayer, the blind mountain climber through all the odds reached the highest point of the world - he broke barriers, he brought hope.
Obama, thanks for the inspiration you have brought to us. Americans, thanks for showing us that the melanin content of our skin is invisible, for your see deep down inside.
Unregistered user
What is Black?
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Thu, 06/11/2008 - 10:52.To this Nino, What is Black to you? Barack Obama is not even Black. If you're refering to a Color?? Both Black and White are not Colors. They are Called Contrasts. When you mix them?? They Become GREY. There are beings that Grey color not here but have been here, and He is Descended from a Kenyan African so he is of AFRICAN descent, and of a Caucasian Flesh tone Woman which made him through the mixture? UNIVERSAL. So Grow UP, and Stop this nonsense already. When you look at the contrast black? you can't even see it because it's as if there is nothing there, and it is the same for the Contrast White. Hello???????
Unregistered user
NINO
Submitted by mirelez72 (not verified) on Sun, 02/11/2008 - 11:40.THIS IS TO NINO OBAMA IS BLACK AND HIS FATHER WAS AFRICAN> AND HIS MOTHER WHITE> NOONE SAID HE WAS CLAIMING TO BE AFRICAN. BUT STILL THE SAME HE IS AFRICAN DECENT,I THINK THIS IS WONDERFUL HE IS GOING TO MAKE A GREAT PRESIDENT NO MATTER WHAT COLOR HE IS. AND I AM WHITE AND I CANT BEGAN TO TELL YOU HOW PROUD I AM THAT THIS MAN HOPEFULY WILL BE OUR NEXT PRESIDENT
OF THE USA.I DO NOT CARE ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT HIM. HE IS GOING TO
CHANGE THE WORLD AND EVERTHING IN IT. HE IS GOD SENT AND GODS FINAL PROPHET
GO TO YOUR BIBLE AND READ AND YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS MAN WAS MEANT TO BE
Unregistered user
The PRODIGY - BARAK OBAMA : BARRY !!!
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Wed, 29/10/2008 - 19:46.To HIM (GOD) belong all the glory,praise and thanks giving.
My little prayer - GOD,thank thee for having created and granted us faculties to reason,eyes to see,ears to hear,mouths to speak and our entire bodies.Be it a handicap in any form/shape - we give thee thanks.GOD we thank thee for sending us another of thine children - BARAK OBAMA !! We pray and beg thee to grant him and family; courage,patience,tolerance,endurance,a strong believe in thee and thine miracles,grant us faith and to Barry,wife and family the strength to carry on - resilience to weather the fierce storms formented by selfish,wicked and egoistic humans.Thank thee GOD because YOU and ONLY YOU alone sets the pace for the lives you've granted us and all our moves.GOD,thank thee for Mr. and Mrs. BARAK H. OBAMA Snr. and Jnr. and their entire families - - - AMEN.
Barry,GOD has brought you and family this far to it; HE will take you through it to where HE wants you.
To the rest of us in the world - "If time is the healer, the truth comes a close second". GOD forgive the demons for they surely don't know what else to do but to either run up the snowy moutains and freeze there, descend into the abyss of the deepest valley in hell or take a long walk in the desert and dry up in silence...
Unregistered user
Prayer
Submitted by Carmen Lidia (not verified) on Sat, 08/11/2008 - 03:50.Blessings Of Peace to the Dear Person who wrote the above Prayer...may Our Entire Universe Be Blessed By Our Creator & Protect us from our selves.
My Dear Brother or Sister:
Praises to the Supreme Creator & thank you precious God Almighty for letting us see this wonderful prayer.
May Our Supreme Creator Bless you & your Love Ones with much Health, Love, Happiness & Peace always, my Dear Dear Loving person Thank you & So Be It.
Amen
From Brooklyn, New York,
Carmen
Unregistered user
Yeah,look how well your
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Thu, 30/10/2008 - 12:43.Yeah,look how well your masiah has taken care of his family in kenya,He is a disgusting hypocrite,A closet Muslim Marxist
Unregistered user
lOnly a coward like you
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Thu, 06/11/2008 - 10:55.Only a coward like you would type something like this. You must be jealous. you coward fool.
Unregistered user