13:29
His paternal grandfather was a Luo elder, a farmer and a medicine man. His father grew up tending goats. On November 4th, he overcame overwhelming odds to rise to the most powerful political office in the world.
This is the stuff of fiction, and even there, it might risk coming off at somewhat outlandish, a tad overdone. I know I for one quirked an incredulous eyebrow at the wishful thinking inherent in the character of President Palmer on 24. And wondered just how far in the future the TV programme was set. Sometimes, it was easier to believe that Jack Bauer was a god than to believe that, in my time, the United States of America would elect an African American as President.
* * * * *
President-elect Barack Obama.
I watch him sometimes, and it seems to me nigh impossible that this could be the same man who drove around Nairobi in Auma’s mechanically challenged baby-blue Volkswagen Beetle and visited his Aunt who lived in Kariokor. Because these are such typical Nairobi things to do. And he describes them so casually, so matter of factly. Then, the next thing you know, he’s President-elect of the United States of America. And it sort of takes your breathe away. As well it should.
It sends a very particular resounding message from the American people, reverberating not just through the United States of America, but right across the world: If you determine it, you can be whoever you want to be. At such a time as this, you’ve got to pay homage to the American Dream, because the American Dream is ultimately the winner of this election, perched squarely on the shoulders of an unlikely candidate with an unfamiliar name and an unusual story.
But, while I am as devoted a fan of Barack Obama as there can be, I am not of a mind with Thomas Carlyle, a strong proponent of the Great Man theory who once said that: "The history of the world is but the biography of great men."
To see it that way would be to grossly misrepresent the events as I saw them unfold in the United States of America these past few months. Instead, I stand amazed at the volunteer army of millions of ordinary Americans who worked tirelessly, gave generously and fought this battle valiantly.
They believed in it, and so they went to work and made it happen. There can be nothing more profound than that.
I salute them.
I salute also Barack Obama for his steadfastness in framing himself in context and his realisation that his story is part of a wider narrative that far transcends him in importance. That’s what I read in his retelling of the anecdote about the 106-year old African-American woman from Atlanta, Anne Nixon Cooper, who once upon a time lived when neither blacks nor women could vote, and lived to cast a vote for the first African American President.
As the President-elect said, with muted eloquence: “our stories are singular, but, our destinies are shared.”
This is one page in our shared history we are destined to return to, time and again, to marvel together at what men and women can achieve, when they set their minds to it.
* * * * *
To end on a decidedly apolitical note: Barack and Michelle Obama have such chemistry. It sizzles. That he loves a strong and feisty woman and has in turn earned her devotion and respect is yet another reason to admire the man.It's my window, but I don't own the view.
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12:58
Obama Day? Silliness...
» Rants, Raves & Reviews I don't get it & neither do many Kenyans.
Yes, Kenyans are proud that Barack Obama won the elections BUT he is an AMERICAN. Through & through. As for the vaunted Kenyan connection... it turns out his Kenyan father had little to do with raising Barack Obama. Kudos to his BO's Mother & maternal grandparents.
Obama the father abandoned Obama the son when BO was 1 month old... So Barack was NEVER a "Kenyan" in any sense of the word. He was not born in Kenya, not raised in Kenya, not a Kenyan resident nor a Kenyan citizen.
Congrats to Obama for the victory BUT why has kibz declared a holiday to celebrate Obama's win?
What of the loss of productivity for the typical mwananchi without a cushy government job?
kibz & roocy get paid whether they work or not. Not most Kenyans.
Election day in the USA was a working day for most Americans. There are no official holidays for any of the post-election days. So if the USA marks the historic occasion with a 'working day' why do Kenyans have a 'holiday'?
Who will pay the 1,000s of casual workers who only get paid if & when they work?
Who will pay for the loss of interest income for those whose cheques take 1 business day longer to clear?
Who will pay for the lost business deals/opportunities?
Who will compensate the farmer who delivers his produce but finds the markets are closed?
Who will compensate the businesses that rely on workers patronage e.g. food sellers in the CBD?
We have kenyatta day, moi day & now Obama day? As is, we do not need a krooked wa ngengi day nor a dan 'stealing galore' moi day!
Let Kenyans celebrate Obama's victory BUT not at the expense of their livelihood!
Other views:
Startups in Kenya
ke
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11:04 What I Hope This Election Means?
» The Displaced African 
As y’all will probably know, I am not necessarily a member of the Obamania club BUT that doesn’t stop his election from being a huge moment in history.
Here’s what I hope it’ll mean to African people:
1) That people will finally recognize that we are all equal and we are all human.
2) Other races and nationalities will stop looking down on us.
3) People will expand what they think is possible.
4) People will go after the impossible.
5) If someone ever tells you something can’t be done just look em in the eye and tell em
If Barrack Hussein Obama, son of a man from Kogelo, Siaya (thanks for the correction), Kenya can become the emperor of the world, then, dang, anything is possible!
I understand that in many parts of the world tomorrow is a public holiday so to y’all Happy Obama Day and y’all have a magnificent evening or night.
Mwangi
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10:49
The South Asian Mosaic of Society and the Arts(SAMOSA) Festival is on: 15th - 22nd Nov,2008
» Kenyanpoet The South Asian Mosaic of Society and the Arts (SAMOSA) Festival which was first organized at the GoDown in 2005, is a cultural tool conceptualized by AWAAZ. It has showcased the South Asian community within East Africa through a series of exhibitions, discussion forums, concerts and dance performances. The vision is to make the SAMOSA Festival, with its emphasis on cultural fusion, become an item on the world cultural calendar, to be mentioned in the same breath as the Zanzibar International Film Festival, the Grahamstown National Arts Festival and the North Sea Jazz Festival.
Previous festivals have successfully focused on aspects of the past. This year’s SAMOSA theme is “Celebrating Daily Life”. It will allow the organizers to highlight what is joyous and beautiful in the day to day interactions of each and every one of us.
Among the activities lined up during the festival which will run from 15th to 22nd November will be FAFA – Showcasing Fashion with an Afro-Asian Fusion Flair,
Photography Exhibition, Concerts, The Spirit of Dance, Performances - both Poetry and Musical, Film Screenings, Discussion Forums, Crafty Activities for Children(see full program below)
Some of the notable Poets who will be gracing the SAMOSA Festival will be Shane Solanki and Yusra Warsama
Shane Solanki is a London-based spoken word artist of East African Indian origin, whose accessible and contemporary poetry embraces music, comedy and theatre. His music has been produced by Mercury Prize winner Talvin Singh, and his distinctive style of writing helped form the brand identity of renowned record label Ninja Tune. His first short film was directed by "the Full Monty" director Peter Cattaneo. In 2006 he formed his company, 'the D'Archetypes', a multimedia theatre ensemble, which toured India as representatives of the British Council. Recent performances include a UK tour with Don Lett's 'Speakers Corner' (a show which examined the concept of slavery in 2007's multi-cultural generation), and a collaborative performance with acclaimed contemporary Ghanaian choreographer Freddie Opoku-Addaie written specifically for the launch of the London arts centre Richmix. Shane writes and performs for the band 'Last Mango in Paris', whose debut album will be released in autumn 2008.
Yusra Warsama is a performance poet and actor, born in the United Arab Emirates to her Somali nomadic mother and city-dwelling Father. She started writing aged six and found a way of expressing, and articulating the world around her. Whilst studying and writing 3,000 word poems and thoughts instead of criminological essays, Yusra came to the Contact theatre to explore her acting and realised she had a fire for performance poetry. Since then she has acted and co-written several theatre shows around the country ('The Bolt Hole' - Birmingham Repertory Theatre 2006, 'The Girl Who Lost Her Smile'- York Theatre Royal 2006) and worked with Apples & Snakes on the Exposed tour. Recently Yusra has taken part in Contact Young Writers in Residence and Don Lett's 'Speakers Corner'.
Full SAMOSA Festival Program Sat, November 15th
All Day Celebrating Daily Life - A photography exhibition Nairobi Musuem
Sunday, November 16th
All Day -Celebrating Daily Life - A photography exhibition Nairobi Museum
6pm - 8pm "Oceans Apart" - Theater Nairobi Muesum- 500/=
Monday, November 17th
All Day -Celebrating Daily Life - A photography exhibition-Nairobi Museum
1:30 - 3:30pm -Children's activities -Braeburn
7:00 - 9:00pm- Movie Night - Traffic Signal -Nairobi Museum- free
Tuesday, November 18th
All Day- Celebrating Daily Life - A photography exhibition -Nairobi Museum
1:30 - 3:30pm Children's activities -Braeburn
5:00 - 7:00pm Discussion Panel: Triple Heritage Nairobi Museum -free
Wednesday, November 19th
All Day -Celebrating Daily Life - A photography exhibition Nairobi Museum
1:30 - 3:30pm Children's activities Braeburn
6:30 - 9:00pm Evening Entrepreneurs Cocktail Nairobi- Museum- Invitation
Thursday, November 20th
All Day- Celebrating Daily Life - A photography exhibition -Nairobi Museum
Friday, November 21st
All Day- Celebrating Daily Life - A photography exhibition -Nairobi Museum
1:30 - 3:30pm Children's activities -Braeburn
Saturday, November 22nd
All Day -Celebrating Daily Life - A photography exhibition -Nairobi Museum
8:30pm on… Kachumbari fusion jazz concert, DJ Gups -Acapulco -300/=
Sunday, November 23rd
All Day -Celebrating Daily Life - A photography exhibition Nairobi Museum
5:30 - 7:30pm -Movie Night - Mo and Me- Nairobi Museum -free
Monday, November 24th
All Day- Celebrating Daily Life - A photography exhibition Nairobi Museum
Tuesday, November 25th
All Day Celebrating Daily Life - A photography exhibition Nairobi Museum
3:00 - 5:00pm "Chotara and Proud" - Panel Discussion Nairobi University free
Wednesday, November 26th
All Day -Celebrating Daily Life - A photography exhibition -Nairobi Museum
8:00pm -Dinner for three with Shane Solanki (Buffet) -Aanghan Restaurant -2000/=
Thursday, November 27th
All Day Celebrating Daily Life - A photography exhibition -Nairobi Museum
8:00pm -Slam Poetry with Shane Solanki -Daas Restaurant -200/=
Friday, November 28th
All Day- Celebrating Daily Life - A photography exhibition- Nairobi Museum
Saturday, November 29th
All Day -Celebrating Daily Life - A photography exhibition -Nairobi Museum
7:30 - 11:00pm Fusion Fashion Show Oshwal Centre 1500/=
For more info: Contact Dipesh Pabari on + 254 (0) 733 989082
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9:04
It's A Beautiful Day
» For Love and Money It's A Beautiful Day
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7:54
UNBELIEVABLE!
» Kenyanentrepreneur.com I must say that I was in a state of euphoric shock last night as I was watching Barrack Obama’s elevation to becoming the most powerful man in the world. I told someone yesterday (as I was watching his acceptance speech) that I felt like I was going through both a physical and spiritual [...]
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6:01
Kibaki is a joker!
» Startups in Kenya What?
A national holiday to celebrate the election of a US president? Am I the only one who sees this for the asinine decision it is? So what if Barack Obama's father is from Kenya? Is it justification to lose KSh. 3.8 Billion (on an economy of KSh. 1.4 trillion)? You don't see the US making tomorrow a holiday, even though the election of Barack Obama is much more historic and relevant to them.
This Kibaki government is a bunch of lazy, work-phobic, selfish, politics-first fellas who are totally unsuited to meet the challenges of Kenya's economic growth. That's what you get when you elect a bunch of doddering old men!
Disgusting.
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3:45
Congratulations Obama
» Black Looks America has it’s first Black Democrat President and I have no doubt the country will be a better place for it. Beyond that I don’t know. Barack Obama’s win unleashes a tsunami of aspirations and expectations not to speak of the rhetoric which has reached new heights of super hyper reality. It is [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Congratulations Obama", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/11/2121.html" });
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3:38
President Elect Barrack Obama!
» KA-INVESTOR 
This is an historic moment we are witnessing. One we may never see in our lifetimes . . . . the first black president of the United States of America. Congratulation Obama! And make us proud in your presidency. After the jubilation settles, the whole world will be watching you.
Watch and read the winning acceptance speech here and here
Embedded video from CNN Video
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3:30
President Barack Obama Victory Speech - Transcript
» The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer...READ THE PRESIDENTIAL VICTORY SPEECH HERE
Also read Related Posts:
1. John McCain Concedes defeat - Read Transcript here.
2. It's president Obama! - world media take on a new dawn.
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3:20
President Obama
» bankelele 
Congratulations to Barack Obama the next President of the United States of America. His name has appeared in these pages five times before today:
- April 2005: Congratulations to Wangari Maathai and Barack Obama for making the 2005 Time Magazine Heroes list. However I fear this achievement will be overshadowed be overshadowed by the drama surrounding Presidential wives.
- August 2007: After Oprah endorsed Obama , I endorsed Jonathan Mueke who was gunning for the Westlands MP seat
- January 2008: One review of the post-election violence in Kenya found that in the pre-election period, the (Kenyan) opposition may have been falsely buoyed by opinion polls which are not sound (& could the same thing have happened to Obama in New Hampshire?)
- Also in January 2008 mused that President Obama needs Equity Bank because 46% of African American household’s don’t have bank accounts – and he should borrow Equity Bank’s revolutionary model to bring banking to the unbanked.
- April 2008: In queing for the Safaricom IPO refers to a Kenyan habit of waiting till the last minute to do things as Obama also took a long time to warp up his party nomination.
Here’s to many more mentions, starting with - US stocks reacted positively on election day, and in the post election victory celebration the Nairobi Stock Exchange(NSE) has also rallied [Top gainers according to stockskenya - National Bank +9.94, CFC +9.91, Kenya Airways +9.91, Sasini +9.83, Diamond Trust +9.79 with no losers yet]
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It's President OBAMA!
» The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business It's President OBAMA!
When historians look back at the 2008 presidential landslide, they won't focus on the fact that Barack Obama ran a smart and steady campaign. They won't focus on William Ayers or Joe the Plumber or socialism or racism. They're going to remember that the two-term Republican President had 20% approval ratings, that the economy was in meltdown, and that Americans didn't want another Republican President...Read More
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