Barak Obama has become a household name around the world. A young man with simple beginnings, he is known for his even bigger dreams – Harvard University, the U.S. Senate, and his bid for the presidency of the United States. And there is one person that he can count on to always be in his corner – his grandmother, all the way from her village in Kenya.
U.S. Senator Barak Obama continues to make great strides towards making history. This presidential hopeful could become the first person of color to be the president of the United States of America. The eyes of the world are watching Senator Obama’s remarkable race to the White House. But there is one African nation that is looking on with pride and excitement.
Ten hours west from capital city, Nairobi, deep in the countryside, is a small village called Nyangoma Kogelo, which is home to Barak Obama’s grandmother, Mama Sarah. Also living with Mama Sarah is Barak’s cousin, Rashid. They run a produce farm, growing mainly corn, which is dried and grinded into flour. Although corn is Kenya’s main produce, the Obama’s are growing other things.
“We are going to plant sweet potatoes, as you can see we have plants all out there,” Rashid said.
There is also a well with good quality water, which satisfies the thirst of neighboring children. Back at the house, Granny, as Barak calls her, gives us a glimpse into the Senator’s family roots and shows a picture of Barak’s father and brother in America.
Barak Obama Sr. came to America to further his education. He received a scholarship to the University of Hawaii in the United States. There he met and married Obama’s mother. However, they later divorced. Barak, Sr. then left Hawaii and moved back to Kenya. It was in 1987 that Barak came to visit his grandmother and discover his African roots. Tragically, his father had been killed in a car accident five years earlier while Barak was completing his studies.
In 2006, Obama returned to his native land, as a U.S. Senator, to encourage and inspire his fellow countrymen. Neighboring farmer, Eric, was one of several people who greeted Obama during his last visit.
“Yes, I saw him with my own eyes. People came in large numbers,” Eric said.
Today, excitement is brewing in Kenya with the possibility of its famous son becoming the next Commander in Chief of the United States.
“We will be happy and we will cheer and congratulate him as well for the lead and I know most Kenyans will be so uplifted,” Atieno said.
The hype surrounding this U.S. presidential race has affected this little Kenyan village, yet Barak’s grandmother Sarah Obama has adjusted to all the media attention.
“I am used to all this because I was myself on TV, so that is nothing. I’m not thinking about that much,” Sarah said.
Today there are only a few journalists around, so Sarah and her neighbor finally get a chance to sit and discuss issues of the world.
“Let the children to go school,” Sarah said. “That is important. I never went to school.”
If presidential hopeful Barak Obama, Jr. wins, Sarah, her neighbors, and her country, will all have a lot more to talk about.
