Africans rejoice for a 'son of the soil'

Source: Agencies  |   2008-11-6  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

BARACK Obama's Kenyan relatives and Africans across the continent sang, danced in the streets and wrapped themselves in American flags yesterday to cheer for America's first black president. Kenya will party for two days after the president declared a national holiday.

Scenes of jubilation broke out in the western village of Kogelo, where Obama's late father was born. A group of exuberant residents picked up Obama's half-brother Malik and carried him through the village.

"Unbelievable!" Malik shouted, leading the family in chanting: "Obama's coming, make way!"

Obama's step-grandmother and other relatives also poured out of the family homestead to salute a man seen by many Kenyans as a "son of the soil." Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki declared a public holiday today in honor of Obama.

Obama's relatives and other villagers gathered around a TV set up in a garden in Kogelo, rejoicing and pumping their arms in the air.

Across Africa, many are hoping an Obama presidency will help the vast continent, the poorest in the world.

For South Africa's first black president, Nelson Mandela, the election of America's first is a symbol of hope. "Your victory has demonstrated that no person anywhere in the world should not dare to dream of wanting to change the world for a better place," Mandela said in a congratulatory letter.

Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, from the West African nation of Ghana, said Obama's victory, which he never expected to see in his lifetime, demonstrates "America's extraordinary capacity to renew itself and adapt to a changing world."