The euphoria following Obama's victory knows neither race nor nationality, affirms Gamal Nkrumah The sounds of shrill ululation, a spontaneous expression of sheer of exuberance, filled the air in the western Kenyan village of Kogelo, hometown of Barack Obama's humble grandmother Sarah, soon-to-be "First Grandmother" of the United States. I stopped in my tracks to take in the memorable scene of the jubilant throng of Kenyan peasants on television. Call me nostalgic, brazenly sentimental. But, I was deeply moved. Emotions were overflowing. The rapturous reception with which Kenyans greeted the news of Obama's triumph was neither an indictment nor a validation of Kenya's political establishment or its political system. It was an unrestrained articulation of pure joy. The night before he was catapulted to the position of president-elect, his compatriots -- kith and kin -- waited with bated breath to see the results of the presidential poll. Upon hearing the news of his victory, they leapt with exultation and rejoicing, chanting songs of praise and humming hymns of boundless delight. Friday was hastily declared a national holiday, as it was clear that the entire nation would be celebrating the triumph of one of theirs into the wee hours. It is understandable why Kenyans should identify so closely with Obama, but what is it that draws the underdogs of this world to such a suave and sophisticated politician? His resonant, melodic voice is heard as the voice of the voiceless, or so the toiling masses of Africa, Asia and the Americas believe. Obama's genius is that he appeals to the well-heeled liberals in Western nations as much as the penniless peasants of impoverished nations, the teaming millions eking out a meagre existence. They are indignant and yet expectant and he fulfils their aspirations vicariously, inspires their hopes. His victory is a triumph for the civil rights struggle led by Martin Luther King, which laid the groundwork for legislation which finally opened the doors to the possibility of an end to America's legacy of racism. Only a year ago, virtually no one gave a black man a thought as a possible president. Today, after attracting the highest voter turnout since 1908, the White House is no longer white. Returning to the reverberations for the likes of Kenya, Obama's victory will be celebrated by Luo (Obama's father ethnic group) and Kikuyu (the ruling ethnic group), Muslims and Christians alike. Let us hope that Kenya's politicians will seize this happy moment to reconcile their bitter tribal differences. And may it resound in countless other ways to bring the world together based on hope and trust, rather than violence and war.
