i want 2 join in 2 thanks d AMERICAN people 4 their benovelent gesture they ve made in electing senate mr.obama as d president of USA.I ld like 2 advice mr obama 2 seriously take into consideration d effect of foreign policy of USA ve on d world n servive as guidance 4 him in executing his duty not only 4 USA bt also d world at large.MR OBAMA I WISH U ALL D BEST OF LUCK U WISH 4 YOUR SELF.MORE OF MY ADVICE LL COME LATER ON.BYE 4 NOW.

It's funny and silly how us black people are. Specially african people have the habit of abondoning kids all over. All credit goes to the mother and step father of Obama who raised this boy to be the man he is today. The last time Obama saw his father, he was only 10 years old. Now you want to claim the boy because he is now a president? this remind me of Shack Oneil the nba player. who's father wanted to be his father again just because the man became rich. Where were you when the boy was looking for a father figure? Obama does make us all proud. Still we have to learn to take care of our responsabilities. Obama don't care about africa he just wanted to know his root. That is the dream of all black americans to know where they came from. If i'm lying why wasn't his Gramma from kenya or his half sister from Kenya present in Chicago and I bet they won't even be at the inaugural ceremony. you are to be ashamed of yourselves.

Bush actually has benefited Africa more than any previous US President before by his unprecedented financial support in the fight against AIDS. However, the only way Africa will have any sustained upward trend isn't by looking to foreign countries like the USA but by looking inwards and getting rid of the strings of dictators who are the parasites that suck up any vitality in the continent.

We Americans hear your joy at the triumph of Obama winning the election. Americans now feel a sense of relief that the world will be a better place with President-elect Obama leading the charge!

Peace.

Read more about the story on www.raverantrage.blogspot.com

"Kenyan government has declared a national holiday this week "

Poor Kenyans.

Clueless.

The celebration of the damned.

What does it matter that President-elect Obama does not have any Kenyan roots outside of his father who abandoned him, this man is the first African in America to ever become president in the history of America, Isn't that enough for us Africans? Why be so damn negative toward each other! Even if you don't fully believe in his message, the American system, etc. Please just allow the people that do the opportunity to have hope! Let us just for a moment believe that the world is going color blind and it no longer will judge us dark skinned, full lips, wide nosed Africans just by our God given features but by the content of our character. Just for a moment, let those who understand the History of America, Europe and African relations over the past 400 years reflect on the historical value of this moment. There is a GOD!

"Isn't that enough for us Africans?"

Africa has had its share of renown leaders throughout history. You seem to think that Obama would be the first one. Unless you think that there is more to an African leading non-Africans. In which case I should remind you that historical records indicate that North African conquerors ruled Europe's native masses for generations ..

"There is a GOD!"

Only one? All of them?

Help us out. There is Nyasaye and Ngai. And Obatala and Nana. There is Allah. And Unumbotte. And Yahweh. And Unkulunkulu and Mwari. And the great Zeus the many other Greek deities. And the numerous Egyptian deities. And Azanagi of the Japanese deities. And there some more among the American Indians and the Asian societies.

Hey you all, I just wanted to give a general comment. What has pahhened in USA has to be a good example and a lesson to both african countries and all developed countries.

Why can a black be happy? I don't think they should be happy because Barack Obama's being a black can change the black people's way of living. But they should be happy for that the Martine Luther King prophecy is fulfulled. As a reminder, the whole world is so happy about his thoughts not his color.

As I have been listening to different comments from Africa, a lot of african people have more expectations. But you all should know that Obama is elected as an USA president, who should work hand in hand with other EU president, chineese president, Indian and so on. Beside, alone he can't make it that is why he needs American people more than others. However, he is willing to change , especially change in America, but you all know that a human being is a human being. So, my point here is that you all don't even have to argue, because any AID which he will give to developing country won't be signed on by only Obama but the USA government which is not made of one person.

''A great change 'will be and it has already made ( since it is the first time to elect a Black president,, but what a lot of people are expecting as a chnage might not be the change America will change!

So, let us only give us a better hope that we can learn and be some thing in our lives. Let it be an example for a lot of African politicians that during election ''the someone ''shouldn't count but ''thoughts ''should count a lot. Let us all think of our county as a country to all but not to a certain group of people.

For developed countries, let's us learn from USA thart colour shouldn't mean a lot but what someone can, should mean a lot of things.

Finally, I just wanted to mention, one last thing. It may happen that Obama's victory evoke jealousy among those kenyans who don't have the same tribe as Obama's father. So,you have to be careful guys, don't poison your neibour because of Obama's victory. Don't fight because of Obama's victory. I am telling you the truth that if your happiness will put you in such things, you will put America coming to solve some unnecesesary wars ( while Obama is against spending the USA money, in solving wars and stuff).

If African are really happy with what has happened in the usa, then imress Obama and let's find the way to end some stupid conflicts we put into ourselves.

Before ending up guys, just take care of anything you say, you comment to tv-journalists, because this may change everything, this may change even small relationship which could there in solving extreme poverty. Never and never think that: you will work up in the monring continue drinking alcohol, beating your wife, stopping your kids to go at school, andthen hope that Obama can help you from poverty if you are not a first step in this case. So, I hope you better make a difference on your own.

-Again, Obama was elected by people from all colours and from both democrates and those who were repablicans. So, make sure you control your hope, otherwise you might end up insulting!!!

Do you want a feather discussion?

"USA has to be a good example and a lesson to both african countries"

I wonder what you mean.

There were kingdoms and civilizations and centers of learning flourishing on the African savanna long before 'civilized living' appeared among the cavemen of Europe - where the bestial Neanderthal cutthroats roamed the european land mass. And long before the dwellers of Europe - afraid that they would fall off the edge of the flat earth - ever knew that there was a continent to the west of the land inhabited by rustics in a land now known as UK.

Find out about Africa.

While you are at it, take time to familiarize yourself with life in USA.

Ever head of the American Indians in North America? In South America? Ever head of the Aztecs? The Incas? What life do the native American Indians live in USA now and how prominent was their role in the recent elections?

Maybe you have little understanding of the world around you. Maybe you don't know the the immense wealth of Nigeria is commandeered by foreigners while the Nigerians wallow and die in misery and opportunistic diseases.Are you aware that the country of Iraq was invaded by the west and many innocent people were raped, maimed, slaughtered - for nothing? Are you naive to think that the imperial slaughter is going to stop now?

"If you oppose us we will kill you," Obama may have said when elected, "And if you want to live in peace we will support you". What does that mean when said by your victimizer/parasite/predator? What does "live in peace" mean when said by a parasite to its host?

NO. USA or the EU countries have nothing to teach the Africans regarding 'civilized living' or governance or democracy or human rights.

THE US AND THE EU have nothing to teach Africa about civilized living, bla, bla,bla?

FALSE: up, down, side ways,and around. False, tout court.

Leaning on Africs's alleged advanced status when "Europeans" were alledegly 'living' in caves,or worse ain't going to feed the hungry masses of Africa; ain't going to rid current African politics of "the Big Man Syndrome" and, "sure nuf" ain't going to fire up the flames of human productivity in providing for body, mind and soul FOR AFRICANS.

Get it, fellow?

Forget "Europe" and the "EU," for a nanosec: FOCUS ON AFRICA, FOR a second.

Seems a more productive use of reflection to me, or do you thing other-wise?

Cheers.

Your proposition that the USA and the EU have nothing to teach Africa is FALSE. I can name many things that the former can teach the latter.

Moroever, your romantic historiography, regarding European cave dwellers, bla, bla, bla, is not going to put food in the stomachs of starving Africans in the slums of any African capital city.

Even if, I credit your problematic, unsourced narrative, so what, I say? That was then: human life is centered in the present and a expectation.

The retentions of your problematic story telling, cannot efface the problematic future prospects of many in Africa, Kenya inclusive.

Cheers.

Kenyan celebration is 4 their honor 4 his victor

Amen to that, amen to that. It's high time Kenyans have the right combo of self esteem and humility to look to themselves to solve their own problems. Or they can count on a foreign administration that doesn't give a damn about them. So sightless. And I bet President Obama doesn't make a visit back to Kenya for years, afterall, why should he? The only Kenyan thing about him is his name, and that just isn't enough in America.

You haters are going down in response to the other two comments. THE WORLD HAS HOPE NOT JUST KENYA USA HAS HOPE. I AM NATIVE AMERICAN AN I HAVE HOPE. I BELIEVE IN OBAMA AND I VOTED FOR HIM AND I WOULD DO IT AGAIN A MILLION TIMES OVER. KENYA WE LOVE YOU. TO THE WHOLE WORLD WE LOVE YOU. YES WE CAN AND YES WE DID AND YES WE WILL. ONE LOVE ONE PEOPLE ONE HEART. FOREVER OBAMA. I HAVE HOSTED THE OBAMA VICTORY ROOM FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS ON WWW.PALTALK.COM AND PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE HAPPY. FREEDOM IS FINALLY OURS. I AM GLAD TO BE ALIVE TO WITNESS THIS HISTORICAL EVENT. ZION IS SAYING HALLELUJAH, HEAR THE JUBILEE! WADADA! GIVE THANKS TO THE ALMIGHTY!

How silly. Obama ain't no son of Kenya. "There are no Americans, Kenyans, French, English, bla, bla, bla. THERE IS THE HUMAN RACE." Thus speaks, taking license to be sure, Obama, President elect of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and ABANDONED SON OF AN AFRICAN FROM THE TERRITORY OF KENYA.

Kenyans, cover your faces in shame: one of your own sired a son and abandoned him and his 'white' mother IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, leaving the boy without the vital experience of a father. Shame on THAT 'KENYAN.'

I personally know another Kenyan who did the same thing to an African American woman in 1983 at Penn State University in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. His name is Ghetu and his wife's, Michelle.

Shame, shame, shame on some of these Kenyans who abandon their sons in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Accordingly, a national holiday of shame, then. Pitiful.

The situs of the absurd: some site in Africa, always and, one wonders why?

Some of you people seem to thrive on making others miserable. What is wrong with people in Kenya finding something that causes them joy? Most of you have a holier than thou attitude towards Mr Obama Sr. Look around you, how many Nigerian children right there in Nigeria have fathers who have walked off leaving single mothers to raise those children? If you are going to get tough on fathers who abandon their children, then don't just pick on one father. First make sure that you yourself do not have a child tucked away somewhere with a girlfriend that either your wife does not know about, or simply a child that you too do not see often. Don't be hypocrites.

I suppose MAMA OBAMA FELT THE MISERY of being abandoned by an irresponsible Kenyan. Do you imagine that a rapist finds no joy in his or her faux pas. You want joy, true joy, then earn it, and surely vicarious joy ain't no joy. Or, do you want to live through a joy seeped in shame?

And where did the territory of Nigeria (see my theory of the territoriality of African States) come from? I ain't no Nigerian, by the way.

You have tragically failed to rise to the level of generality mandated by this discourse. We are talking about THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, dude, not some OGA in Lagos. Get it?

Out of the deepest respect for the urbane readers of this site, I shall hold my fire power on your uncouth speculations about MY treatment of women; but be assured that I don't have nor will I ever have a relationship that young African-American dudes in the hoods of the United States call "my baby's mama."

What is the point of your anger? None: you can't be angry at the truth; rationality precludes that affect herein. Fortunately, your anger rocks in an epistemological sewer: the hypostatization of one Kenyan, Obama's 'father', to 'KENYA.'

FIRST ORDER LOGIC precludes this irrational subsumption.

Cheers, my friend,

There seems to have people in this forumn who dont know History. For americans to to reach where they are now. they have come from far. Do you know in 60s black people used to stand for white people in buses, they were not allowed to vote and many others. For them to elect a president of colour it is momentous. For Kenyans cellebrating dont make a mistake obama is a kenyan the way zidane viera are senegalise. I think most of you support foregn football teams like man utd arsenal barca etc. Do any of the players know you? NO But we like what they do. It is no different with obama. How will kenyans benefit? Do you know there were americans who did not know what kenya is wether it is a country town or a continent but they know now. It is very hard and expensive to market goods and services in america all this has been now done in favour of Kenya. KENYA is a brand name now in america. many tourist will be comming to kenya just to see where their president's father came from. Some of these tourist will spill over to other african countries.

Your logic and facts are flawed. Obama was not elected because he is 'black' or an "African-American." He was elected because of a sea change in the ideological texture of American politics, and he rose to the occassion. Thus, your history lesson is STRICTU SENSUS irrelevant to the issue. Rather, it obscures the issue on several levels:

1. The moral irresponsibility of Obama's Kenyan father.

2. It imports the logic of African nepotism to a political formation that, though not immune from the same, is certainly not swimming in it, as Kenya does. Do you imagine that NANCY PELOSI is going to allow President elect Obama to tender PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO KENYA? PELOSI is an ITALIAN-AMERICAN, by the way. Under your logic Italy, which is considered by some "Nordic Europeans" as a part of the South, if not outright Mediterranean, will now be a "preferred" nation, and may I remind you that, unlike Kenya, which is merely a territory with a name, Italy is a nation.

3. Even assumming that miraculously Kenya or "Africa" is privileged by Obama, do you imagine for one nanosecond that the material benefits issuing therefrom will trickle DOWN to the people of Kenya or Africa?

You kid yourself, if you do. Or, you are ignorant of 'post-colonial' African history.

Awaiting your reasoned response,

Cheers.

I don't mean to pick on this one particular comment, but I think it's an example of missing a broader point. I agree that even if he wanted to, it would probably be very politically costly for Obama to direct preferential treatment toward Kenya, and as such, he probably wouldn't do it. I also agree that there may be reasonable questions about the "depth" of Obama's personal connection to Kenya, and vice-versa.

That said, what I think some of these comments fail to take account of is the fact that, for the most part, US policy toward Kenya, Africa, and non-Western countries in general has been far from neutral. So the mere possibility that the US under an Obama presidency might even begin to approximate a more-or-less fair foreign policy toward Kenya, Africa, etc. is in and of itself a really big deal, and could represent a really big change.

For this to happen, Obama doesn't really have to identify as Kenyan or African. Nor does he need to convince other members of the US government to adopt a specifically preferential policy stance. He only needs to recognize the unfairness of prior foreign policy (which I feel comfortable saying that he does), and hold other people at least somewhat accountable to that. While I acknowledge that even this is hard, I think it's at least plausible, and that's amazingly different than the last 8 years.

the best thing Obama can do for Africa is bring election reforms to nations such as Kenya. My concerns over vote counting fraud by republican made voting computers seemed to be overblown. We partied in the streets here late into the night while very tolerant police stood casualy by watching the many thousands of Obama supporters. Obama has allready, and will no doubt continue, proven to be a perfect example of a great leader, a dedicated visionary, and a good father. People around the world should use this positive change here in the USA to make a positive change in thier own lives. Free and fair elections are the shortest path to peace, let's hope Obama can improve democracy using peace... not war as Bush did. Thank God Bush will be gone soon.

Would you please specify in a reasonable level of specifity the "unfairness" of US foreign policy to Kenya, Africa, etc.?

In my view, most of these comments betray an sbyssmal and easily avoidable dearth of misunderstanding of how the US GOVERNMENT works.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS NOT AN AFRICAN BIG MAN; RATHER, HE IS SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE POWER OF CONGRESS AND THE JUDICIARY.

Accordingly, any talk of policies towards determinable by Presidential FIAT, by any and all current and future Presidents of the USA, RECKLESSLY effaceS this backbone of US repubican constitutionalism, AND THUS misleadng, at best, and dangerous, at worst.

"many tourist will be coming to kenya"

Tourism (which in Kenya is mostly controlled by foreigners - and less that 30 cents of very tourism dollar ever registers in Kenya even as precious land is taken from the starving natives to support tourism and animals - will NOT make life better for Kenyans.

Let us be blunt: Tourism in not one of the major factors that lead to economic development.

So, juha wangu, acha makelele.

And how much of the 30 cents goes to sub-altern people trapped in the slums of the territory of Kenya?

The question, given the historical record, answers itself: Nada. Nicht. Nothing.

En passant, would you please provide the documentary evidence for your averments in your post?

Finally, did I hear you say 'natives'? In the discursive auseinandersetzung between "Africa" and "Europe," the locution 'natives' denotes "SAVAGE," THE OTHER, NEGATIVE OF THE CIVILIZED EUROPEAN.

STOP NOW, MY BROTHER, BEFORE YOU DROWN IN THE TOXIC OCEAN OF A HEGEMONIC AND MENDACIOUS EUROCENTRISM.

Kindest Felicitations.

"Nada"

That is right.

:-)

And my use of the word "native" was quite deliberate.

It is said that when the African-Americans in USA were pushing for their civil rights in the USA a group of them arranged for a meeting to present their case (for civil rights!!!) with President Lyndon Johnson, a brilliant president much admired by USA citizens. The president listened to their case attentively and at length - probably gauging their commitment and familiarity with the mechanics of effective activism.

Finally he told them the following: " I have listened to your case and I agree with you fully. There are actions you want me to take. Now, make me do it."

And they did.

Therein lies a hint on how things work in Washington, DC. A good example of a group that has been very successful in Washington is the Jewish group. As a result, billions of USA tax-payer's dollars flow to Israel EVERY YEAR

Doesn't Africa/Nigeria/Congo/South Africa have a MORE compelling claim to such outflow of tax-payer money from the USA?

If the Africans have a vision and an agenda, they - COLLECTIVELY - better sit down in a hurry and get their act together. They better understand how things work in Washington and how to make Pres Obama "do it".

Or else, the Africans - of the fabulously resource-rich Africa - will still be wallowing in poverty, victimization and self-pity long after the Obama's presidency.

I applaud your optimism. Nonetheless, may I assure YOU that any monies or other productive resources doled out to the nihilist politicos that now run the absurd, but tragic theater of politics in Africa is analogous to giving money to a degenerate gambler?

You seem to allude to lobbying. Forget IT, these nihilists have their men and women in Washington, DC, and they are doing just fine, thank you.

They have made Africa hopeless, the joke of humanity, the proverbial hell on earth. One day---on the day of reckoning---the PEOPLES OF AFRICA, the downtrodden, surviving, if the PUSHERS of "the save Africa movement" on US TV are to be believed, on less than a buck a day, will JUDGE THEM PRACTICALLY AND THEORETICALLY.

Best Regards.

IAM YUTHA FROM TANZANIA, IWOULD LIKE TO CONGLATULATE THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, AM SO HAPPY, NOW WE ARE WAITING FOR CHANGES AND THE CHANGES MADE TO AMERICA WILL ALSO HELP THE AFRICAN COUNTRY, LET THE ALL AFRICAN COUNTRY TO SUPPORT PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA. CONGLATULATION PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND THEIR FAMILY, AND ALL MEMBER OF DEMOCRATIC. NOW WE BELIVE THAT EVERYTHING CAN BE THROUGH THE BLACK PEOPLE.

First, Barak Obama, President-Elect of the United States of America is not "black." Under the skin color tone scale of most cultural formations in the world, he would not be considered "black."

He is only "black" in the context of the cultural practices and prejudices of the United States because of the prejudice that ONE DROP of "black" blood (excuse the absurd word sequence) makes anyone black. And, that is HOW a man with a 'white' mother became "black."

Of course the lexeme "African-American" echoes the same diremption of sense or meaning: there are no "European-Americans," only Italian, bla, bla Americans. Indeed, the concept implodes: now "Africans" from the African continent, who have become "Americans," either by birth or naturalization, refer to themselves NOT as "African-Americans," but as Kenyan-Americans, bla, bla, bla.

Perhaps, I should end this jeremiade by sampling the President-Elect of the UNITED STATES OF THE AMERICA: "THERE ARE NO KENYANS, AMERICANS, NIGERIANS, RUSSIANS. Annnnnnnnnd, THERE IS THE HUMAN RACE."

Thus speaks the prophet of unity; the conqueror the culture and politics of divisiveness. And, rightly or wrongly, the vast majority of the "American" electorate agreee with him, as evidenced by his landslide defeat of the Republican contender for the MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE WORLD, as American archaic admirerers would put it.

My message to my brothers and sisters in Africa is this: Let us put pressure on African leaders so that they can put an end to corruption,wars, conflicts, exclusion and the violation of human rights so that Africa can be free. Africa and Kenya in particular, learn from these American elections, that there is no need to fight and kill each other even when we disagree. A frica must no longer be the land of corrupt and dictators. We also need change in our backyard. Obama is an inspiration to us young people and it is time for a new and dynamic generation of leadership in Africa capable of making this continent the number one best place to live.

You want an "Africa" devoid of "corruption, wars, [and] conflicts, exclusion and violation of human rights"?

Then go to the top of Mount Kilmanjaro and PREACH that:

1. THAT THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF ARICAN TERRITORIAL INDEPENDENCE FROM VARIED XENOPHOBIC 'EUROPEAN' IMPERIALISMS LIED WHEN THEY AVERRED THAT THEY REPRESENTED "NATIONS." LIARS ALL: FROM SEKOU TOURE TO KENYATTA, snaking through LUMUMBA OF "THE CONGO."

2. This monstrous and perspicuous lie announces the end at the beginning: stagnation---rule of 'tribes' under the cover of a 'nation,' and with that: generalized degenration.

3. The texture of a social formation is not something that one can copy from a book, sacred or profane, or any modalization of this elusive disjunction; rather, it grows from the experience of a people, however, fissured, of themselves in THEIR history, from the sedimentation of historical time into spaces and structures reflecting the 'take' of the mentioned peoples on history.

4. Stop and desist from looking 'outside' for models of the constitution of intersubjective social interaction; turn inwards, and CREATE functional structures of a nation from THE GROUND ON UP. That ain't hard to do: harder than granite is the essay to do the same when mendacity is hegemonic, herein the OBVIOUS LIE of the national inflection of African States.

5. Proof: why, after close to half a century after their soft landing 'independence' from European depotisms are African politicos still rapping in key: "nation building"?

YOU CAN'T BUILD WHAT YOU CLAIMED YOU HAD, NAMELY A NATION.

Do you not see that the founding fathers were liars, ONE AND ALL?

NOW, DESCEND FROM THE MOUNTAIN OF TRUTH: you shall morph into a CORPSE. You don't believe me? Try it.

A NOTE OF CAUTION FROM A SILENT VOICE

People of African descent can and should celebrate as much as possible in the ascendance of a seed of Africa to the highest political office in the USA. As president of the USA, President Barack Obama will be the most powerful political leader of the free world. However, after all the dancing and jubilation, and when the dust has settled, when everybody fully understands and appreciates the national and international implications of the results of this election, I hope that those despotic and oppressive leaders, particularly those in Africa, will not lose sight of the fact that Present-Elect Obama was democratically elected by the people of American through a transparent and accountable democratic process to work as their “Chief Executive Employee” and not as their “Chief Executive Lord” guided by the dictates of the constitution and not by the whimsical dictates of his person agenda. As for those European leaders, especially those in countries with former colonial empires that have large “subject-descendents” citizens as part of their populations, please remember that America has set the bar of democracy a notch or two higher. No longer will it be enough for you to tout your democratic ideals when the “subject-descendents” in your countries cannot attain the heights that a member of the minority group in the USA has just achieved. America is now the “democratic stem cell” that your “Subject-Descendent” minorities cannot wait to clone so that they too can have their own President (or Prime Minister) Barack Obama. Their fore bearers were made to entertain the notion that they were “Citizens Of The Commonwealth” (or whatever designation the former colonizers used) after they fought, bled and died in your wars for freedom and democracy. They followed and their descendents continue to make the “Mother Country” (London, France etc.) home because of these very ideals that have so far been elusive. To all the leaders in Africa, I humbly ask you to retreat to the deepest recesses of your hearts and souls to introspect and reflect on the following: • The challenges that lie ahead for you against the back drop of a Seed of Africa about to be the most powerful president of the USA. • The reasons you are in power (legitimately or otherwise). • The conditions of the citizens you rule and lord over who have been reduced to the most “Wretched Of The Earth”- the most economically, politically and educationally backward in the world. • The reasons why Africa, the most endowed continent, is on a permanent state of desolation and destitution. • Plans to present to the new USA administration that would indicate a new sense of purpose and direction • Plans that should signal to the USA and to the rest of the world that Africa is ready to embark on meaningful partnerships to eradicate the perennial abject poverty and ignorance that permeate the entire continent. • Plans to end all fratricidal wars that deplete precious human and natural resources. • Plans to ensure that the bulk of national budgets are spent on building infrastructures. • Plans to eliminate all arms and drug trafficking in Africa and table for consideration, ratification and implementation by the UN plans to criminalize arms trafficking. • Plans to ensure that Africa’s resources are processed in Africa to enable her to reap the full benefits of its resources. Processing has been the most vital component in the “Production, Processing and Consumption” industrialization equation. • Plans to tap into the vast resources that the African Diaspora provides to help catapult Africa into the twenty first century. Do African leaders know how many doctors, teachers, scientists of African descent, active or retired, are waiting for the clarinet call to come and participate in the development of the ancestral homeland?

My words of caution to African leaders: Americans take justifiably, without any equivocation, take pride in their democratic process, even if it is imperfect, that has made it possible for a President Barack Obama. It is the checks and balances inherent in this same democratic process that will constrain him and guide his actions to observe and respect the laws of the land and deliver the goods that he had promised to the electorate. He has to curb any whimsical demonic and despotic tendencies he, his friends and party might harbor because this same democratic process enables and empowers Americans to either let him continue in office beyond 2012 or replace him. The BIGGEST challenge to you, African leaders, is to talk the talk and walk the walk of people who believe and practice democracy. President Obama knows and understands Africa. Business will not be as usual with Africa in his “African Desk” in his White House. Finally, I hope African leaders will not see President Barack Obama’s presidency as an occasion to weave the biggest charity basket (or Poti Almudu). You oversee the continent with vast resources. President Barack Obama inherits an “Armageddon” like world that has already dictated his priorities and agenda before he is even sworn into office. He will have enough on his plate starting January 20th, 2009. As Africans, with our peculiar history, let us remember how and why Martin Luther King ended his speech to the 1959 Hawaii Legislature by quoting the prayer below from a preacher who was once a slave: “Lord, we ain’t what we want to be; we ain’t what we ought to be; we ain’t what we gonna be, but, thank God, we ain’t what we was.”

A NOTE OF CAUTION FROM A SILENT VOICE

People of African descent can and should celebrate as much as possible in the ascendance of a seed of Africa to the highest political office in the USA. As president of the USA, President Barack Obama will be the most powerful political leader of the free world. However, after all the dancing and jubilation, and when the dust has settled, when everybody fully understands and appreciates the national and international implications of the results of this election, I hope that those despotic and oppressive leaders, particularly those in Africa, will not lose sight of the fact that Present-Elect Obama was democratically elected by the people of American through a transparent and accountable democratic process to work as their “Chief Executive Employee” and not as their “Chief Executive Lord” guided by the dictates of the constitution and not by the whimsical dictates of his person agenda. As for those European leaders, especially those in countries with former colonial empires that have large “subject-descendents” citizens as part of their populations, please remember that America has set the bar of democracy a notch or two higher. No longer will it be enough for you to tout your democratic ideals when the “subject-descendents” in your countries cannot attain the heights that a member of the minority group in the USA has just achieved. America is now the “democratic stem cell” that your “Subject-Descendent” minorities cannot wait to clone so that they too can have their own President (or Prime Minister) Barack Obama. Their fore bearers were made to entertain the notion that they were “Citizens Of The Commonwealth” (or whatever designation the former colonizers used) after they fought, bled and died in your wars for freedom and democracy. They followed and their descendents continue to make the “Mother Country” (London, France etc.) home because of these very ideals that have so far been elusive. To all the leaders in Africa, I humbly ask you to retreat to the deepest recesses of your hearts and souls to introspect and reflect on the following: • The challenges that lie ahead for you against the back drop of a Seed of Africa about to be the most powerful president of the USA. • The reasons you are in power (legitimately or otherwise). • The conditions of the citizens you rule and lord over who have been reduced to the most “Wretched Of The Earth”- the most economically, politically and educationally backward in the world. • The reasons why Africa, the most endowed continent, is on a permanent state of desolation and destitution. • Plans to present to the new USA administration that would indicate a new sense of purpose and direction • Plans that should signal to the USA and to the rest of the world that Africa is ready to embark on meaningful partnerships to eradicate the perennial abject poverty and ignorance that permeate the entire continent. • Plans to end all fratricidal wars that deplete precious human and natural resources. • Plans to ensure that the bulk of national budgets are spent on building infrastructures. • Plans to eliminate all arms and drug trafficking in Africa and table for consideration, ratification and implementation by the UN plans to criminalize arms trafficking. • Plans to ensure that Africa’s resources are processed in Africa to enable her to reap the full benefits of its resources. Processing has been the most vital component in the “Production, Processing and Consumption” industrialization equation. • Plans to tap into the vast resources that the African Diaspora provides to help catapult Africa into the twenty first century. Do African leaders know how many doctors, teachers, scientists of African descent, active or retired, are waiting for the clarinet call to come and participate in the development of the ancestral homeland?

My words of caution to African leaders: Americans take justifiably, without any equivocation, take pride in their democratic process, even if it is imperfect, that has made it possible for a President Barack Obama. It is the checks and balances inherent in this same democratic process that will constrain him and guide his actions to observe and respect the laws of the land and deliver the goods that he had promised to the electorate. He has to curb any whimsical demonic and despotic tendencies he, his friends and party might harbor because this same democratic process enables and empowers Americans to either let him continue in office beyond 2012 or replace him. The BIGGEST challenge to you, African leaders, is to talk the talk and walk the walk of people who believe and practice democracy. President Obama knows and understands Africa. Business will not be as usual with Africa in his “African Desk” in his White House. Finally, I hope African leaders will not see President Barack Obama’s presidency as an occasion to weave the biggest charity basket (or Poti Almudu). You oversee the continent with vast resources. President Barack Obama inherits an “Armageddon” like world that has already dictated his priorities and agenda before he is even sworn into office. He will have enough on his plate starting January 20th, 2009. As Africans, with our peculiar history, let us remember how and why Martin Luther King ended his speech to the 1959 Hawaii Legislature by quoting the prayer below from a preacher who was once a slave: “Lord, we ain’t what we want to be; we ain’t what we ought to be; we ain’t what we gonna be, but, thank God, we ain’t what we was.”