Africa awakes to the realization that we have a world leader who looks like us! The significance of this is not that we have some how found new favour with the US, but rather the affirmation of our positive role in humanity. I awoke with similar fervor wondering what the likes of some of Africa’s greatest minds would have had to say. I could visualize Cheikh Anta Diop saying “Since western civilization draws its roots from Africa, it would only be natural that a man with an African father would be tasked to guide that civilization through these dark days.” I could visualize the shame on Nkrumah, Kenyatta and Senghor’s faces as they mark the day with the realization that they failed to bring real liberty to Africa, but pride that from us a true world leader has emerged. But my dreamy state was shattered with the morning carpool and the discussion that took place while I drove. The discussion began with an old man talking about how inspired he was by Obama’s inaugural speech, and therefore young Africans should take note. Its hard to be angry at 6:15 for most men but I found that statement tremendously incendiary. Why must young people in Kenya and in Africa at large look for a 47 year old American man for an example of hope? Where are our elders? Have we become cultural orphans? Where are those who have been given charge to lead us? Obama’s victory is as much an example to the youth as it is an incrimination of Kenyan elders. Have we no history, no integrity that we must look to a man who gains his from 300 years American history? I must take a moment to say that I am incredibly proud of Obama and Kenya’s role in his making, but it would be foolish to see him as anything more than an American. His heroes are American; his story is the quintessence of America’s aspirations. But Africa particularly Kenya will never be the United States of America. Obama is a source of pride and inspires us, but his responsibility is to the American people, our leaders and our elders have paramount responsibility to us. For them to tell us to look to Obama for inspiration and motivation without providing any of their own is wrong. They have failed to lead us and mentor us, and delegating that task to Obama is unfair. It is unfair to us who need examples from people who speak our native tongue. Unfair to us who need examples from people who do not only know of our history but have lived and experienced it. It is unfair most of all to Obama who has his own nation to lead and inspire. What is he to do when American and Kenyan interests conflict? He must stay true to the American people! Is he then to become a villain in our eyes? But who among our elders is staying true to Kenya? All our elders from our communities, politics, churches and mosques should mark January 20th 2009 as a day of great shame for them even while Kenya celebrates. They know they should have done better, and they still can do better; and for that there’s hope.
