http://www.voanews.com/english/africa/2009-01-15-voa8.cfm?rss=africa

Presidential Ancestral Home Draws Americans to Kenya
By Howard Lesser
Washington, DC
15 January 2009


American tourists are lining up in noticeable numbers to take the Kenya Presidential Heritage Safari -- an ambitious travel agency’s tour of President-Elect Barack Obama’s ancestral homeland. The idea of supplementing a popular 11-day Kenyan game park excursion with a vicarious day-trip jaunt to the Lake Victoria village of Nyang’oma Kogelo, where Mr. Obama’s father was raised, is the brainchild of South African-born travel agent Kenneth Hieber.

Hieber founded the New York bureau 2 Afrika 14 years ago.He says that Kogelo, near the western city of Kisumu,is no longer a sleepy fishing village, and the popular side-trip could open up a new dimension in Kenyan – US relations.

“People who have come back, that I’ve already sent across to Kogelo, have been met with such warmth and such grace and such charm that it’s almost been more of an impact than the actual safari – and that is saying a lot because taking American travelers and putting them into the African bush-veldt in the middle of nowhere, with the enormity of the animal kingdom, giving them something else to hold onto now, which is the heritage of the president-elect, is just such an added highlight that it really is touching people in a very positive way,…nbsp; he said.

The tourism climate is improving slowly since a year ago, when Kenya’s hotly contested presidential election deteriorated into widespread ethnic violence that was not resolved until last March. After followers of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) challenger Raila Odinga accepted a unity government under incumbent President Mwai Kibaki with Odinga in place as Prime Minister, an economic recovery effort has been underway.During the year, Kenyans have watched with great pride and enthusiasm as the American-born son of Kogelo’s Barack Obama, Sr. defeated a field of US presidential candidates and ascended to the White House.Kenneth Hieber says pride in Mr. Obama, Jr.’s political success has kindled a desire by American tourists bound for Africa, who want to experience the homestead that gave rise to their new president.

“It was very vulnerable a year ago, and people shied away and tended to steer more toward Tanzania. Now, of course, that matters have settled dramatically in Kenya, and since there is an ancestry of the president-elect of the United States that stretches back to Kogelo, Kenya is suddenly full face on the map, and everybody is clamoring to get onto those programs,…nbsp; he says.

He says that the Obama celebrity has changed the small-scale nature of tourism in Western Kenya dramatically.

“The local people of Kogelo are anticipating flocks of people coming into the area.I don’t for a moment think that people will go just to Kisumu and Kogelo based on the ancestry of the president-elect.But I certainly think people will add this as a tag-on to any particular safari that they may be doing in Kenya already.It’s easily accessible.It’s inexpensive…at the moment.And I do believe that people would feel the need to go to the ancestral homeland up on the banks of Lake Victoria before returning back from a safari,…nbsp; he pointed out.

So far, says Hieber, the booming business has not spoiled local residents, who he says are kind and hospitable.Souvenirs are everywhere, however, and the Obama homestead, still occupied by the president-elect’s step grandmother, Sarah Obama (known as “Mama Sarah†), is the central attraction.

“One has got to get prior permission, for personal reasons, to enter the homestead.And I would think that she (Mama Sarah) would permit people coming in until she just got tired of it, or until the cash cow dried up,…nbsp; Hieber counseled.

So far, Kenyan government has not kept up with demands for broadening regional infrastructure in the face of the tourist onslaught.Roads have not been widened to accommodate the increasing traffic, and Hieber says the Nairobi government is essentially taking a wait-and-see approach to the Obama phenomenon.

“Everything came as such a surprise to the Kenyans themselves, delighted as they are.But the government really hasn’t stepped up to the plate inasmuch as going ahead and creating a new infrastructure for much tourism coming in.I think they see it as a bit of a – dare I say it, 'pie-in-the-sky' movement.It will have a huge impact, and in time will just die off.So I think their focus is on other areas of the country as opposed to Kogelo right now,…nbsp; he said.


For tourists hoping to interact with members of the extended Obama family that lives in Nyang’oma Kogelo, Hieber has some words of advice.

“I’m not sure.This would be hearsay if people said that they’ve actually met any of the relatives because everyone in the area is claiming now to be a relative of sort by marriage, by whatever.So everybody is jumping onto their claim of fame for the moment.I think that the residents of Kogelo are beyond themselves with excitement,…nbsp; he notes.

Kenneth Hieber’s 2 Afrika tourist agency’s web site (http://www.2afrika.com) lists more than a dozen safari tours to Kenya and Tanzania.His Presidential Heritage Safari was conceived as an add-on to one of the many alternatives, and as long as the new US president remains popular, he is hopeful the add-on will play a useful role in promoting close ties between the Kenyan and American peoples.

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Experience the distinctive United States presidential heritage safari that combines both Barrack Obama's ancestoral home visit and the western Kenya tour circuit.

Published on 21/01/2009
By Mangoa Mosota

http://www.eastandard.net/archives/international/Inside...=1144004585&cid=159&

Kogelo villagers are still ecstatic with the feat their son, US President Barack Obama, has achieved.

Many of them are still gripped in a celebratory mood with others cashing in on the numerous visitors from all over the world.

Several food tents at Nyangoma Kogelo Primary School have made brisk business for the last few days, entertaining the visitors.

"I made about Sh100,000 from Sunday to the inauguration day. I sold traditional vegetables, fish, matumbo (tripe), ugali, tea, mandazi and chapati," said Mrs Miriam Odhiambo, yesterday.

She had christened her hotel "Mama-Sister Hotel".

"I am very happy. I did not know that hotel business has such good returns," said the mother of five.

Odhiambo sells vegetables at the local Nyangoma market, but said she now plans to set up a hotel.

She said she had hired two casuals to help run the business, in which more than 300 guests, including foreign journalists, were served.

Mr Henry Odera, a committee member of the Obama Cultural Week Festival, said there were over 50 businesses at the institution.

"They paid between Sh200 and Sh2,000 fees, depending on their sizes," he said.

Yesterday most of them were dismantling their stalls, as local women carried away their utensils.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MimiMzalendo,

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http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/519448/-/u1d5wa/-/index.html

Kogelo awakes to new dawn



The model of the proposed Dero Kogelo Library and Cultural Centre by architect Ng’wuono Hongo (above right), and Mr Antony Ogola, who leased the 1.5-acre site. Photos/ANTHONY NJAGI

By ANTHONY NJAGIPosted Saturday, January 24 2009 at 20:50

Nyang’oma Kogelo is no longer the sleepy village it was just two years ago. For one thing, the village in Siaya District now has running water and electricity.

The road that connects it to the Kisumu-Bondo Road at Ndori junction is in much better condition, and the homestead of Barack Obama’s extended paternal family — which has become an almost familiar spot on the world map — is under 24-hour armed security.

Domestic and foreign tourists have been flocking to Kogelo to see the birthplace of the US president’s father.

As optimistic entrepreneurs predict a significant increase in tourist arrivals, there are plans to create a cultural complex complete with modern recreational facilities in the centre of the village.

Granary

The 1.5-acre piece of land on which the Dero Kogelo Library and Cultural Centre will stand has already been fenced off. The project is the brainchild of the Nairobi-based Dero Community and Cultural Organisation. Dero is the Dholuo word for granary.

Dero’s executive director Ng’wuono Hongo, an architect, says the centre will house a restaurant, eight self-contained cottages, a library, an amphitheatre, and souvenir shops where visitors will be able to buy Obama’s memorabilia.

Mr Hongo is working with the local community to promote their cultural heritage. The 100-seat amphitheatre will host local bands and other cultural activities. Artefacts from the local community will also be on display in the amphitheatre.

The eight cottages designed by Mr Hongo are modeled on a traditional Luo dwelling to reflect the local culture. They will have makuti roofing, and walls made of organic materials such as reeds and poles. The restaurant will serve local and international cuisine.

Mr Hongo says his organisation has already acquired hundreds of books on various issues to stock the library, including a five-volume book on Luo culture published by the organisation.
There is also a collection of Luo music dating back to 1978.

There are reports that the government also plans to construct a cultural centre in the village.

Director of Culture Silverse Anami said a 20-acre piece of land opposite Senator Obama Secondary School has already been identified for the Obama Community Cultural Centre that will include a museum.

The first phase of the project will cost about 100 million, said Mr Anami.

http://www.eastandard.net/mag/InsidePage.php?id=1144004907&cid=349

Kogelo attracts ‘wonder-baby’ tourism





Updated 22 hr(s) 2 min(s) ago
By Mangoa Mosota

Jackie Adams*** gyrated her curvy hips in a sexy motion that resembled a fertility dance. The young woman from New York was among the multi-racial throng that celebrated Barack Obama’s inauguration at Kogelo village in Siaya.

The 30-year-old tourist had more on her mind than the change of guard at her country’s highest office many thousands of kilometres away.

A day before Obama was declared the winner of the presidential election on November 4 last year, the communications consultant met a man on a visit to Kogelo who could change her life in significant ways. Her new boyfriend is an accountant in Kisumu and like Obama’s father, hails from Siaya.


To Jackie, there is magic and infinity possibility in that connection.

She was not the only person drawn to Kogelo last week by a desire some are hesitant to put into words. At Nyangoma Kogelo Primary School, where the inauguration was screened live on huge TV screens, many relationships were born between local young men and foreign women that could provide ‘new beginnings’ of a kind not contemplated by the new US President when he coined his now famous political credo.

Wonder child

From discussions with some of the foreign women, Crazy Monday gathered that some were drawn to the village by the dream of a union with a local man that might result in a ‘wonder child’ a la Obama.

Jackie, for instance, admits that the thought may have crossed her mind although the matter of a child has not yet been settled with her new boyfriend. "Let’s wait and see how it goes," she smiles. "Perhaps before the end of the year we might have a baby." For now, she would prefer to keep her boyfriend’s identity and their plans close to her chest.

Another white woman, who only gave her name as Faith, said she was not interested in a serious relationship with "Obama’s relatives".

"Most African men do not like settling down to marriage," she said. "That’s why I have only had two flings in Kisumu. In fact one of the men told me he comes from Kogelo," says the 26-year-old journalist from the US.

Faith was more forthright about the purpose of her flings. She engaged in the fleeting relationships with the sole aim of conceiving, she confessed. "Children born to black and white parents are fantastic!" she quipped.

Unusual celebrations

It is suspected that such unions did take place on Tuesday at Nyangoma Kogelo Primary School and its environs. In some cases, darkness provided the perfect cover. For instance, one white woman was spotted stripping her clothes and moments later, she was transported to another world with a local man.

The two seemed oblivious that some people were aware of their unusual celebration of Obama’s inauguration.

"Jameni, dunia imegeuka. Kweli hawa wasichana wazungu wamependa vijana wetu (The world has really changed. These white women like our men very much)," an elderly local woman was heard to remark in astonishment.

At the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground in Kisumu as in Kogelo, incidents were witnessed of men and women letting down more than their hair. "Maybe those white women wanted to ensure that they left the country with something to tell their countrymen about," a man who claims to have witnessed a few liaisons speculated.

The interest was two-way, however. Some local people could be seen frantically taking down the contacts of the white men and women, perhaps with the hope of establishing long-term friendships.

Crazy Monday established that some Kenyan men travelled to Kogelo with the express aim of hooking up with tourists who attended the feat.

One man told us that he achieved remarkable success with a female tourist. "She liked me as I was able to give her lot of information about Kenya. For this I got $200 (Sh16, 000)," he says.

As love was blossoming, some shrewd locals were cashing in on the ‘Obamamania’ in other ways. Some set up ‘hotels’ in the school’s classrooms.

There were about 10 makeshift eateries that operated for about a week with names like ‘Mama Sister Hotel’, ‘Karidi Hotel’ and ‘Connie Nya Siaya Hotel’.

They offered tea and mandazi, chapati, ugali and matumbo (tripe), fish, beef and traditional vegetables.

Good business

An excited Miriam Odhiambo says she made about Sh10,000 for the four days she operated an eatery, serving traditional vegetables, saga and ugali.

She barely slept for the days she operated the business. "Haya ni mahajabu. Sijawahi fahamu kuwa biashara ya mkahawa ni nzuri hivyo. Ni siku gani tena tutakuwa na watu wengi (This is a miracle. I never knew that the restaurant business was this good. When will we again witness an event with so many visitors)?" she exclaims.

Odhiambo, a mother of five, sells vegetables at the nearby Nyangoma market and now plans to set up a proper restaurant.

The businesswoman says she recruited two casuals to assist in running the brisk business, and over 300 guests including foreigners were served.

When the face of Sarah Obama, the president’s grandmother, appeared on the screen in Kogelo the crowd went wild.

In Kogelo and Kisumu, the US flag was aflutter everywhere, with bicycle taxi operators sporting miniature flags on their machines.

Women ululated and screamed when Obama rose to make his inaugural speech. "Huyu ni kijana wetu. Tuko na furaha tele (This is our son. We are overwhelmed with happiness)," said an elderly woman.

Her words were drowned by deafening screams when Obama mentioned the "small village where my father was born."

Some tourists, sporting T-shorts emblazoned with Obama’s name, seemed even more elated than locals, and many watched as they danced animatedly.

At one point, there was near disaster as some who claimed to be more conversant with matters tried to sing the US national anthem along with Obama. After mumbling a few inaudible words, they gave up.

Familiar faces

On the giant TV screens, viewers were able to identify local people present at the US Capitol, including Obama’s ‘granny’ Sarah, brother Malik and stepmother Kezia.

Strenuous demands to the organisers to have the faces of Kenyan ministers such as Anyang’ Nyong’o and Moses Wetangula appear on screen.

Not surprisingly, the organisers were unable to oblige.

The ministers attended the inauguration without official invitation. As a result they might probably have followed the proceedings from their hotel rooms.

In the wee hours of the inauguration day, word went round that some striking teachers from Siaya were planning to disrupt the celebrations.

Police lined the roads leading to the village to ensure the event was not disrupted.

A local comedy group, Big Tyme Comedians, staged a mock inauguration in Kisumu.

The man selected to be an Obama look-alike, Joseph Orwa, caused a stir when residents caught a glimpse of him, so closely did he resemble the President. Some people were fooled.

"Huyu ni Obama mwenyewe. Amekuja kutoka America (This is Obama himself come from the US)," a woman told another as they joined the crowd following the convoy.

During the US Presidential election on November 4, the comedians organised a mock election in Kisumu.

In the polls, Obama overwhelming beat his rival, Republican John McCain

At the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground, an elderly man argued that Obama, the 44th President of the US, has achieved godly status.

"It is God, Jesus Christ, Obama and then the Pope. It is obvious that Obama is more powerful than the Pope," Jameck Otieno blasphemed.

In many a house in Kisumu pictures of Obama and his wife Michelle have been pinned on walls, some using thorns.

Meanwhile, Kogelo, which not long ago was a sleepy village that few beyond the locality had heard about, has witnessed an astonishing transformation over the last two months.

Electricity was supplied in less than a week after Obama won the US poll.

Roads in the village have been rehabilitated and a Sh5 million water project is being implemented in earnest.

The vigour with which various Government departments are working to bring basic amenities to the area has demonstrated that Vision 2030 is not a pipedream.

All this has prompted a local sage to conclude: "If another Kenyan village hopes to see this kind of transformations, it must thrive to produce a president for South Africa or a Prime Minister for Britain."

Towards this end, tourism of the kind lately witnessed in Kisumu and Kogelo would not hurt.