Obama Fever

News of Barack Obama's nomination for the Democratic ticket has sparked widespread celebration across Africa. Fan clubs have popped up from Ethiopia to Nigeria, and diginitaries and heads of state are publicly announcing their support for the politician with Kenyan roots. Obama is treated with such esteem here that he is seen as a symbol of tolerance and hope for the future of Africa. People expect that Obama will solve many of the problems that have devestated the continent for decades--the fighting in the Horn of Africa (Somalia & Eritria), rising food and oil prices (1 gallon of gas in Tanzania is nearly $8!), and even, they hope he will bring about an end to the political corruption that is crippling the continent. A town in Uganda has named a street after the Senator, Obama Boulevard, and locally made t-shirts and bumper stickers are cropping up everywhere. In Niveria, txi's have been drapped in Obama paraphenalia and websites have been set up to rally support from Africans in Diaspora. Beyond the buzz, Obama has clearly touched something profound among Africans, something that is deeper than skin color or ethnicity. He has sparked a glimmer of hope for a generation of young people who have known nothing but violence, corruption, and hopelessness.