Visiting Obama’s Grandmother in Alego, Kenya.
From the small town of Ng’iya, once an Anglican mission centre, we turned down a newly graded maram road. An 18 year old lad Omondi, who has stayed with me for the past 6 years and just completed his secondary exams on this very day (10th November 2008), rode on the back of my bicycle carrying our bags. His graduation ‘gift’ from me was to be a visit to Barack Obama’s grandmother!
We seemed to cycle for ever down a long hill southwards before being told to branch into Kogelo (the place of Ogelo) village. By following the most used newly graded road, passing through maize fields interspersed with bush, we came face to face with a heavy gate of iron bars marking the entrance to a ‘traditional’ Luo homestead, surrounded by chain link fencing. We walked in pushing the bicycle up the hill (the main gate to a Luo home is always at the bottom of any slope – making it more difficult for enemies to attack) to find policemen relaxing outside some tents. I filled my name in the visitors book, and they pointed us to a temporary tarpaulin cover to sit and wait our turn, shaded from the cooking hot sun.
Barack Obama’s Grandmother’s house, in typical Luo fashion, was at the top of the homestead facing down. Two or three houses on the sides of the homestead facing the middle – sons’ houses. Obama’s father had already goyo dala (moved) – so his house was visible just outside the main compound.
Obama’s grandmother’s home differed little from that of many other Luo grandmothers. Except that it seems to have just had a new roof built onto it. Grandmother Sara Obama herself, sitting next to a grandson (also called Obama) was bright, cheerful, friendly, and talkative. I prayed for the family while standing before greeting those who were present with a handshake. Myself and Omondi sat on the side of the outside wall of the house, facing its residents, as is Luo custom.
The young man sitting next to grandma had to do no translation, as our subsequent conversation was carried out entirely in mother tongue – Dholuo. Grandma (it is normal in Luoland to refer to ladies as ‘grandma’ (dana) or ‘mama’ rather than by their names) told us affectionately and proudly of her beloved grandchild. She told us of his prior visits, his moving from law into politics and becoming a Senator, his telling his grandma that he was to try to get the ‘top seat’. “He tells me everything” grandma confided. She explained that a trip to Kogelo village was considered a necessity by Barack before marrying Michelle, so as not to be seen as deceiving her as to the state of his home. (It is considered bad practice in Luoland to marry a girl without first taking her home. A girl should know the circumstances she is marrying into before saying ‘yes’.)
“Barack is a Kenyan” said his grandmother. “He will learn the Luo language in due course” she assured us. To grandmother, it seemed fully appropriate that he should make his way in the world, before eventually ‘coming home’.
I invited Obama’s grandmother to spread the word about our theological class. She agreed to do so. Ruoth Opaki she greeted me at one point in our conversation – a greeting that indicates that someone is a born-again Christian. Japolo she called me – a name reserved for those committed to serving God.
It seems that some of Obama’s charisma is inherited from his grandmother! She is an easy person to visit and talk to. She indicated the position of the graves of Barack’s father and grandfather. Other visitors had made a point of having their picture taken with grandma, or a full sized cardboard image of president-elect Obama himself! We didn’t. We left, greeting the policemen on our way out. This had been a detour of about 8 miles from my normal Monday trip. We had spent about 15 minutes with grandma. My Bible class at Kirindo, 3 miles away, started at 4.00pm.
Jim Harries
