I don't think we should take Lloyd Whitefield BUTLER, Jr.'s comments too seriously. He is a wannabe African, which is easy from a comfy chair away from where the problems are. He's a bitter black American who see the answer to everything as God and blame on the west.
A very staunch Mugabe supporter too... That says plenty.
in fact, a nutcase of teh highest quality

What are you talking about? Obama doesn't have the backbone to hold townhall meetings! He's afraid that everytime he doesn't read from the telepromt, he won't say a good "Lie"! Get your facts together! Democracy? Sen. Clinton won the popular vote! Did she get the nomination? No! DO NOT MAKE HUSSEIN OBAMA a example because he's a shame and the democratic party is the biggest liar with him!

Lloyd Butler,

This guys is simply stating the truth. African leaders have run that entire continent into the ground. If Africa ever has a chance of moving out of the dark ages and advancing into the 21st century, they should invite white people back to lead them.

Rhodesia and South Africa were once advanced and developed nations but now, under black rule, they've reverted back to unlivable hellholes with massive unemployment, runaway inflation and zero productivity.

Likewise, getting back to the original article, if Obama wins the election, the USA will go the same route. Black run governments do not maintain productive or prosperous societies.

The truth hurts, but sometimes it must be told like it is.

George Manuelian
San Jose, CA

Journalist Njoroge Wachai as I just finished commenting on your article “World leaders’ apathy toward Zimbabwe’s crisis is disgusting.” Out of cyberspace appears another article by you “What Obama Could Teach Africa”.

So I said to myself, oh, Njoroge is a worldly journalist and, kabang kaboom zoom, in the second paragraph you attack an entire continent as one megalithic entity with a self-hatred of your African Negroid self. What pity, I feel sorry for you.

You state ‘in Africa where selfishness and greed are what define virtually every African leader. African leaders don’t hold town hall meetings to listen to their citizens’ concerns. They’re condescending and arrogant when it comes to dealing with ordinary people.’

‘They [Africans] don’t play well with their political opponents; they jail and kill them.’

‘Will African leaders, who are accustomed to riding roughshod on their weak and meek citizenry, change their treacherous ways now that “one of their own” is poised to break the glass ceiling and possibly become the president of the most powerful country in the world?’

What gives you the professional audacity to denigrate an entire race of people? When a corrupt European country is found guilty would you in your writings have said Europeans are corrupt? No you wouldn’t dare. Because social conditioned instinct you know you would be called to task for your comments.

But, lost brother, I don’t blame you. I blame the editors of the Washington Post for hiring you and for printing such a culturally and racially denigrating article.

It is also shocking to know that someone in 2008 possess the thought that to maintain your job you must denigrate your own self and kind.

May the God of Journalism bless with wisdom, faith, and your great African Negroid history.

What is so "off the wall" about my comments?

Look at Washington DC, Detroit, Vallejo, CA, the list goes on. Look who the leader are of these places and see what hellholes they are. If Obama wins, the USA will, as a whole, resemble these dysfunctional places too.

George Manuelian
San Jose, CA

Yes it sounds radical. But most Amercian households are going bankrupt supporting oil, real estate speculators, banks, CEO's and the top 1% of the wealthiest in this country. Don't you get tired of working your tail off just to put the wages in your gas tank and refrigerator and then give the rest to government to give to the Iraqis and Afghanis. This is a GREAT country but it is being abused by the conservatives that have re-written the Constitution on the sly. No they didn't actually re-write it but they have started surveillance of everyone in the country allegedly for security. What the surveillance is about is gaining insider information for the purpose of business transactions. And Obama is just another pawn in the plan of the powerful and greedy. Elect a fool and no one will ever be able to stop the looting of the Treasury by the amoral Bush establishment. The Constitution gives Americans the right to an armed revolution when the government no longer responds to the citizens needs. That time has is long past.

Demand healthcare, demand and end to hunger for EVERYONE, demand fair pay for your labor (minimum wage hasn't been raised in 15 yrs when factoring for inflation), demand 50% taxation of the wealthiest 1% in this country, demand that government respect the resonable expectation to our privacy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Revolution is near!

When has Obama been gracious!?! He's the devil. A liar waiting to strike. Whoever wrote this article is another CNN employee in disguise. He can't see the forest for the trees. If Obama is so wonderful why did he praise Jeremiah Wright for twenty years? Obama "Damns" America!! His wife in her own words has not been proud to be an American. The two of them should move to Africa where they belong. Screw Obama!
Vote for a REAL European AMERCIAN!
****VOTE McCAIN 2008****

Bwana Njoroge,
Congratulation on your new posting and we do wish you all the best. In hope of seeing you succeed, I urge you to stick to the topic of your article, a worthy one as it is, without imposing tribal kenyan political views into the discourse. Being Kenyan you do understand or at least are aware of the position of the government of the day vis a vis the opposition and its supporters. It seems, whereas you are chidding Mugabe and Afewerki for jailing those who demand either consitituional rights or electoral transparency you turn a blind eye to the very people whose actions were triggered by a governement hijacking of those very rights. This is a gray area which truly should not be linked to Obamas' candidacy. You are, from your achievements and educational level should know and do better than that.
Michael;

Sorry, we live in the United States, and need to help all of our people out. Until everyone in the United States isn't in poverty there is no need to help other people out. Family first.

Don't blame the US because African leaders are greedy. We are better off helping out china since they help us out a lot more with manufacturing.

There is much more of an chance the Obama will govern more like the Africans than they will like you think he will.

The problem Obama has with white uneducated voters is they never had the fine points of race and racism explained to them by learned professors. Not having a higher education to reply upon they must substitute common sense.

1.They have a very hard time understanding how anyone with any intelligence can sit in a Church for 20 years and support ones friend and mentor week after week, month after month, year after year with his money, family and attendance while listening to Hate American, Hate whites, Hate every thing rants, (with the exception of Blacks and Muslins) and still insist that he has not endorsed and does not believe in the Message, and he has not endorsed and does not believe in the MESSENGER.
2.They do not understand why believing in God, lovering this Nation, supporting the second Amendment, supporting Article IV Section IV of our Constitution against Invasion, and supporting the rule of Law,, makes them intelligibly inferior, and the object of scorn and ridicule by Obama and his Left Wing Cult followers!

Mike in Reno:
Don't go rushing off on your socialism harangue. Economic justice does not pertain uniquely and solely to socialism. First of all, any state can decide how it wants to govern and can do things like the vaunted "Third Way." Forms of governing are not set in stone or iron-clad.

Millions of Americans and economicts agree with the comment you cited as made by Michelle Obama about the great disparity and inequity of incomes that has developed since, let's say 1980. When a society such as ours becomes so inequitable (such a large gap between the top and the bottom incomes)then the middle class becomes a negligible entity; thus, threatening the keystone of a vibrant democracy.

It is obscene and criminal that CEOs of corporations, etc. are now earning more than three hundred times that of the average worked. That is immoral and indefensible. some of these governments in Western Europe, such as Sweden, succeed and flourish because the people are all in it together and not impeded by a bunch of greedy people at the top of the income ladder.

Wealth, in and of itself, is not work and certainly not labor. Perhaps, the acquisition of wealth necessitated a lot of work. Perhaps, it didn't. But Bush's tax system has let the top earners off the hook, including numerous corporations that pay no taxes. The working class has gone for years without substantive wage increases. It is utterly shameful that thirty years ago people earned much higher incomes (adjusted for Cost of Living Adjustments)than they do now.

Why?? Because the rich people/the employers want to increase their salaries but not the workers'pay. There is a general state of injustice now in the employer/employee system. It is a greed that is ruining America. When I look at CraigsList I regularly read people saying that they plan to pay you $7 - $8/hr. These people have no ethics.

So, Mike in Reno, one does NOT have to be a socialist to want to improve an unfair and unjust system. Don't try to pull the wool over our eyes. I won't let you.

work not wealth

You are right on the money. African dictatorship stems from never-ending selfishness engendered by ignorance on the history of ancient and modern unrestrained rulers and how most of them ended in bloodshed. They are ignorant simply because they don't see the span of their respective lives. They believe to be immortal when they have only 24 hours per day like everyone. They are rejoicing the advent of Obama as next president of USA. But they do not know that Obama will not accommodate the hardship they inflict to the people; he will lead by example and coerce them to implement good governance or force them to quit. Obama is charming, pleasant, bright, and mostly black. Nevertheless, he will tell them implement democracy fairly similar to which offers me true opportunity to become president, the most powerful man on the face of the earth, or leave.

Anonymous: You are so off the wall. You don't seem to be based in facts or reality.

Douglas: Your thinking about Obama would be just like them?? You don'tmake your case. How would Obama be just like the African leaders? You have no idea.

Ere: Wachai is talking about what the leaders could learn the people have nothing to do with that.
Xanga:
Obama does not have to be lected to teach a lesson. There are lessons to be learned from him already.

Ndakarou:
I disagree with you. There is no comparison made by Wachai, let alone the one that you have come up with. That is your creation, not Wachai's. How you can think that it is not a problem of the leaders leaves me thinking that you are out of touch and making excuses.

Melissa from Haiti:
I don't know if it is time for the young people to take over and lead. Only those who have something of value and true leadership skills to give should get experience and education and then think of leading.

George Manuelian: So wrong, so off the wall.

Jackson: What are you talking about?? Obama is NOT bankrolling any Africans.

Mr. Wachai,
I do agree with your assertion and do believe, and with great hope, that an Obama presidency could change Africa. However, the continent's leadership problems you describe above are more complex than people often discussed in media outlets or in western circles. These African tragedies are the culmination of centuries of dominations. Let's not forget that for the past 500 years, African countries have experienced turmoil after another: the collapse of African empires, the slave trade, colonization, cold war… These crises have all weakened African societies and shape relations between Africans themselves and the outside world, and contributed to the calamities we all know today. Leaders such as Bashir (Sudan) and Mugabe (Zimbabwe) are only the tip of the iceberg.
Countries are small, divided across ethnic lines, not industrialized and dependent on commodities trades with the consequences such dependency implies... Building governing coalitions are almost impossible because of remnants of the divide and conquer strategies that were used during the colonization and cold war era. The belief that overcoming the divisions caused by these century long crises could be achieved by the simple change of leadership, albeit through fair and transparent elections is naive. Mistrust run deep between factions and shadow interests use these divisions to their advantage. It is important not to focus solely on the leaders but to reform the system that allowed unpatriotic, greedy and irresponsible leaders to rise to power. A strategy shift in African affairs is necessary to resolve these African troubles. Improving Africa’s economic condition is equally important as restructuring the governance and security system. Not the leaders only!!!
The Obama Presidency could give the continent the strong ally (the US) that would help improve the economic and security state of Africa and develop democratic systems. From an economic standpoint, America's private investments could find new incentives to increase their presence on the continent and spur economic growth should an Obama presidency devise an aggressive Africa initiative. Many Africans will be willing to listen. Japan, Germany, South-Korea are evidences of how good American Capital can do when unleashed. The Marshall plan helped rebuild Western Europe after WWII. China’s economic development also relies heavily on its commerce with the U.S. Africa's trade with the world's #1 economy remains unfortunately too little. Africans must also aggressively pursue free trade agreements and security treaty with the U.S. AGOA is a good start but must go to the next level. Better access to US Markets would transform African economies, their societies and governance systems. An Obama presidency could facilitate such initiatives more than any other US government could do. Economic development would make democratic transitions in Africa smoother. Several African countries are already showing political progress: Ghana, Benin, Senegal etc...
Most African leaders learned to rule using force, military force, and must often rely on their tribe (their only loyal support) to remain in power. Because identity politics are very strong in the continent it will be difficult to overcome internal divisions which are across ethnic lines at country levels by simply running fair elections. Institutions are weak and must be strengthened. Countries need fresh capital to revamp their judicial system into fair and ethnicity-blind courts. The same could be said regarding security forces and many other public services. However, I strongly believe that only a powerful supra national organization could contribute to resolving these internal divisions within each African country. A supra national institution that would have the strength (military, legitimacy) to guarantee the impartiality of country institutions could go a long way to resolving crises in Sudan and Zimbabwe. A stronger African Union (AU) could play such an impartial role. By stronger African Union, I refer to an AU with strong military capacity that has a mandate to intervene without pre-condition. One that has an independent budget and which does not rely on member state contributions, one that can levy taxes on any citizen of member countries regardless of their country of residence, be at home or abroad (the Diaspora). An Obama government could significantly contribute to strengthening the African agenda being crafted by the AU. The US would also significantly benefit from scaling its African strategy from country specific to an overall continental approach which could better defend its interests. The AU appears as an important partner from such an approach even though it would require intense negotiations with all AU member countries. There would be a unique opportunity to doing so should Obama become the president of the United States of America. Not only is he directly link to the continent through his father, but Africans are already in love with America, may be the only continent where America regarded with great esteem. Wining Sub-Saharan Africa would surely be a piece of cake. Northern Africa, particularly Libya and Algeria might present slightly stronger reserves. However, skeptics would realign rapidly if they are isolated within the AU.

Victor P.

Its good for African journalists at least to be saying the things being said in this article. Next let the leaders say these things.

Here is the recipe of his "success" in a nutshell.

Be a consummate BS artist.
Create the illusion of a victim class of which you are clearly a charter member - even though you and your disgusting wife are millionaires.

Get the universities - which are populated with empty minds quickly being filled with liberal nonsense - to support you. Why? Because you have a track record of successful legislation? Because you are sqeaky clean? Because you have exhibited good judgement?

No. Because of the exact opposite. But you can cultivate the myth of the underdog and the myth of having answers to unanswerable questions. Are you a staunch America supporter? No. But then the universities have been going full tilt to teach that America is the root of all evil in the world. Not because they participated in any of the wonderful things America actually has done - but because they avoided risk and stood on the side lines and jeered.

Look at Mugabe - and see Obama. He destroyed the white infrastructure and thereby destroyed Zimbabwe. His platform was predicated on the promise of ignorance and hatred.

It worked - for him.

The African leaders are good students of colonialism. The imperialist heritage of plunder, cruelty, divide and rule -- is still the model.

It will take movement and consciousness from below to create a new generation of leadership, like the emergence of Obama.

The best President Obama can do is not teach and not preach.

President Obama needs to lead by example: if it is wrong when they do it, it is wrong when we do it... So we do not do it, ever, and we do not, ever, incite others to do it on our behalf either.

Such an American President Obama would stun the world.

Yes mr. Obama teach african leaders, the meaning respect humanbieng,and listning to your citizen what they need, with out your citizen you are nothing in the world, but if you listen and respect your citizen need your meture and wise, long live by their choice,also if mr. Obama meet with the most dictator in the world,speacialy, eritrean governmint, he could say to Issyas get out from eritrean people you don't deserve, to lead the best people in horn Africa, might you old than me ,Iam 100,000000% better and wisiser, I know what mu america and my citizen needs,to flow their needs make me the happiest leader in whole world,leive eritrea now and fast let the dmecratic opposations, with full their constititions lead the country by immideitly handing the power to their citizen, fatma aleritrea, canada

The president is a figure-head re-acting to realities during his term. The man has not won the election yet. Mr. Bush will plant landmines that 7 generations of democrats have to clear.

Let's get the man elected, despite assassination attempts by opinion.

Mr Wachai,

You write: " Africa is still bleeding from genocide in Sudan, civil war in Somalia, and one-man dictatorships in Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon and Libya."

How about the civil war and de facto division of the country in Cote d'Ivoire; the one-man civilian dictatorship that prevailed in Nigeria after military strongman Abubakar helped civilian-but-former-military General Obasanjo come to power; the transformation of a former socialist-oriented Dos Santos in Angola into a kleptocrat as an inevitable consequence of the long years of American foreign policy assault on the Angolan people's popular will through its support of Jonas Savimbi; what about the decades of one-man rule in Cameroon; what about the slide of Thabo Mbeki into typical African-despot duplicity by framing equally duplicitous Jacob Zuma, a slide that had become visible for long semesters by now, without much outcry from the 'free world'?

Selective memory, Mr Wachai?

Mike in Reno:

The Western Europeans have shown us the path of "socialism" that can and does work. It's the top 1% of Americans that owns 50% of America's wealth, and much of that wealth is inherited (so much for having been earned). The American government functions to keep taxes for this wealthy elite as low as possible. As for the Western Europeans, because of the USA, they have the idyllic social welfare state. Because the USA defends them (NATO), they don't have to pay the cost of defense and can afford national health care and a decent social safety net. Neither of which, the USA has. Consequently, we defend them and millions of our own people cannot even afford medical care and have no health insurance. The road for Africa is the road of Sweden and Germany, not the road of the USA. And, that's the way they will be going.

How the world turns here we have an African advising African leaders to adopt Obama's policies while Michelle and Barak are preparing to implement African socialist principles.

In her speech introducing Barak at the University of Reno here in Nevada Michelle called for "Economic Justice." For most in the audience the term flew over their heads but for political science majors they recognize the term which is only used in Socialist rhetoric and refers to the need to redress perceived inequalities in the distribution of wealth.

Chavez's policies are a good example of implementing the "economic justice " agenda. Zimbabwe's Mugabe policies which have destroyed Zimbabwe's once vibrant economy into the socialist paradise of equal misery for all is another.

In Obama's Minnesota "tonight is our moment" speech he said "we need to reward work not just wealth" as though wealth is unearned and magically appears without work.

This is also a socialist principle "consciousness is determined by being" meaning only work as defined by the state produces anything of value all else in unearned and unjustly taken from someone else. This concept forgets to include creativity, risking ones own time and money to launch a start up and intellectual property and entrepreneurship.

The most extreme example of a socialist trying to implement this policy was Pol Pot of Cambodia when he marched all people out of their homes in the cities of Cambodia one sweltering afternoon into the jungle and forced them to work the earth literally in state run forced labor farms.

His idea was that the act of "working the land" would transform their bourgeois corrupt notions into pure workers paradise thoughts.

You know "from each according to their ability to each according to their need" another socialist notion.

The Soviets showed us how it works out in practice. The people in the soviet system used to smile sardonically and say " they pretend to pay us so we pretend to work."

Should we look forward to the new Department of Excess Profits Redistribution in the second Obama term? If so we shouldn't be surprised if our boat, snow mobile, third car, motorcycle, summer home, stock accounts, inheritances from our dad and mom and grandparents, need to be included in "the count" for Obama's excess profits redistribution.

Maybe these are some of the green jobs Barak Obama has been referring to, thousands of new wealth redistribution agents and excess profits checkers will certainly need to be hired creating a wonderful economic boom, as they redistribute your green money.

"If Barack Obama becomes president, I predict the USA will go the way of Rhodesia, South Africa and all the other corrupt, mismanaged hellholes in that dark continent. Black run countries just do not remain prosperous or productive."

Every time I find a moment to feel unreservedly proud of the progress my country has made in overcoming the legacy of slavery and the Jim Crow bigotry which followed the collapse of reconstruction, someone manages to open their mouth and spoil the moment.

I suppose I should thank George Manuelian for his palpably racist comment. It serves as a warning to me against complacency. We Americans have made great strides, but the George Manuelians of the world are still among us proving that even in 21st century America there are those who cannot get past skin color when rendering judgment.

Senator Obama is a man who made it into two of the finest universities in the US (Columbia and Harvard) on merit and even led the prestigious Harvard Law Review. He has also worked in the slums of Chicago to organize people so they can improve their neighborhoods and better themselves. His Philadelphia speech on the significance of race in America and the need to heal that divide will probably be discussed in high school classrooms for a generation to come, if not longer.

If George Manuelian cannot live with that he should flee San Jose for some spot more congenial to him. He will not be missed.

Why don't you read Bertrand Russell's Power? Written before WW2 he wouldn't blame the twin curses of Fascism or Communism on anything else then man's incapacity to handle power. Then take the trouble to read Aristotle's Politics: how can men best get along? These are outlooks which may truly be needed in Africa. It is simply filled with artifical states that were left by the European empires and police states that must keep them together. How can you share and manage power? I am still amazed why Americans can't understand the need for Senate or the Electoral College: small states don't trust big states.

If Barack Obama becomes president, I predict the USA will go the way of Rhodesia, South Africa and all the other corrupt, mismanaged hellholes in that dark continent. Black run countries just do not remain prosperous or productive. If Africa is to be taken as a model for the future, America is in grave danger.

George Manuelian
San Jose, CA

ARAP,

You are missing the point of this column, which is really sad. I bet you must be Kenyan judging by your tone.

Can you please answer the following question:

How can, someone of a Kenyan descent has a real shot at being president of the most powerful country in the world, while Kenyans are killing themselves because of power?

Obama's story is simply impossible in Africa. The whole point of the column is that we must ask ourselves why. Obviously, you didn't take time to think about it.

Nothing good around the world seems to inspire African leaders. It would be unimaginable if the success of Obama as you said constitutes that only exception.

See the recent violence against foreigners in South Africa? Many of my friends in the Ivory Coast where I grew up, born from immigrant parents could never obtain the Ivorian citizenship, let alone vote. In either of these two countries, the Obama story is simply impossible.

There are countless such examples on this continent, and sometime it is just hard to keep faith.

Leave Obama out of this, May I suggest you get your facts right regarding Kenyan politics ODM vs. PNU, i can detect the skewed comment referring to ODM asking for amnesty for freedom fighters (youths) even more noticeable the omission of stolen Kenyan election in Dec 2007 by President Kibaki, maybe you should have given both sides of the story i.e. someone in high places bankrolling the dreaded mungiki gangs to unleash terror on the now jailed youths and yet mungiki still roam the streets. Leave Barak Obama out of this and stop jumping on the bandwagon and perhaps give more accurate analogy of issues.

Obama's policies are socialism, big-Gov't planning and redistribution of wealth by/for political purposes. Africa already has plenty of this - so it seems Obama is studying them, vs. the other way-around.

President Obama should stop bankrolling criminal and undemocratic dictatorships in Africa. As somebody with community organizing background he should give help directly to the people who need it and never for the support of bad African leaders. As somebody with African roots the African dictators cannot accuse him of the usual tired racism arguments that the Mugabes of Africa proffer incessantly.

There are already good role models in Africa: Mandela and Nyerere are good examples; unfortunately despite having such great African leaders the rest of African leaders and governments are criminal gangs terrorising their own people for their selfish gains of power and wealth, and previlege and presitige. To me the real lesson from Obamas success if ever he succeeds to become an American president is to deny the Mugabes and Musevenis of Africa the colonial/racist excuse/alibi to undemocratically, selfishly and criminally cling to power. It is time to demand the same world class democratic standards for Africa as well. The point is maybe Obamas win will encourage and embolden Africans to believe in and demand true democracy instead of anti-democratic and shameful methods of rigging and stealing elections like Mwai Kibaki, Mugabe and Museveni regualarly do. Africa was colonilised by Europeans but now it is ruled by wanton criminal gangs and war lords masqarading as panafricans.

You forgot to mention Haiti who got his independency since 1804. We need to believe in our young leaders like Obama. Haiti has a lot of those, but no leader in Haiti believes in them.
It time for the young generation to take over and try different approach.
Bravo OBAMA please teach the world what we black can do with our intelligence: govern the most powerful country in the world.
YES WE CAN

If Obama was born and raised in Kenya (from his Kenyan father and American morther) and somehow got elected to be the Kenyan president, he would act exactly like his Kenyan bethren. Why? Culture, lack of democratic institution, less educated population that are easily manipulated based on ethnicity, religion, and other superflous factors. If it is in his DNA in being a dictator, and tries it in the US he will be impeached and sent to the slammer. That is why African dictators are getting away with their imbecilic ways of governace because they could. So Obama can't teach anything to Africans as long as common Africans are easily manipulated by so called African dictators that pass as presidents. It is the culture studpid as Buba would like to say.

This is the first time I hear that Algeria is a one-man dictatorship...Although far from being a democracy as understood by the West, Algeria is just as far from fitting Mr Wachai's description, as a basic study of her history would show. No single man has ever held the power in the country, a fact which, if anything, could possibly be the very problem. Regards.

Gee..Africans aren't sufficientlty educated, and education is a very important component of the democratic process.Education allows one to think logically, and make choices (good or bad) between alternatives. That’s the difference here, at least within the Democratic party.

For most African countries, the citizens are yet to make govts respect the rights of the citizens..how to achieve that is problematic.

This is not a cultural diatribe..I am a native of Ghana. We have to give credit where it is due.

a thoughtful post. However you are comparing a presidential candidate with people who are in power over countries already (negative examples only, as another commenter mentioned). His actions as a president are yet to be seen, so it is a little too early to give Obama such praise. Just because he brings in admiration from a wider cross-section of society does not imply that he will be a good and just president.

The lesson learned from Obama;
There is a sucker born every minute.

Great article.

Nothing but...
To my point of view, this is a wrong question. I'd ask: What Obama could bring to Africa ?
First of all, the comparison doesn't fit. Comparing the united States of America to the Divided States of Africa can lead to Phd thesis. Obama has got the uncredible chance to find out an uninterrupted democratization process of the United States since the civil war. Compared to the black continent, this process has never existed. Even if, it has been foundamentally disturbed, interrupted, aborted, distroyed by five hundred years of slavery, One hundred years of colonialisme, and almost 60 years of neocolonialism. What Obama could bring to Africa, to help us achieve the US os Africa. The Redeemption. We have to help Africa to Recover. It doesnt deal with leadership, but with political foreign interferance.

This is a shame that a fellow African deliberately ignores positive aspects of African leadership and the fact that the continent is changing - for the better. He mentions those he calls dictators while there is an equal - actually more - number of shining example. Festus Mogae, Armando Guebuza, Jakaya Kikwete, Ian Khama, Joachim Chissano, Thabo Mbeki, Levy Mwanawasa, and many more. I could go on. Democratisation and opening up of political space was on the move in Africa - before Obama came into the scene.

It has been so fashionable to spit the names of bad eggs in Africa - Mugabe, Afewerki, et al. - to depict the whole of Africa.

I am hoping John Mccain wins so we can keep on fighting these Islamist extremist. He will be their nightmare. They will have heart if Obama wins from Somalia to Iran...I dont think no one appreciates (despite the iraq mistake) how George Bush fought those radical people. I think it is okay to show the Arabs and other Islamist how their radical ideas can bring a consequence like Iraq.
Menelik, the Ethiopian King was aware when He carved out Djibouti and gave it to France so the Arabs can be blocked from crossing to Ethiopia then subsaharan Africa.They managed to cross to Egypt though. They did successfully conquered and were able to impose Arabzation and Islamisation on Africans. Something the European colonialist were not able to do. I think we need a world leader that will put back Islamists and their supporters to their box. Look how many Islamic countries are trying to eat the soul of Ethiopia (from Egypt,Sudan,Qatar,Iran,Somalia).The only non-islam neighbour of Ethiopia is Kenya that is friendly. And you wonder why are the Ethiopians hungry--b/c they dont have time to work but fight Islamist conspiracies. I hope Obama does not become the Anti-Christ if voted.

As an African, the level of Obama obsession astounds me. His candidacy is 95% fluff, and I think I'm being generous.

Obama's message is about hope and unity, but he's done nothing in his short-lived political career to prove his so-called ability to bring people together. He's only promoted far left causes while in senate, which is fine, since that's his politics, but why does he dare to project himself as anything other than who he is? The simple Math is that being far right or far left doesn't equal being a uniter.

He's also blatantly dishonest - now that he's running for president, all his disingenuous alliances have "suddenly" become very different from people he knew, even though they haven't changed the least bit - the divisive preacher Wright, the unrepentant terrorit Ayers, the convicted felon Rezco, etc. But he's supposed to be Africa's role model now? If that's the best we can come up with, then the world must be more morally bankrupt than I'd thought.

It's also interesting that you note that African politicians look down on ordinary people. The last time I checked, Obama was the same guy who, in a private meeting, spoke condescendingly about ordinary people being bitter and clinging to God and guns.

Oh, never mind, the world should be blindly in love with Obama. It doesn't matter what the facts are, nor does it matter what, if anything, lies beneath the platitudes. I, for one, expect very little out of politics and the individuals that dominate that space. And while I understand the hunger for unity and a higher cause, let's not take leave of our senses and embrace Obama as the epitome of excellence. If all his rosy platitudes were accurate, the south side of Chicago, which he's represented in the senate for the past few years, would be a virtual heaven - schools would be graduating students at the highest possible rate, crime would be at an almost negligible rate, the hospitals would be perfect, and every employment age individual would have a job. Let's open our eyes, please.

The UN and all governments freely elected by a genuine democratic process should stop recognizing those governments which are essentially well-armed gangs which have taken control and power from its citizenry by force. This is true of governments across Africa and elsewhere most notably Burma and North Korea to name two examples. To treat what is basically organized crime with any deference at all is the real crime.

.

it is obviously going to be a great change in the empowerment of black people if obama is elected, not only for african american, but also for black people in other european countrie like germany which are way behind in this matter.
as for a change for african leaders, without being afro-pessimist, i think it won´t affect at all the way our dictators rule the continent.just remember what Mobutu of zaire use to tell european journalists "we are not ready for the kind of democracy you white people have over there. here people are use to the fact that the king is the king..."
despite all that, the change of our leaders way of ruling our countries will only come from the movement of the population itself, movement that could be energised with hope, hope that could cross the atlantic ocean from obama´s victory to the ravaged continent. the kind of change we need in africa will not come from abroad but only from ourselves. what we can take from mr obama´s campaign beyond the words cuz i do believe that words matter, is certainly the conviction that
...YES WE CAN...!

I must admit that it seems naïve to think that African leaders will follow Obama’s lead (if one is to believe the very positive review of him and his campaign) and suddenly embrace the ‘politics of hope’. There have been great leaders in Africa in the past, yet their presence did not change the behavior of other, less scrupulous dictators on the continent. As for Sen. Obama’s expressed concern for Africa, I am not at all certain that once elected that concern will not degenerate into the standard US – African relationship (America mostly cares if and when doing so serves American interests); however, perhaps I am too cynical and in this day and age choose not to believe in the ‘too good to be true’ golden boy of the political left. But if he (as the new president) hopes to achieve change in Africa he has to engage with the continent, not merely lead by example.

That is why African countries all the time poor with stupid leaders

What has obama won, the celebration has started a little early hasn't it ? He won't be President, how will that affect the people you mention in your article ? Open your eyes, America won't elect Obama. No matter how clouded the eyes of the press are or how some people won't admit it, America is a racist country. All Obama has done is put John McCain in the White House. We get an other Bush clone. Why should anyone be happy. ?

some of the trolls need to calm down and STOP going about Rev Wright. It's getting redundant, predictable and unimaginative. That said-I don't think he is the messaih AT ALL but I ask some of you to use your brains, wasn't the piece about that Africa now should stop complaining about persecution and what not? Thus gaining inspiration and seeing that a black person-such as Obama, can maybe be a leader of the most powerful nation? And also he is half Kenyan...

I also agree with all of what anon/June 7, 2008 3:01 AM/ said. Couldn't have worded it any better..heh..

The greatest lesson Barack Obama has for the world is that he is neither black or white; he was just plain American. Being American Obama reminded us, is about being gracious, tolerant, generous,.. it is about honesty, freedom,truth, simplicity, caring, loving, accountable,patient, responsible, saying I'm sorry and Idont know, and all the good things that George Bush jnr, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld and Tony Blair squandered from the ancient American Treasure Trove.

I hope Obama brings back the politics of humanity and humility which transcends race. America has this wonderful chance to build back not its military might but the greatest power any government in the world could crave for: the power to be admired and celebrated for goodness: the love-appeal and to be followed willingly.

I dont want Obama to be black American, or white American or Kenyan, or any white or any black or coloured as we say in South Africa but to be really human. We lost our human face somewhere along the 20th century and I believe the chapter will be closed forever on race politics in America. Maybe that is why he talks of the "Change We Can believe In".

Whilst I can appreciate Mr Wachai's broader message, it is sadly undermined by the inclusion of unnecessary generalizations about the continent and its people. That said, I completely agree that Mr Obama has demonstrated an approach to leadership that most politicians would do well to adopt.

Douglas,

Did I see that correctly? Lemme reiterate for everyones personal edification.

"With respect to Obama, he may be an opportunity (a possible symbol), but in human terms he is just another man (we must not forget that) - he just happens to be one of a particular color. Put him in the context of the region you are in....would he really be any different than those others in pursuit of power?"

Lemme sum up what you just said, in terms that everyone can understand. You just said, that no man, "but in human terms he is just another man (we must not forget that) - he just happens to be one of a particular color." You said that no man, can change the world, that the power of one voice, one dream, one hope, one mans sense of outrage at the treating of his fellow men, one mans belief that he can make a difference is meaningless.

And, then you add that little thing at the end, "- he just happens to be one of a particular color."
what a stunningly myopic world view.

I'm thinking Doug, that in the dictionary in many languages, under Troglodyte, is your picture, I could be wrong, but I bet people are looking that up right now to see if it is true or not.

Doug, I would agree with you if you were right. But answer me this, if he was in such a pursuit of power, doesn't it make sense that he would then get in bed close with the lobbyists and various PACs and corporate entities, and take their money? Instead he has made it a public record that the Obama campaign accepts no money from lobbyists or PACs or any other interest group out there, wouldn't even pay the street money in philly in the wards.

Could the African leaders learn alot from him? That is another myopic view. We could all learn alot from him, if we could figure out a way to inspire hope in our neighbors and bring out the best in our fellow man as he has done, the world would be a much richer and fuller place, instead of this messed up, dried up, ecologically unsound wobbling rock that we call our planet.

What could Obama learn from Africa? That black administrations fail? Obama, if he is wise, would find it best to keep any association with African Leadership to a minimum.

Thanks for your article. When I first saw your headline my initial reaction is 'oh no...another "worshiper" of Obama'. I will share my reason for that statement later. My real point was to thank you for sharing the deeper details of the abuse and disregard for other human beings that is occurring within your continent. It too is my hope is that people would aspire to higher goals than the pursuit of power at the expense of others. The toll in human lives and suffering inflicted by one people upon another in pursuit of power is disgusting and an affront to our Creator. In general, I believe in the US we do not appreciate, understand or care about the dynamics within your region. We hear of the atrocities but it is seemingly so far away and, as others would interpret, occurring in a region of limited impact. It saddens my heart to hear of people suffering because of the obsessive seeking of power and prestige by those desiring to be a 'ruling elite'. I am guilty of not being as aware of your country and equally so for the Asia/Pacific regions of our planet. Thanks again for bring details to the light of day.

With respect to Obama, he may be an opportunity (a possible symbol), but in human terms he is just another man (we must not forget that) - he just happens to be one of a particular color. Put him in the context of the region you are in....would he really be any different than those others in pursuit of power?

Just because, in a sense we 'play nice' here in the US...the ruthlessness to pursue power is no less disturbing than in your country. People are not outright killed, but their lives are destroyed maliciously if you happen to stand in their way. Obama's advantage is that he is of a different color compared to what we are used to in the US (as a presidential candidate). As a nation, we may be hungry for change - but we must not be so superficial to only see to the surface of one's color as a reason for hope. Obama has not been truly tested - he is being swept forward - because visually he is different. I am disappointed because that difference is magnified beyond significance - to the point people do not look truly at the man - for what his real history, his real positions.

His appetite for power is growing with each passing day. He is no better than any other of the recent generation of candidates - unwilling to stay true to their real positions. I have listened to the change in Obama's rhetoric. He is saying and doing anything to secure power - no different than McCain. For me, American's in this upcoming Presidential election have the poorest choices, the weakest candidates I have seen in my life. A leader is defined by, not only his/her ability to inspire, but also upon their ability to remain true to their promises to the people, to be authentic and consistent, to balance the needs of the entire population, to be able to make the difficult balancing choices, to hold fast even if it comes at a great cost. The men and women being presented today - are sorely lacking with respect to essential presidential character.

I am saddened for my country....we are losing our drive for excellence...we are willingly handing over our personal sovereignty because misguidedly we are seeking not to think for ourselves but to worship an image of a king. As you may perceive, I am a passionate believer in the core purpose and values upon which this nation was founded.

this is a poor linkage example between Obama and the african leaders today, sir be conversant with the Kenyan politics alone for a start.You missed the big picture.

I don't know why you mentioned Kansas as it is in NO way comparable to the problems in Africa. Let's stick with reality not the denial thereof.

It is right. Simetimes I wonder if african leaders understand what to lead a nation means. All of them claim change when they are in opposition then after they change and act worse than their former opponents. Corruption, briberies, false accusations and killings, snobism, "arrivisme" etc. All most all african countries are facing unjustified civil war just for the fun of it. Now their families are somewhere else and those in the country can just perish it not a big deal as long as no one condemn it and everybody is scared. The good news is there still some people like Obama. I am pretty sure he will serve as a role model of what is expected from a normal human kind for african leaders. He did not cheat on elections, he praise opponents, he has ideals and moral principles, he is inspiring, organized, patriotic, and still a good husband and good father. Some people are very lucky. Thank you God for people like Obama, please make some more and the world will be a safe place to live.
S. H.

Saddemocrat: I would hardly call Wachai's noting that African leaders could learn from Obama is "celebrating." I don't see how Obama has put McCain in the White House. Please.

K in Los Angeles: Africa is generally a very troubled continent. Millions of people killed yearly. Maybe, you could count a few good leaders on one hand.

TW: I don't see ANYWHERE that Wachai ha linked Obama's success to African leaders?? Where did you get such an erroneous conclusion from??

Jones Emmanuel: Obama did not come out of Africa??

Just Tired of Politics: Obama does not have to be in touch with African to serve as a good example. Please.

Justice: I don't think that you understood Rev. Wright when he said that he was coming after Obama. Pay attention. Rev. Wright was saying that he would be after Obama to stay true to his message and people.

Angus Smith makes a point: Obama could teach African leaders a lot but only if African leaders are capable of learning and there is NO evidence of that.

Solomom: If Ethiopia is one of the most democratic countries in africa then Africa is in more trouble than I thought. Was it the opposition that shot down numerous people just for protesting?? I don't think so.

Abyei is not in Darfur. It is part of the North-South long time conflict. In that more than twenty year war millions died.

Perhaps, coming from an African culture it is amazing to want to talk reconciliation with Hillary (afterall, they are from the same party) and mention with admiration McCain's military service but I, as an American, find nothing amazing about that.

Obviously, the political culture in Africa is dysfunctional and deleterious to the poor people. The hopeful things such as Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (We need more African women in power. It is tiresome to regularly hear how lazy African men are and that the women never stop working.)and a growing new generation of Africans equipped with mobile phones will no longer be meek. They are sick and tired of these loathsome creatures.

What has obama won, the celebration has started a little early hasn't it ? He won't be President, how will that affect the people you mention in your article ? Open your eyes, America won't elect Obama. No matter how clouded the eyes of the press are or how some people won't admit it, America is a racist country. All Obama has done is put John McCain in the White House. We get an other Bush clone. Why should anyone be happy. ?

Mr. Wachai,
With all due respect, I dont really understand your core thesis in linking Barack Obama's success with African leaders. Why not compare any one else like Bill Clinton, Kennedy, Lincoln, etc? Just because of his skin color? I think any successful candidate in a *true* democracy is one who is charismatic and can connect with the peoples' desire to have a happier life. I spent 9 months in Kenya (and other African countries) as a student and I know that no African country can claim to be a *true* democracy.

Respectfully yours,
TW

Yes African leaders can, and should learn from Obama, he is an inspiration to many people. However the main problem with leadership in Africa is that too many politicians cannot be held accountable by their own citizenry. Many dictatorial countries in Africa are propped up by foreign aid, not because international aid donors intend to support dictatorships, but because corrupt governments seek use foreign aid to remain in power. Many dictatorships in Africa exist because they have no incentive to care about their own citizens, they have no legitimacy, and still receive substantial amounts of money through foreign aid. We need to be much more careful of money we provide to foreign governments.

" Will those in Africa, the source of his heritage, follow suit?"

will those in kansas the other half of his heritage also follow suit?

Please - do tell us of what obama's politics actually are? This empty suit has done nothing. Introduced nothing and lied his way all along. While anything would be an improvement - suggesting that obama has some sort of cure for the world's ills is idiotic at best.

I'm quite disappointed with the article.The writer treats Africa as a basket case and monolithic. This is far from reality.
I guess he should stick with Kenyan issues if that's all he's familiar with.

Well written article, thank oyu very much. I hope too that Obama will inspire and influence all leaders worldwide. Your article is a start..

Wow; and I thought we had some fairly serious social problems here in America.

Whew, I sure hope Senator and President elect to be Obama's words come to vision when he said that he hoped to transform America into the "Last best hope for humanity."

Why on every article discussing Barack Obama must some ignorant troll interject Reverend Wright? The man is irrelevant in this election. If you want to know what Barack Obama really thinks about the ideas of Reverend Wright, do yourself a favor and read Dreams from My Father. You might be surprised to find out that Barack Obama is not a black militant at all.

Mr. Wachai, you could not have said it any better. I absolutely agree with you.Good piece.

Barack Obama is the best thing to have happened to America, nay,the whole world in this 21st century, politically. This can be said of his resilience, steadfastness and his inspiring message of hope. Considering his African roots, this goes to show that all hope is not lost for the African countries and their leaders with sittightist tendencies. Cynics could say could anything good come out Africa? Here we are. Obama is that quintessential political jauggernaut that Africa has bequeated to the world at this time. Thank God for a country like US that has given Obama the opportunity to showcase his talents at this time. GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. GOD BLESS HUMANITY.

what a great article and i hope that more africans can be educated in the philosophies of leadership and ethics in the various fields they may pursue.
leadership is about servantship, followership and great stewardship. how long shall the african people sleep and live in darkness and great poverty?

to read more please turn to my blog. atteu.blogspot.com
and leave a comment
thank you

i think obama will be a big warner to african leadership about justice, politics, and economics.
obama is the man of justice to all people. i hope for 8 years africa will be peace and justice.
if african have a peace they have economical development.

Dear American Voters,

Hon. Senator McCain and Obama, besides each of them having many attributes, qualification, and characteristics. The critical differences between the two respected presidential presumptive nominees are ? under:

1. Presidential "Temperament and Composer".
2. Little Washington "insider Versus outsider" experience.
3. Vision and mission for our nation future rather than past.
4. American policies, " first USA centric" than any other country [ ies ] centric.

In my professional opinion one hon. senator has it and the other does not.

The need of our next movement is that our Greatgrand Nation has to address many present and future challenges and utilize opportunities with a new clean slate and Senator. I am sure RNC and other groups will use seduction, confusion, and deception to win.

The American people are too smart to see thru their seduction, confusion, and deception.

God Bless America. its diverse people, and our Greatgrand Nation.

Our Greatgrand nation needs real change and change in inconsistant leadership, at every level and thru next few decades.

I am sure Senator Obama with help of senator Clinton can deliver that real change in washington and its past leadership.

Stay involved, stay engaged, and stay informed. Do not let any incoming seduction, deception, and or confusion effect your vote[s].

Yours truly,

COL. [retd] A.M.Khajawall MD
Disabled American Veteran.
Forensic psychiatrist, Las Vegas NV

I think that many people will learn from obama

Hello to all in Africa, the fountain of all human life! Be assured that the looting of the public coffers you mention is at least as prevalent in the U.S. as in most countries of Africa. Power corrupts, we basically only have two parties.

Heard on the news a few days ago that, over the past 15 years, while "Rev." Wright has been spewing his hate-filled, racist, anti-American, anti-white speeches, and Obama has been "not-hearing" any of that, their "church", which recently gave a Lifetime Achievement award to Louis Farrakhan, has quietly been the recipient of $15,000,000 of our tax dollars! They are probably still getting it!
How'd they arrange to get that much of our tax money, who set that up, do you think? Separation of church and state? Has that been repealed? Do you think anybody should ask Obama if he had anything to do with getting that "church" this money? If he didn't, who did? Shouldn't we know?

I think there is a lot people around the world can learn from Obama. One important thing to me that South American politicos, as well as those from Africa, can learn is the concept of leadership without browbeating. There is much that can be accomplished through the power of concensus.

However, most petty leaders (whether on the local or global scale) would rather destroy what they do not control, and are afraid they will be marginalized if they allow anyone else to have a say in what happens. Given the tradition of this which has become fixed in many nations, including the US, I think it will be difficult for Obama to teach a lesson that sticks.

#2 Why would anyone be happy if a Democratic
President gets elected based on depriving
Florida residents of their voting rights?

#1 I fail to see what this has to do with "what Africa can learn from Obama".

#2 Florida residents were not deprived of their voting rights. Their Democratic Party members agreed to move up their primary, agreeing with the local Republicans. They knew the consequences, but they thought they would get away with the foolishness. If they wanted their votes to count, they would have gone about things the right way. The Cubans have a saying, "Deja la boberia".

Floridians will have another moment to vote in November. They need to organize themselves and decide what is worse - to be penalized for their own wrongdoing, or to have the Republicans steal the election from them again, as happened in 2004.

How can we elect a president that is African Amercian? Won't this divide the country even further? Or will it unite one sect in particular?

I am voting for an American president who has no ties to race. I myself could be described as an Austrian American. Yes,I was born and raised here and I look like quite a few people in my neighborhood, but I want to be labeled differently so as to stand out and make people think about who I am.

I will not vote Republican, but I will not vote based on someone who is claiming a specific class.

I want an American president. Not African American, Mexican American, Chinese American, or whatever label they wish to impose to differentiate themselves to pick up the popular vote of their class.

What could Obama teach Africa? That is a title of a headline I saw earlier. My opinion is not a whole heck of a lot. I doubt he can even relate to Africa(much less the Black American Class), just as the millions of, "African Americans" that live in America today could.

I'm sure if he grew up half starved, working in the fields trying to farm what he could, diseased, and fighting against local villages... then maybe he could relate. However, being that his campaign is funds are in the millions, I think he might have lost a little touch.

#1 Why would Hillary Clinton quit her campaign when there are still possible appeals,
DiMaio V. DNC and Steve Geller V. DNC,
because Florida Democrats were deprived
of 1/2 of their vote count in their primary?

#2 Why would anyone be happy if a Democratic
President gets elected based on depriving
Florida residents of their voting rights?

#3 Is Barack Obama in conspiracy with Howard Dean and the DNC to seek revenge against the
Republicans for past allegations regarding
past Florida vote counts?

#4 If Hillary Clinton was appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States,
and DiMaio V. DNC or Geller V. DNC
was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court,
would Justice Hillary Clinton rule
in favor of DiMaio and Geller and
UN-SEAT Barack Obama as President?

I think the biggest question in a lot of peoples' minds is that Obama may turn this country into the United States of Africa, because of Rev. Wright and Father Pfleger.

Wright even said: "If you get in the White House, I'm coming after you."

This is a threat many believe...that Obama will use this office to advance this theology. 20 years is a long time to be absorbed in this theology, and quitting the church does not mean you do not still hold these "values". People do not take this lightly, so if anything, this rather than age and experience, will be Obama's biggest challenge to his bid. The fact that he has no track record to look back on makes people suspicious of him as well.

Njoroge,

I notice you do not even bother to place Kibaki (Kenya's rigged into office President) in the same boat as those other brutal dictators you so readily spew out. Having spent some time in Kenya I can tell from your name he comes from your tribe, could that be the reason? Dont play us small.

Kenyan law expressly says suspects should be arraigned in court within 48Hrs, the youth have been held for months!!! with no charges, but then the current autocratic regime in Kenya does not follow the law, otherwise Kibaki would not be President, he lost the election.

Take out the log from your own eye first. Mr Obama visited Kenya while I was there and was given a chilly reception by the authorities for speaking out against tribalism and nepotism. In fact a Mr Wanjui (one of the presidents advisers) referred to him as a junior senator and told him to go back to the USA and fix it's problems. Well he's doing just that.

These are the kind of antics Kenyan and African leaders in general play. Obama's thoughts were ignored while in Kenya and the Govt stole the election leading to unnecessary deaths, It still saddens me.

With no direspect to the writer of this article, for whom I have much respect for his thoughtful and heartfelt opinion, might I, as a woman, suggest the following: Your beautiful, wonderful women are the backbone of modern Africa. But their talents and strengths are under-used and not supported. Governments should strive to include them every step of the way--in all matters. Their opinions and intelligence would bring something vital and nurturing to the table. And not just the daily bread.

Incidentally I wanted to start a blog just to write something like this but more towards the plight of Kenyans. African leaders arent leaders anymore they are leeches who suck on the blood of their own people and stick on to them until they are dead

The Ethiopian government always gets the blame for the failure of the opposition. It has become a style for writers to just group every African countries they can think of without investigating or understanding the happenings in Ethiopia. Please, read what transpired in the Ethiopian political scene before grouping one of the most Democratic governments in Africa, and for the first time in Ethiopian history.