What Obama's win means to Africa
By Larry Ajong Posted Dec 8 2008
Judging by the wave of enthusiasm that grew in frenzied proportions after he grabbed the Democratic nomination, one would have thought that President-elect Barack Obama was running as President of Africa and not the United States.
While many see in his election a break-through for blacks in America and the rest of the world, others see a potential new dawn for Africa. And while it may be foolhardy to see in his election something to soothe away the myriad problems confronting the African continent, Africa has the possibility of changing its fortunes through the Obama presidency.
Obama’s message of change, one that took him from a very humble start when he launched his presidential bid, is strongly needed in Africa today.
The participation of youth and women was also noteworthy in the American elections. A look at Africa today reveals that youth and women constitute a huge segment of the population that could potentially tilt the balance in any election. Could the impact that women and the youth had on the election of Sen. Obama serve as a lesson? With talented and educated youth wasting away in joblessness, their vote remains an indispensable tool for them to bring down leaderships that do not meet their aspirations.
If the race were to have been decided by race alone, Sen. Obama would certainly not have made it. But Americans saw talent and put aside race and religion to give him a chance. This poses the question for Africa: is it possible for Shonas in Zimbabwe to give talent from a Ndebele a chance? Could a Muslim from Northern Nigeria shatter religious barriers and give an Ibo man from the South a chance if he truly has the ability and deserves it? Could a Francophone in Cameroon give an Anglophone a chance if he deserves it?
More often than not, political decisions fueled by religious clan affinities have had disastrous consequences for African countries. As excited as Africans are about the victory of Sen. Obama, sober reflection should make them realize that had he relied on the black vote alone, he may never have made it.
As America sets the standards high for the world with a most salutary, ground-shaking example, Africa must learn as many as lessons as possible from this. The political realities in the U.S. and Africa are not at all the same, but the victory of Sen. Obama should spur Africans to action. It should make them conscious of their abilities and potential to bring about change in their own countries.