The Obamas
Page 29
2. Ibid., 419.
3. A. Adu Boahen, General History of Africa, vol. VII: Africa under Colonial Domination 1880–1935 (James Currey/UNESCO, 1990), 281.
4. David Anderson, Histories of the Hanged (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2005), 10.
5. Alao, Charles Abiodun, Mau-Mau Warrior (Osprey, 2006), 6.
6. George Bennett and Carl G. Rosberg, The Kenyatta Election: Kenya 1960–1961, Oxford University Press, 1961, 7.
7. Alao, Mau-Mau Warrior, 5.
8. Obama, Dreams from My Father, 417.
9. Ben Macintyre and Paul Orengoh, “Beatings and Abuse Made Barack Obama’s Grandfather Loathe the British,” Times, December 2, 2008.
10. Anderson, Histories of the Hanged, 50.
11. Ibid., 69.
12. Ibid., 1.
13. Michael Blundell, So Rough a Wind (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1964), 123–24.
14. Caroline Elkins, Imperial Reckoning: The Untold Story of Britain’s Gulag in Kenya (Henry Holt, 2004), xiii.
15. Ibid., 70.
16. Ibid., 71
17. Anderson, Histories of the Hanged, 4.
18. Elkins, Imperial Reckoning, 66.
19. Anderson, Histories of the Hanged, 300.
20. John Blacker, “The Demography of Mau Mau: Fertility and Mortality in Kenya in the 1950s: A Demographer’s Viewpoint,” African Affairs, vol. 106, no. 423 (2007): 205–27.
Chapter 8: Mr. “Double-Double”
1. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Mandate for Change, 1953–56 (Doubleday, 1963), 180.
2. Elizabeth Sanderson, “Barack Obama’s Stepmother Living in Bracknell,” Daily Mail, January 6, 2008.
3. Ibid.
4. Tom Shachtman, Airlift to America: How Barack Obama, Sr., John F. Kennedy, Tom Mboya, and 800 East African Students Changed Their World and Ours (St. Martin’s Press, 2009).
5. Speech given by President Obama from the pulpit of the historic Brown Chapel in Selma, Alabama, March 4, 2007.
6. Jonathan Martin, “Obama’s Mother Known Here as ‘Uncommon,’ ” Seattle Times, April 8, 2008.
7. Amanda Ripley, “The Story of Barack Obama’s Mother,” Time, April 9, 2008.
8. Obama, Dreams from My Father, 6.
9. Bennett and Rosberg, The Kenyatta Election, 176–80.
10. Barack H. Obama, “Problems Facing Our Socialism,” East Africa Journal, July 1965, 26–33.
11. Ogot and Ochieng’, Decolonization and Independence in Kenya, 98.
12. Godfrey Mwakikagile, Kenya: Identity of a Nation (New Africa Press, 2007), 37.
13. Sally Jacobs, “A Father’s Charm,” Boston Globe, September 21, 2008.
14. East African Standard, July 7, 1969.
15. D. Goldworth, The Man Kenya Wanted to Forget (Holmes and Meier, 1982), 281.
16. Ibid.
17. Jacobs, “A Father’s Charm.”
18. E. S. Atieno Odhiambo, “Ethnic Cleansing and Civil Society in Kenya, 1969–1992,” Journal of Contemporary African Studies, vol. 22, no. 1 (2004): 29–42. The speech, which was given in Swahili, was translated into English for the paper.
19. Tania Branigan, “Barack Obama’s Half-Brother Writes Book ‘Inspired by Father’s Abuse,’ ” Guardian, November 4, 2009.
20. Barack Obama, “My Spiritual Journey,” Time, October 16, 2006.
21. Obama, Dreams from My Father, 5.
22. Ibid., 430.
Epilogue
1. Nick Wadhams, “Kenyan President Moi’s ‘Corruption’ Laid Bare,” Daily Telegraph, September 1, 2007.
2. Cose Ellis, “Walking the World Stage,” Newsweek, September 11, 2006.
3. Mwakikagile, Kenya: Identity of a Nation.
4. James C. McKinley, “Political Violence Taking a Toll on Kenya Tourism,” New York Times, August 31, 1997.
5. Richard B Richburg, Out of America: A Black Man Confronts Africa (Basic Books, 1997), 104–5.
6. Oliver Mathenge, “Obama Scolds Kenya,” Daily Nation, July 3, 2009.
7. Barack Obama, “A New Moment of Promise,” speech given in Accra, Ghana, July 11, 2009.
NOTES ON METHODOLOGY
1. Luise White et al., eds., African Words, African Voices: Critical Practices in Oral History (Indiana University Press, 2001).
2. B. A. Ogot, History of the Southern Luo (East African Publishing House, 1967), 1:142–43.
3. B. A. Ogot, “The Concept of Jok,” African Studies, vol. 20, no. 2 (1961): 123–30.
4. Ogot, History of the Southern Luo, 1:28.
5. Cohen, “The River-Lake Nilotes,” 147.
6. Obama, Dreams from My Father, 376.
7. Ogot, History of the Southern Luo, 27.
8. Ibid., 27n.
9. Ibid., 27n.
GLOSSARY OF PEOPLE
Abdo Omar Okech (b. 1933) Younger brother of “Mama” Sarah Obama
Achayo, Aloyce (b. c. 1932) Retired headmaster and Luo cultural historian
Aginga, Joshua (c. 1864–1935?) Third son of Obama Opiyo
Ainsworth, John (1864–1946) An early British settler in Kenya
Akumu Njoga See Habiba Akumu
Ali, Sulaiman bin (dates unknown) Mazrui chief who asked that Mombasa become a protectorate of Britain as a defense against the threat from the sultan of Oman
Amin, Idi (c. 1925–2003) Military dictator and president of Uganda 1971–79
Anderson, David (b. 1957) Professor of African politics and director of the African Studies Centre, University of Oxford
Argwings-Kodhek, Chiedo (1923–69) Luo Kenyan Foreign Minister in Jomo Kenyatta’s government; assassinated in July 1969 in what was made to look like a road accident
Aruwa (c. mid-15th century) Brother of Podho II, of spear-and-bead fame
Atieno Amani, Mwanaisha (b. c. 1938) Older sister of Kezia Obama
Baring, Sir Evelyn (1903–73) Governor-general in Kenya 1952–59, which covered the whole of the Mau Mau emergency
Baumann, Oscar (1864–99) Austrian explorer who wrote about the Maasai in the late nineteenth century
Bismarck, Otto von (1815–98) German statesman responsible for establishing Germany’s African colonies
Blundell, Sir Michael (1907–93) Kenyan farmer, member of parliament for the Rift Valley, and minister without portfolio to the Emergency War Council during the Mau Mau insurgency
Burton, Richard (1821–90) British explorer who traveled to the lakes region of central Africa with John Speke
Carscallen, Arthur Asa Grandville (1879–1964) The first Seventh-Day Adventist missionary in Kendu Bay; he arrived in Kisumu in November 1906
Carscallen, Helen (c. 1885–1921) Wife of Arthur Carscallen (m. July 27, 1907, in Kendu Bay), née Helen Bruce Thompson
Chamberlain, Joseph (1863–1914) British politician who served as colonial secretary 1895–1903
Chilo Were, Samson (b. 1922) Barack Obama senior’s primary school teacher
Cholmondeley, Hugh See Delamere, Lord
Crazzolara, Joseph Pasquale (1884–1976) Catholic missionary who worked for much of his life in East Africa and who was responsible for pioneering anthropological work on the Luo
Delamere, Lord (1870–1931) Third Baron Delamere KCMG, who moved to Kenya in 1901, where he became one of the most influential British settlers
Dunde, Onyango (c. 1885–1960?) Luo prophet of the Mumbo spirit
Dunham, Madelyn (1922–2008) Née Payne, mother of Ann Dunham and maternal grandmother of President Obama
Dunham, Stanley Ann See Obama, Ann
Dunham, Stanley Armour (1918–92) Father of Ann Dunham and maternal grandfather of President Obama
Eliot, Sir Charles Norton Edgecumbe (1862–1931) British career diplomat and linguist who was made governor of British East Africa in 1901
Elkins, Caroline (b. 1969) Professor of History at Harvard University and author of Imperial Reckoning: The Untold Story of Britain’s Gulag in Kenya
Gama, Vasco da (1460/69–1524) Portuguese explorer who was the first European to round the Cape of Goo
d Hope; he landed in Mombasa in 1498 and sailed on to Kerala in India
Gethin, Richard (1886–1950?) British trader and the first to establish a presence in Kisii in south Nyanza in the early twentieth century
Habiba Akumu (c. 1916–2006) Née Akumu Njoga, fourth wife of Onyango Obama (m. 1933); mother of Barack Obama senior and paternal grandmother of President Obama
Halima (dates unknown) Second wife of Onyango Obama (m. c. 1930); she came from the Ugenya region of central Nyanza
Hobley, Charles William (1867–1947) Pioneering British colonial administrator in British East Africa 1894–1921; closely involved with the early subjugation of the Luo
Johnston, Sir Harry (1858–1927) Explorer and colonial administrator who was a key British player in the “Scramble for Africa”
Jühlke, Karl Ludwig (1856–86) Colleague of Karl Peters, he was murdered in Kismayu (now Somalia) on December 1, 1886
Kalulu (c. 1870–87) Henry Stanley’s loyal boy servant who traveled with him from 1882, before drowning in the River Congo
Kenyatta, Jomo (1894–1978) Leading Kenyan politician; arrested by the British in 1952 and imprisoned; released in 1961, he took control of the negotiations for independence and became the first president of Kenya in December 1963, holding that office until his death
Kiano, Jane (dates unknown) American-born wife of Dr. Julius Kiano; she was influential in Barack Obama senior obtaining a scholarship to the University of Hawaii
Kiano, Dr. Julius Gikonyo (1930–2003) An influential politician and educationalist who supported Tom Mboya’s “student airlift” in the 1960s
Kibaki, Mwai (b. 1931) Kenyan politician and the third president of Kenya; Minister of Finance (1969–81) under Kenyatta; Minister for Home Affairs (1982–88) and Minister for Health (1988–91) under Moi
Kimathi, Dedan (1920–57) Mau Mau leader shot and captured in October 1956, and subsequently hanged; his death effectively brought an end to the Mau Mau emergency
Kimnyole arap Turukat (b. c. 1850) Nandi orkoiyot or spiritual leader who predicted that a big snake would come across their lands belching smoke and fire, widely interpreted as the Uganda Railway
Kisodhi (b. c. 1597) Early Luo leader and (10) great-grandfather of President Obama
Koitalel arap Samoei (1860–1905) Nandi leader who fought the British over the Uganda Railway
Krapf, Dr. Johann Ludwig (1810–81) German Protestant missionary and accomplished linguist who arrived in Zanzibar in 1844
Lansdowne, Lord (1845–1927) Henry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice, fifth Marquess of Lansdowne, KG, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC; British politician and Irish peer; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 1900–1905
Lettow-Vorbeck, General Paul von (1870–1964) Commander of the German forces in East Africa during the First World War
Livingstone, Dr. David (1813–73) Scottish medical missionary; explorer and leading antislavery campaigner who traveled first to South Africa in 1841, then to East Africa in 1866
Lugard, Lord Frederick (1885–1945) British explorer and colonial administrator; High Commissioner of the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria 1899–1906
Mackinnon, William (1823–93) Glaswegian ship owner who became chairman of the British East Africa Company
Mboya, Paul (1902–2000) Luo chief who governed Kendu Bay during the 1930s and 1940s; he was in regular conflict with Onyango Obama
Mboya, Tom (1930–69) Leading Luo politician, closely involved in the foundation of the Kenya African National Union (KANU) and Minister of Economic Planning and Development at the time of his assassination in Nairobi on July 5, 1969
Meinertzhagen, Colonel Richard (1878–1967) British officer accused of shooting dead the Nandi supreme chief, Koitalel arap Samoei, in 1905
Mitchell, Sir Philip (1890–1964) Officer in the KAR who rose to the rank of major general; governor of Kenya 1944–52
Moi, Daniel arap (b. 1924) Second president of Kenya 1978–2002, but now tainted by corruption scandals; he lives in retirement near Eldoret and is largely shunned by the current political establishment
Moi, Gideon (b. 1964) Youngest son of ex-president Moi, claimed to have amassed a fortune of £550 million by 2002
Moi, Philip (b. 1956) Son of ex-president Moi, claimed to have amassed a fortune of £384 million by 2002
Msovero (dates unknown) Local chief in Usagara, Kenya, who signed over his land to Karl Peters in 1884
Mutua, Alfred (b. 1970) Official spokesman for the Kibaki government
Nabong’o Shiundu (1841–82) Notorious African slave trader
Ndalo, John Aguk (b. 1924) Luo elder who knew Onyango Obama well; he still lives in Kendu Bay
Ndalo, Raburu (c. 1893–1925) Older brother of Onyango Obama; born in Kendu Bay and died (with his two wives) of smallpox in K’ogelo
Ndesandjo, David Opiyo Obama (1969?–87) Son of Barack Obama senior and Ruth Nidesand and half brother of President Obama; died in a motorcycle accident
Ndesandjo, Mark Okoth Obama (b. 1966?) Eldest son of Barack Obama and Ruth Nidesand and half brother of President Obama; now runs an Internet company and corporate advice company in Shenzhen, China
Ndesandjo, Ruth See Nidesand, Ruth
Ngei, Patrick (b. c. 1934) Friend of Barack Obama senior, now living in Kisumu
Ng’ong’a Odima (b. c. 1880) Corrupt Luo chief who governed the Alego region, north of Winam Gulf under the British
Nidesand, Ruth (b. c. 1940) Teacher from Boston, Massachusetts, who became Barack Obama senior’s third wife; divorced, she later remarried Simeon Ndesandjo; now a kindergarten teacher in Nairobi
Njenga Njoroge, Isaac (c. 1947–69?) Young Kikuyu man found guilty of Tom Mboya’s assassination; allegedly executed on November 25, 1969, although rumors persist that he was spirited off to Ethiopia
Nkrumah, Kwame (1909–72) Charismatic first president of Ghana
Nyabondo, Joseph (b. c. 1924) Brother of Habiba Akumu and great-uncle of President Obama
Nyandega, Kezia See Obama, Kezia
Nyaoke (c. 1875–1935?) Senior wife of Obama (son of Opiyo), mother of Onyango and great-grandmother of President Obama
Nyerere, Julius Kambarage (1922–99) First President of Tanzania who firmly suppressed political opposition, but who also created a strong national identity
Obama, Abo (b. 1968) Alleged half brother of President Obama, born in K’ogelo and now lives in Bracknell, England, with his mother Kezia
Obama, Ann (1942–95) Née Stanley Ann Dunham; second wife of Barack Obama senior and mother of President Obama
Obama, Dr. Auma (b. 1960) Second child of Barack Obama senior and Kezia and half sister of President Obama; now lives in Nairobi
Obama, Barack junior (b. 1961) Forty-fourth president of the United States; born in Hawaii, called Barry as a young boy
Obama, Barack senior (1936–82) Father of President Obama; an economist in the Kenyan government before his death in a road accident in Nairobi in 1982
Obama, Bernard (b. 1970) Alleged half brother of President Obama, born in Kenya, but now lives in Bracknell, England, with his mother, Kezia
Obama, Hawa Auma (b. 1942) Aunt and closest living relative of President Obama, third child of Onyango and Akumu and the younger sister of Barack Obama senior; lives in Oyugis in south Nyanza
Obama, Hussein Onyango (1895–1975) Grandfather of President Obama; born in Kendu Bay but moved to K’ogelo around 1944; farmer and house servant
Obama, Kezia (b. c. 1940) Barack Obama senior’s first wife, born and raised in Kendu Bay; also known as Grace, she now lives in Bracknell, England
Obama, Malik (b. 1958) Eldest son of Barack Obama senior and Kezia and half brother of President Obama; now lives in Siaya (near K’ogelo) but still keeps a house opposite Sarah Obama’s compound
Obama, Omar (b. 1944) Eldest son of Onyango Obama and “Mama” Sarah and half uncle to President Obama; born in K’ogelo and now lives in Boston, Massachusetts
Obama Opiyo (c. 1833–1900?) Great-great-gran
dfather of President Obama; farmer and Luo warrior who lived in the Kendu Bay area near Lake Victoria
Obama, Sarah (b. 1922) Known as “Mama” Sarah; fifth wife of Hussein Onyango Obama (m. 1941) and stepgrandmother of President Obama; née Sarah Ogwel
Obama, Sarah Nyaoke (1934–2000?) Oldest daughter of Onyango Obama and Akumu
Obama, Sayid (b. c. 1950s) Son of Onyango Obama and “Mama” Sarah (b. K’ogelo); half uncle of President Obama; works in a molasses factory in Kisumu
Obama, Yusuf (b. c. 1950s) Son of Onyango Obama and “Mama” Sarah (b. K’ogelo); half uncle of President Obama
Obama, Zeituni Onyango (b. 1952) Daughter of Onyango Obama and Sarah (b. Kendu Bay); half aunt of President Obama
Obong’o (b. c. 1802) (3) great-grandfather of President Obama; left his ancestral home in K’ogelo and established a homestead in the Kendu Bay area
Ochieng’, William R. (b. 1943) Professor of history at Maseno University, Kisumu
Odera, Sofia (c. 1914–90?) Third wife of Onyango Obama (m. c. 1932)
Odhiambo, Zablon (b. c. 1960) Keeper of Got Ager
Odhiambo Mbai, Dr. Crispin (1954–2003) Senior Luo official of the Kenya constitution review commission; assassinated September 14, 2003
Odhiambo Ochieng’, James (b. 1941) Friend of Barack Obama senior at Harvard
Odinga, Raila (b. 1945) Current prime minister of Kenya; son of Oginga Odinga
Odonei Ojuka, Charles (b. c. 1922) Brother of Habiba Akumu and a great-uncle of President Obama
Ogelo (b. c. 1626) President Obama’s (9) great-grandfather and the first person to settle in K’ogelo
Oginga Odinga, Jaramogi Ajuma (c. 1911–94) Leading Luo politician, government minister, and vice president during early independence in Kenya; from Bondo, a village near K’ogelo in central Nyanza
Ogot, Bethwell A. (b. 1929) Professor of history and incumbent chancellor of Moi University, Eldoret
Okwiri, Jonathan (dates unknown) A teacher from Nyanza who founded the Young Kavirondo Association in 1922
Oluoch, Charles (b. 1948) Second son of Peter Oluoch, who was adopted and raised by his uncle Onyango Obama; retired and living in Kendu Bay