Sarah Obama, Barack's Kenyan Grandmother, Heads To Washington With Gifts

Sarah Obama, Barack Obama's Kenyan, paternal grandmother, will soon arrive in Washington DC for her grandson's inauguration on January 20.

The AFP reports that Sarah will bring some unusual gifts for the new president:

NAIROBI (AFP) -- A three-legged stool and a traditional Luo oxtail fly whisk are some of the household items that could bring a new feel to the Oval Office, courtesy of Barack Obama's Kenyan grandmother.

...

Quoted in the Standard newspaper Monday, she said she had hoped to bring him a traditional spear and shield from her Luo tribe when she flies to Washington on Friday with some other family members.

The AP reports that Sarah will attend an unofficial inauguration ball with representatives from the Kenyan government. The article also mentions that President-elect Obama is not well-acquainted with his grandmother, who is actually the stepmother of his Kenyan father.

In "Dreams from My Father," Obama described meeting Sarah Obama during his 1988 trip to his father's homeland, earning a handshake as a greeting and awkwardness as they struggled to communicate.

"Our mutual vocabulary exhausted, we stared ruefully down at the dirt until (half-sister) Auma finally returned," Obama writes in "Dreams from My Father."

"And Granny then turned to Auma and said, in a tone I could understand, that it pained her not to be able to speak to the son of her son."

Sarah Obama made headlines during the presidential campaign when she denounced the sillier rumors about Barack, including the rumor that he is a muslim.

Comments

[loveobamas]

Welcome grandma Obama,I can't wait to see you there with you're wonderful Grandson.

[The Lorax]

I hope you have a wonderful time, Grandma!

[judi4hope]

So we are the epitome of graciousness now, inviting an entire unknown clan of a step-grandma to our land's biggest party, as well as housing the mother-in-law et al in our White House! How nice to use my tax dollars for such shows of generosity. And the Q bout the M' uslim kindergarten years gets swept under the rug.

How trusting we are, based on our dreams for Change. Be careful what you wish for, yes...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-03-05-obama-kin_N.htm?POE=click-refer

Hope our new diversity can blend with whatever is left of the Constitution. Melting pot of humanity, where is your caution to protect (and provide quality and timely healthcare) for the legal residents??

[Eris23Skidoo]

Well it is true that there isn't much left of the constitution. Your pal Dick Cheney saw to that. After all, he is a member of the Senate when that suits him and a White House employee when THAT suits him. Not to mention all of the torture, spying on citizens, creating off-shore gulags, secret energy policy meetings with Osama & Ken Lay, black flag operations, restriction of air travel for grandma's and non-violent peace activists, suspension of habeaus corpus, usurping war powers from congress, stealing at least two elections (that we know of), using signing statements to circumvent duly passed laws, and so on and so forth. If the constitution is truly no longer in effect you have only the 43rd "president" to blame. And what is so bad about diversity? You got a gripe about "all men being created equal"? After George Bush effectively handed the keys of the treasury over to Halliburton and other war profiteers what is your big gripe about a single airline ticket? We are going bankrupt because some idiot thought it would be a good idea to try to conquer the world, not because Obama's grandmother is coming to the inauguration.

[postman606]

As you slowly melt into your bizzaro world of conspiracies bound tightly by hate and racism, remember you gave the signs and were warned to come into the light.

[JhNyc]

Complete drivel -- and very fitting adding a link with USA Today -- the newspaper for adults with attention spans of children.

[exPatPatti]

Go back into your cave and leave the rest of us alone.

[isee61]

judi4hope,

GirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrL, you got issues. put your money back in your pocket. Your tax dollars didn't pay for anything RE: Obama or his grandmother , the Kenyan government paid for her . You are still paying for Bush and will for years to come.

Get a life.

[strangerinthenight]

Diversity ! But what about the maternal side of the family. Those Irish relatives. I hope they are invited as well.

[Beca]

Yes, if you recall, the only living relative left on Obama's mother's side is his 90+ y/o granduncle. His mother's family was very small. Not sure if he was able to make it, due to his age and health, but I do know he did make it to the DNC when Obama was named Democratic Presidential Candidate.
By the way, the U.S. taxpayers did not pay a penny for the travels of Obama's Kenyan relatives, so those of you who are looking for something to bitch about, go look elsewhere, there is nothing to bitch about here.

[Ugonna]

I don't like her being called his "Kenyan Grandma". My grandma is my my grandma, no matter where she's from, thank you. She's his "grandma", and if ppl want to know which one, they can read the article. No more separations and divisions, just cause she's Kenyan does not mean she's "different".

[kerumbo]

Nothing wrong with Grandma bringing a spear, AND nothing wrong with HuffPost reporting it! For all you whiners who thought the incident should be suppressed and hushed-up: ex-cuuuuuse me...Is it FALSE or TRUE? And if true, what gives you the right to say journalists cannot report it?

Yeah, some people might make bad jokes about it, but so what. Facts are facts. We can all form our own opinions about what happened, without your ignorant screams for censorship, thank you.

[Damaven]

Love you Barack's Other Grandma! What's "other"? You are his grandma too!

[pokemon]

I am so glad I voted for Possibility and Change.

[FebM]

The history is going full circle and Obama is a reminder that AA history did not start with slavery. Their descendant were like all other people in the world, proud and upright in their heritage.
Thats the significance of this gracious grandma

[FdeBear]

After reading some of the posts on this thread, I am so happy that we have this opportunity to really educate Americans about the culture and peoples of Africa and particularly Kenya. The history of this vast continent - particularly any country south of the Sahara has been woefully neglected when histories of the world are written. Here is a land twice the size of the United States. It is generally portrayed as the "heart of darkness". a void. Those of us who have had the privilege of visiting there know that this is the cradle of mankind and are amazed by the vast array of cultures and expressions of civility. Welcome Sarah Obama! You are a refreshing change and representative of the vastness of our human family. What a proud moment for the world. I hope you enjoy your stay and be sure to buy a very warm coat.

[Faraja]

Baraka Obama victory makes me proud to be an African! It's nice to see an African man in the Oval Office. Karibu Bibi Sarah!

[ndnndpendent]

The wise Grandmother is bringing Obama's tribal heritage on the global center stage, thank you Sarah Obama. Maybe tribal people throughout the world will finally enjoy their rights under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. The U.S. currently has not ratified this universal declaration and it is only one of three nations not to do so.

Treat her right Mrs. Obama, I noticed none of his family seemed to be present on stage on Election night?

[Ugonna]

yeah, that made it kind of bittersweet for me. But at least he's close to his in-laws.

[mb32]

Mrs. O seems very gracious. She seemed very solicitous of Obama's WWII relative at the convention. Obama noted on election night that his family couldn't be there. His grandmother had just died so that prevented Maya from coming. I'm not sure why Auma wasn't there. I read somewhere that he is closest to them. They were there when he was sworn in as senator, as well as other Kenyan members of the Obama clan. A transcontinental family has to chose wisely which events they attend. If I could only attend one, I too would have picked the inauguration over election night.

[speeddeeps]

What about his irish family?

[thecanadian]

Obamas Irish connection will be in Inaug. parade. Excellent video & history
http://www.gigwise.com/news/48617/Barack-Obama-Picks-Irish-Band-To-Perform-OBama-Song-At-Inauguration

[ArmyCentrist]

He was raised by his White grandparents remember...

[Bernique]

This is so sweet. Welcome to our country, Sarah Obama! May you retain nothing but good memories of your visit.

[lisakaz2]

I didn't know he had any grandparents left. Nice he got one. Hope she has a great trip and someone helps them talk more this time.