The African Obama

The daily Libération writes that US President Barack Obama is taking a very clever approach to his origins: "In Chicago Obama can say he comes from the Midwest. In Accra he can talk as an African. In Cairo he displayed a genuine connection to the Muslim world in which he grew up. Had it been anyone else these multiple identities would have become synonymous with conflict and resentment. But Barack Obama is relaxed about all his different facets. He doesn't reject any of them. He accepts this harmonious and complex mixture. This is probably why young Africans see him as 'one of them'. Obama's popularity on his father's continent is moving and profound. It is also positive. It's no coincidence that Obama chose Ghana as his first destination, wanting to return to his roots. As the first African country to free itself from colonisation Ghana is an African and democratic state." 

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