Tanzania Loves Barack Obama

I was lucky enough to be in Tanzania for Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009. It was the night before we were to start the ‘Women and the Mountain’ Kilimanjaro climb of 2009 that raised money for the women’s centre. There was an all night party in Moshi that night with music and dancing and the inauguration events on the big screen. There is clear evidence that Kenya loves Barack as his father was Kenyan and they have named parks and streets after him in Nairobi…he is Africa’s son. The first black man to become president of the United States means a lot to everyday Africans.
I have clear evidence that Tanzania loves Barack because they have made Kangas (the colourful cloth that women wrap them selves in here for everyday wear) in his honour in an array of colours that say Swahili proverbs on them and statements like may God bless Barack Obama and congratulations Barack Obama. They have MANY hundreds of mini buses (a.k.a Dalla Dallas) with different versions of Barack’s face painted on them with a multitude of sayings and misspellings. I even saw one that was called the ‘kool Barack Obama bus’..very nice……
They also have gone a step further and created Barrack Obama chewing gum..strawberry flavoured and actually quite tasty according to Hannah. There are Barack Obama boxer short available in town and the piece de resistance….Barack Obama Hair Cutting Saloon (they call them saloons here, not salons)..see attached pictures of said items and imagine the other possibilities that may be coming down the line…