Obama Village

Kenya, District of Siaya, Village Nyangoma-Kogelo, A scene from the crowded market that takes place every Monday and Friday in the heart of the village.
Kogelo is the place where Obama has familial roots, and one that helped launch his swift political ascent — he wrote about Kogelo and his father in his book, "Dreams from my Father."
wrote about Kogelo and his father in his book, "Dreams from my Father."
Prior to the 2008 US presidential election, the village had no electricity but was connected to the national grid immediately following Obama's victory, owing to the consequent rise in interest in the village.
The village also saw its first Kenya Police post set up in the wake of the election outcome.

A portrait of Mama Sarah, President Barack Obama's grandmother. The elderly lady here poses proudly showing the photo of her with her famous grandson. This first meeting of theirs took place in 1983.

Inside Mama Sara's home. The living room walls are full of family pictures and portraits of her President grandson.

The entrance to the Senator Obama Kogelo School. About 80 students from the district villages attend the institute.

Village Nyangoma-Kogelo, Kevin Otieno Ouma, age 16, student:
"I attended this school because my parents are great fans of the Senator. They made a good choice. When I will grow up I will be a successful lawyer like Obama".

Inside Mama Sara's home. The living room walls are full of family pictures and portraits of her Senator grandson.

Nelson Ocinge working in the fields. A farmer by day and a social worker by night. Nelson, Mama Sara's nephew, is one of the village's most important personalities.

Joachim Odonja Jakogelo, roughly 80 years old, grower and bricklayer:
"I heard that Obama's son intends to become president of the United States. Good. I need money and food. I don't need much: fish, meat, and some sweets to accompany my breakfast tea".

Kenya, District of Siaya, On the road to Kisumu, the third largest city in Kenya, about sixty kilometers from Kogelo. A small truck carries a load of Senator beer, which Kenyans renamed Obama's beer.

Nyangoma-Kogelo, One of the small stores in the village.

Village Nyangoma-Kogelo, Portrait of a believer of the Legion of Mary religious movement. She's going to the Sunday meeting.

Claude and Collin, two of the village's children, often come and play in the Kogelo hospitals abandoned rooms.

A little mosque. A majority of Christian believers, Catholics and Evangelists, and a small Muslim community coexist peacefully in the village.

A villager, Patricia Wangoyi, age 67, with her grandaughter Cyprose, age 7. Both belong to the Legion of Mary religious movement and are going to the Sunday meeting.

Kevin Omolo, age 10, lives in a hut with his sick grandma. Kevin is an orphan of both parents, who died from Aids. The disease is a tremendous problem in the Siaya district. Until a few years ago the rate of positivity was over 30%.