Obamania spurs African Media Coverage of US Politics - PART 5 OF 5 | Voice of America - English
The U.S. bureau chief for the South African Broadcasting Corporation, Manelisi Dubase, says this week?s Democratic Party convention in Denver has stirred ?tremendous and unprecedented? interest in American politics in Africa. The SABC is Africa?s largest broadcaster, beaming radio and television programs across the continent. Dubase says Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, whose father was Kenyan, is increasingly seen as ?Africa?s savior? by a significant number of Africans.
The veteran journalistdoesn?t beat about the bush when explaining why he?s covering ?every second? ofthis week?s Democratic convention in Denver and why he?ll be doing the same atnext week?s Republican gathering in Minneapolis. ?The Obama factor!? heexclaims, without hesitation. Dubase also readilyacknowledges that his presence at the Republican event will be based largely onperceptions in Africa that McCain is ?standing in the way of a black manbecoming the leader of the greatest nation on earth.? The reporter says theunwavering interest in Obama in Africa should be viewed within the context ofwhat he brands ?global black solidarity.? ?Some will differ with me,especially black conservatives in the U.S., but I think most black people,especially in Africa, see in him a possible leader of all blacks in the world.Therefore, if Obama is elected American president, they will regard as him asnot only the leader of America, but as their leader, as their champion, aswell.? According to Dubase, the rise of Obamaisn?t the first time that black people around the world have united behindsomeone, based upon a mixture of skin color, statesmanship and charisma. ?If you talk about (slain American civilrights leader) Martin Luther King. Junior, every black person, from New Orleansto Soweto, they all feel that they own part of him. If you talk about NelsonMandela, they all feel that they own part of him.? Dubase says such strongfeelings transcend politics and cross over into other social realms, likesports. He points to Tiger Woods, the U.S. and the world?s first champion blackgolfer. ?Black people around the world feel pride because of him,even though many have never even seen a golf course in their lives. When he wonhis first prestigious golf tournament, everybody was ululating in Africa. He ispart of Africa.? Sometimes, adds Dubase, the ?global black solidarity?phenomenon takes on a ?more sinister? tinge. ?When (former U.S. sports star) O.J. Simpson was accused ofmurdering his wife, blacks around the world were in solidarity with O.J.Simpson,? he comments. But Dubase says Africa?s ?spotlight? on Obama and theDemocratic Party convention should also be seen in a historical context. ?It?s an historic event; even Americans themselves say soall the time. It will be the first time in the history of this country that anAfrican American (could) become the president of America. It?s an unbelievablepoint in American and world history, given America?s racist past ? and present,to some degree.? Dubase says Africans expect a ?hell of a lot ? perhaps toomuch? from Obama. Firstly, he says, they expect the Democrat to easily triumphover McCain in the November election?and the journalist himself is convincedthis won?t be the case. ?Unlike many Africans, I don?t think an Obama victory is aforegone conclusion,? Dubase says. He says many Africans he?s spoken too during his fieldworkon the continent have expressed the certainty that American policy towardsAfrica will ?drastically change? in the event of an Obama presidency. Again,Dubase doubts whether this?ll happen. But, he does acknowledge that it?s ?kindof realistic? to hope that if Obama indeed occupies the Oval Office,Washington?s decisions that affect the lives of Africans will be more ?sober.?For example, Dubase hopes that Obama gets the opportunity to institute reformsthat will open up U.S. markets to African agricultural produce, therebygenerating income for the continent?s struggling farmers. Dubase also acknowledges that Obama?s ?rock star status? inAfrica is partly due to a dearth of quality statesmanship and poor politicalleadership in Africa itself. The journalist explains, ?If (Zimbabwean President Robert)Mugabe steals the elections and goes about as the legitimate president ofZimbabwe, and the African Union, in effect, legitimizes that theft, that fraud,and if you have the Darfur issue, which is unresolved, and the conflict inSomalia?because there?s no (African) leadership and there?s nowillingness?(Africans) become so desperate that they look anywhere forleadership and perhaps Obama might have (emerged at) the right time, whenAfricans are desperately looking for leadership.? Dubase says Africans increasingly see in Obama a ?blackAmerican president who will understand what sort of impact conflict (has) inAfrica, while our own leaders are so comfortable in their palaces, not knowingwhat?s going on just across the street from where they are staying.? This, he says, is despite the fact that Obama, just likeMcCain, has said ?precious little? about Africa and its problems leading up tothe conventions and the election. Dubase says at this point in time, Africa?s obsession withObama is based mostly upon the fact that the candidate is black and is aninspiring orator. ?People might really want Obama to be president just becauseObama is black, without even knowing what Obama stands for. If you go to thestreets of Africa, and ask individuals: ?Do you know Barack Obama? Who is he(They will say) ?Yah! He?s this guy, this black guy who?s standing for thepresidency in America.? (And you ask) ?Do you like him (And they will say)?Of course!? (And then you ask) ?What does he stand for And they will replywith silence!? Dubase says during all theinterviews he?s done about Obama in Africa, only a few people were able torecall specific policies that the candidate is standing for. ?Others, (they just wantObama to win) because he?s black; (they say) our black boy is going to be thepresident of America; that?s it!? Dubase says Africans are paying scant attention to McCain,other than to his status as Obama?s opponent. ?They know that he exists, but they are just sick and tiredof George W. Bush, and?. in Africa, they see John McCain as George Bush?s thirdterm.? Dubase says Africanopposition to Washington?s war in Iraq ?runs deep,? as do ?bad feelings?towards the U.S. because of its attempts to establish the AFRICOM militarycommand on the continent and its ?unfair? trade policies pertaining to Africa. He concedes, though, thatMr. Bush?s administration has received wide praise in Africa for thePresident?s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Under PEPFAR, the U.S. has providedlife-prolonging medication to 1.5 million people worldwide, most of them insub-Saharan Africa. PEPFAR has also supported HIV testing and counseling formore than 33 million people and care for more than 6.6 million people,including about 2.7 million orphans and other children infected and affected byHIV. Dubase says some media outlets in Africa are already rifewith speculation that ?America isn?t ready to be led by a black person? and areanticipating a ?backlash? against Obama based on race. ?In a country such as South Africa, I can assure you thatyou (will) hear that, because we still come fresh from that history of racism?.Certainly in South Africa you are going to hear that, and in southern Africa,like in Namibia and Zimbabwe. I doubt in other countries that it will be themain theme (if Obama loses). But of course, when these noises come from(southern Africa), you might have the whole of Africa coming to thatconclusion, that this is all racism.? Dubase says if Obama is indeed victorious, it?ll be ?almostimpossible? for him to live up to Africa?s expectations. ?The love affair may very well come to a traumatic end!? helaughs. But at the moment, saysDubase, the euphoria in Africa surrounding Barack Obama and the correspondingvilification of John McCain, is growing as the November election approaches. ?Black people, especiallyyoung Africans, see in Obama someone who belongs to their generation. Someonewho is of them, and for them.?