Voices from Africa on Obama's victory (6 November 2008)
"The Obama victory, after a hard fought two year campaign is sweet enough, but there is no indication of triumphalism in Obama's camp. The road ahead is full of hurdles and the tasks on hand are enormously huge. No one knows these better than Obama, and his entry to the halls of power in Washington is measured and sober.
For me personally, there are three priorities among the many issues and promises that the Obama administration has to tackle. In a sense the yardstick by which we can measure progress towards real Change is the movement to end the war in Iraq, the closure of the anomaly called, Guantanamo and the process of continuing to engage the whole new crop of young voters in the political process.
Obama has taken on the presidency at a time when America is most challenged, but he is the man of the hour, and I believe he is up to the tasks ahead."
Kassahun Checole, Director Africa World Press
How fortunate we are to see Mandela free
and Obama take the lead
So marvellous, our times, to be heralding hope
against all the no no and nopes.
Today i know for sure
change there will be for more
And while we misery endure
this is not the time to be demure
sing, laugh, giggle
even make a wiggle
Obama, Madiba and all who are next
I have no doubt that we are very blessed
Isabella Matambanadzo, Zimbabwean activist, Oxford, 5 November 2008
"My wish and dream is that we have someone like Barack in Eritrea one day. A President who gives hope to the youth instead of chasing them out of their own country."
An Eritrean activist with US citizenship
"We hope and pray that our beloved homeland, Eritrea, will also have the opportunity to vote. But we have to fight the good fight! As Barack kept saying, parapharising Frederick Douglas, "power gives nothing without a demand"
An Eritrean activist with US citizenship
