A Sudanese barber has named his shop Barack Obama, an Indonesian lookalike has cashed in and thousands have invaded a tiny Kenyan village as Obamamania peaks worldwide following Tuesday’s inauguration.
A top astrologer in Burma predicted that Obama would win a second term in office and escape attempts to harm him — while a UK artist made a sculpture of the new US President and his family, which fits inside the eye of a needle.
Willard Wigan, a black artist from Birmingham, central England, said he “wanted to create the smallest biggest tribute to this huge occasion”.
In Khartoum Muntasser Jacob hung a giant Obama portrait with the name of the first black president in US history emblazoned in Arabic outside his shop, offering haircuts and shaves in north Khartoum’s central market.
“I opened the shop just before the US presidential election in November but I waited for Obama’s victory before naming it after the [then] president-elect,” he said.
“If the Republican John McCain had won the election I would not have named my shop after him,” Jacob said.
Obama has spelt a windfall for Indonesian Ilham Anas, whose toothy grin, giant ears and close-cropped hair has meant instant fame … and cash.
The rangy 34-year-old from West Java is a celebrity in Obama’s former hometown of Jakarta and his fame looks set to reach new heights abroad.
“I will take all the opportunities that come my way, as long as they don’t violate ethical codes and my personal values,” Anas said.
A Filipino drug company has cast Anas in a commercial showing him dressed as Obama visiting the Philippines, and he has also received marketing offers from Indonesian and South Korean companies.
Prior to the inauguration Irish bookie Paddy Power offered odds on phrases that may be used by Obama in his speech. Punters could also place bets on the duration of his speech, the TV ratings and what “cliché” he would mention first.
The best odds on offer for the content of his speech were 8-1 for “Change has come”, 10-1 for “Yes We Can”, and 12-1 for “Fundamental belief”, “As I stand here today”, “Defining moment” and “God Bless America”.
Written in the stars
“Obama will definitely get re-elected. Leos are born to lead others. His card shows the emperor sign,” said San-Zarni Bo, 53, who gives daily predictions on a Burma FM radio station.
But he warned that, according to his reading of the stars, there would be “certain assassination attempts” in 2009, 2010 and 2013 but that they would fail because of his birth date and horoscope.
“I can basically say all attempts will fail and be unsuccessful. But how can we say definitely without reading his palm?”
Obamamania was rife on Tuesday in an obscure Kenyan village where some 3Â 000 foreigners and domestic visitors gathered in the birthplace of the new president’s father to watch the inauguration.
“The atmosphere is so colourful, it’s like Christmas has come to Kogelo a second time,” said Joseph Oluoko, who works in the village.
“It’s already thanks to him we have electricity and water,” added 20-year-old Faith Achieng.
The grounds of Kogelo’s school were thronged by Kenyans who took a day off work and donned their best to come from around the Lake Victoria region to watch their hero be sworn in on a giant screen.
Revellers engaged in traditional dances from Obama’s Luo tribe as others waved US flags, with tourists changing their safari plans to be in Kogelo.
Obama’s step grandmother, Sarah, and most of the new US president’s other close relatives still living in the village were in Washington DC for the inauguration. — AFP