Obama talks about Mandela's vision

Durban – Former US President Barack Obama visited his father's ancestral village in southwestern Siaya County, Kenya on Monday and danced with traditional music with his grandmother during his first trip to the country.

Obama's visit to Kenya took place before he today announces Nelson Mandela's 16th annual conference at Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mandela.

Kenyan television showed yesterday that the former American leader was pulling the old Sarah Obama, dressed in traditional costumes, into the dance floor and playing music.

Obama then launched a new youth center. – Sister Auma Obama, who studied in Germany

"It's good to be back with so many people who are my family – and so many people who claim to be my family, everyone is a cousin "joked Obama by inaugurating the center. He remembered meeting his half-sister on his first visit to Kenya when he was 27 years old.

"I could not be more proud of what my sister accomplished," he said.

"Today, I really come as a brother as someone who has a connection to Africa, to talk about the importance of what it's all about. fact."

Obama should not mention his successor, President Donald Trump, said Ben Rhodes, Obama's longtime aide and advisor

Respect

"We are at this moment values ​​that we believed well established – the importance of human rights, respect for diversity – in many parts of the world, these values ​​are under threat, "said Rhodes.

" Mandela's life is an inspiring example of how we can overcome obstacles to promote
By delivering the annual Nelson Mandela Lecture to thousands of South Africans, Obama should highlight how Mandela continued his campaign against what appeared to be an insurmountable chance to end apartheid. [

19659002] "In the United States and around the world, many are seeing recent developments that go against Mandela's legacy," Rhodes said. "It will be a global discourse, highlighting global trends and focusing on how Mandela embodied perseverance in his life, and will target young people in Africa and around the world to show that we have gone through Dark times before and that we can overcome these challenges to keep Mandela's vision alive. "

Instead of commenting on politics, Obama's speech S & # 39; support broader themes and his admiration for Mandela, whom the first black president of America saw as a mentor.

When Obama was an American senator, he had his picture taken with the newly released Mandela. After Obama became president, he sent a copy of the photo to Mandela, who kept him in his office.

Obama also wanted to visit Mandela's cell and gave a moving eulogy to Mandela's memorial service in 2013, claiming that the life of the South African leader had inspired him.

"Mandela was a hero, an example of someone who overcame adversity to achieve a significant change," said Rhodes.

"The opportunity to speak at the commemoration the 100th anniversary of Mandela's birth is very significant. "

Obama will also highlight one goal of his post-presidency, promoting young people as future leaders, Rhodes said.

Visit to South Africa will launch the leadership program of its foundation in Africa – dpa and AP / African Press Agency (ANA)

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