Staff Blog
President-elect Obama’s family feasts in Kenya
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| Abongo Malik Obama & Rob Crilly |
| Times Online |
Reporter Rob Crilly for the UK news source Times Online traveled to Kogelo, Kenya to join President-elect Barack Obama’s family for an election eve feast. In proper guest form, Crilly brings a contribution to the meal.
There’s only one thing to take to a Kenyan election victory feast: a goat. Preferably still breathing — “a sign of freshness” — and with big testicles, apparently the sign of quality breeding.
“This is a fine animal,” said Abongo Malik Obama, at the lush family homestead in the far west of Kenya, surrounded by grazing cattle and fields thick with maize. “You are certainly welcome now to stay and sit around the fire tonight.” By then John [Ed: John is the goat] will be nyama choma — the Swahili term for grilled meat.
Everyone in Kolego had been invited to stop by the Obamas for an open house, to join in the meal of bulls, goats, sheep and chickens. Traditional nyama choma is meat grilled or roasted, and is a very popular dish among East Africans, according to The Congo Cookbook. The most famous restaurant in Kenya is The Carnivore, serving “every type of meat imaginable” grilled over charcoal. As the Obamas break bread (and goat) together, the celebration of their “lost son’s” victory continues all over Kenya.
Kiprotich arap Kirongo, from Nairobi, commented on the article, which described American flags waving from trees and taxis in Kogelo.
Obama has not only changed America, he has changed his father’s land in Kenya and the world at large. Here in Kenya, it’s all Obama..the streets of Nairobi is awash with people in a carnival mood all adorning Obama regalia and the US flag.
I know he is very American but who cares..Obama is our son
Goat is eaten all over the world, from East Africa to Thailand. Here in Philadelphia, goat has been increasing in popularity among chefs bored with more familiar proteins. A May 2007 New York Times article deemed goat “the new duck” in an article about Philadelphia chef Marc Vetri. Meal Ticket/CP food editor Drew Lazor prefers the goat at Cantina Los Caballitos, a reliably moist heap of shredded, roasted goat meat strongly seasoned with whole cloves of garlic.
The President-elect himself has not expressed a goat preference. He’s been photographed on the campaign trail eating apples of his own will; beer and chicken wings only to be polite. Naturally, most Philadelphians lean tothe left, toward the wings … but there’s always time to expand your worldview through a few goat tacos at El Zarape.
