NAIROBI: For reggae fans there is Makadem, for rock, Extra Golden. Folk lovers have Kenge Kenge while Tony Nyadundo offers a more traditional sound.

All have recently released songs in Kenya with a common word in the title – Obama – and a similar message.

“If you’re voting for real change, Barack Obama be the right man, whether you’re black or white, young or old, vote for Barack, Barack Obama,” sings Makadem, who launched the video for “Obama be thy name” at Nairobi’s National Theatre last week.

Obama-mania in Kenya is no surprise. The Democratic candidate’s late father was Kenyan, and many of his relatives, including his 87-year-old step-grandmother Mama Sarah, still live here. Neither is it a recent phenomenon; during his Obama’s trip to Kenya in 2006, thousands turned out to see him.—Dawn/Guardian News Service