Dear Compatriots,

I like to think that America elected our cousin Barack Obama because my FRONTLINE/World documentary “Kenya: Sweet Home, Obama”went online the last weekend before election day.

I’m willing to bet that what swayed the vote was the man dancing in Kisumu while chanting, “We are going to trounce – completely – McCain!” (some argue it was the scene of me, a grown African man, crying).

Repeated efforts to make my case to obama’s transition team and possibly get the white house press secretary job got nowhere. Like all my relatives do when they get successful, obama abandoned me. I think it was because – like all relatives – I used to tell him that he’d never amount to [expletive].

But luckily for me, the Academy at the Webby Awards – the Internet’s equivalent of the Oscars – has nominated my story for best documentary: individual episode. The academy picks the winner, but there is thing called people’s voice award. That is where you, watoto wa Nyayo, come in.

Please welcome to the webby awards and vote for me. All you need is an e-mail address to register.

Log in, click on the “Online Film & Video” button, select the “Documentary: Individual Episode” category and vote for “Kenya: Sweet Home Obama.” I’m appealing to you because i don’t know any African Big Man to help me rig this election. I’m just a little guy from a small village in Gusii, who was never supposed to amount to anything. My sense of humor and storytellingtalent – which come out clearly in the documentary — and of course you, my friends, are all I’ve got.

Just like you did for our cousin Obama, please go out there for me. Actually, I take that back; do not leave your desk before voting from me.

Please invite all your relatives and friends on Facebook, phonebook, Myspace, and even Space, if you have any up there. Ask them to vote for a real son of Kenya this time.

We are up against very big boys and girls but with your help the world will know that we Africans are capable of telling our own stories.

If you are on Facebook, please look me up and join my group “Kenya: Sweet Home, Obama” to be counted.

Asante sana,

—
Edwin O. Okong’o,
MJ, UC Berkeley
Journalist, memoirist, humorist
www.okongospolicy.com
With the fearful strain that is on me night and day, if I did not laugh I should die –Abraham Lincoln

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Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:13:28 -0700 [04/24/2009 04:13:28 PM CDT]
From: Edwin Okong’o
Subject: My Film “Kenya: Sweet Home, Obama” Nominated for Webby Award