msafi ri some of the things fi lling up Obama's in- tray. Expectations of Obama are sky high in America where voters expect Obama to deliver all those lofty election pledges which won him their support. Beyond America's borders, Obama's actions are also being closely scrutinised by a world which hopes Obama can restore America's tarnished stature. Africa hopes that an American administration led by a man who traces his roots to an African country will do more to help the continent. However, America's much lighter purse will be needed to bail itself out of the fi nancial mess and Obama will be too busy fi ghting his battles on home turf to solve Africa's problems. Some in Kenya understand this and say they have no expectations of an Obama presidency. " As a Kenyan I have no expectations of him. Barack Obama is an American and he is the president of the USA. Not of the world and defi nitely not of Kenya. I think its best that we go into this with an expectation of nothing," David Ndungu says. " People have this wrong notion that things will suddenly change simply because someone with Kenyan roots is now heading the US! He has defi nitely a lot more problems to deal with up there," he cautions. Obama has previously addressed these high expectations of him. During his last visit to Kenya in 2004, Obama was quick to point out that he was the Senator for Illinois, not the senator for Kogelo or Kenya. It is prudent for Africa to pry its eyes away from America's purse and instead focus on the lessons to be learnt from Obama's achievements and how these can be used to develop solutions for the continent's problems. The challenges America faces are largely similar to those that Africa grapples with. Most African economies are still propped up by donor aid. The crises in Congo, Somalia, Darfur and Zimbabwe are unresolved, and healthcare and education systems across the continent are a far cry from what they should be. African leaders should watch how President Obama handles those challenges and how his solutions can be implemented in the African context. " His victory and achievement should be a mirror for our leaders, to see that no longer can their backwardness in leadership be tolerated," Ghanaian writer, Nana Awere Damoah, says. Nigerian Blessing Obasohan echoes these sentiments. " I think African problems should be solved by Africans, and it doesn't matter how good Obama is, our leaders here have to co- operate with him to bring development for us." In the words of Barack Obama, " No change is simple. Change is hard." Obama's victory has certainly inspired millions to believe in the hope and to take control of their lives and governments, but in the end, as Americans revel in their moment of triumph, for many others it will be a long time coming. KJ, a young Kenyan yearning for change in his own country, sums it up: " Will this generation rise up to the challenge that Obama has put to us? Only time will tell." 60 Obama's leadership OBAMA'S VICTORY HAS CERTAINLY INSPIRED MILLIONS TO BELIEVE IN HOPE AND TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES AND GOVERNMENTS TOP: The smile after the nomination victory MIDDLE: Obama's step- grandmother Sarah Obama BOTTOM: Barack and Michelle Obama TOP: SIMON MAINA/ AFP/ GETTY; MIDDLE: PETER MACDLARMID/ GETTY; BOTTOM: JEWEL SAMAD/ AFP/ GETTY Obama special