Obamania. That’s what everyone here calls it—not sure if it’s called the same in America.

Last night Kris and I went to Comedy Nite at the National Theater and my oh my was the extent of “Obamania” evident. The opening act: “Is everybody finally getting over Obamania?” “No!” the audience of several hundred people shouted back excitedly. In fact, last night nearly every act (a series of silly skits, stand-up comedy, and political satire) at least had a mention of Obama. One of my favorites was a skit set on an airplane that was hijacked by terrorists. They are flying the plane towards an unnamed US skyscraper a-la-9-11. The terrorists turn on the radio to the news of: “This just in, in America, Obama has won the election for president of the United States of America.” The terrorists and passenger-hostages all broke into celebration as the terrorist in the pilot’s seat pulled a sharp U-turn away from the skyscraper. Obama’s president? Maybe we shouldn’t commit an act of terrorism on the US after all.

Kenneth, a popular stand-up comedian who is a friend of mine, pulled this line out during his act: “Do you know Barack Obama in full? Barack: Born African, Raised American, Complete Kenyan! Obama: Original Black African Managing America!” I’m not sure if he concocted that himself or if this is something that’s floating around East Africa. Either way, it was hilarious and the audience erupted with laughter.

I've been wearing my three various Obama t-shirts very proudly as often as possible. I've had everyone from the lady selling vegetables at the supermarket, to a guy filling up our car with gas offer to buy the shirt off my back! This weekend, I'm hoping to buy a locally produced Obama t-shirt that proudly proclaims, "Obama: Made in Africa".

This morning on BBC I was listening to an interview with some African Studies professor at Northwestern University who is creating an archive to document Africa’s response to Obama. The archives consist of t-shirts, tickets to “Obama: The Musical” (a production in Nairobi), posters, newspaper clippings, greeting cards, etc. I think it’s great that someone in academia is capturing this phenomenon of Obamania in Africa because it is like nothing else I have ever witnessed. I may not be an African Studies professor, but I will continue to document Uganda’s response to Obama on this blog.