The change begins with us

South African diva Yvonne Chaka Chaka.

Buzz: What does Obama’s presidency generally mean to you?

Yvonne: It’s ecstatic and every African is proud. America rules the world, and to have an African-American, with an African root in the White House, is just wow. It can never get better.

How is the reaction back in South Africa?

Every African, wherever they are, is proud that Obama is now on top of the game. South Africans have been following the process very carefully, and I was told they were all glued to their TVs to watch the inauguration ceremony, the biggest ever in the world.

Does his inauguration remind you of the time Nelson Mandela came into power?

Mandela’s inauguration was major, and I thought that the next big thing to ever happen will be his funeral. I don’t want to think or talk about it, but I know that moment will come. Only God knows when. Obama’s was definitely bigger because it affected the world’s super power country.  

What are the parallels between Mandela’s and Obama’s inauguration?

Both brought the unity, especially between the black and the white people. South Africa was just recovering from apartheid and the racism in America has been unthinkable.

People came from different parts of the world when Mandela was being inaugurated, and I happened to have sat just three rows behind him. Obama speaks with this voice that commands silence and you can hear a pin drop. When Mandela gets into a room and stands on the podium, everybody wants to listen.  I must say, we Africans are exceptional.

 Will this change your music in any way?

I may do a song or not, I don’t get carried away or take advantage of the situation, and that’s just me. I could have gone to the studio immediately and recoded an Obama song, but I didn’t. Obama is now the president, he might not save the world but I’m sure he will have a major impact.

The big question is, how can we help in making the world better for every musician, farmer, doctor, or even journalists? Before doing any song, I would look at that direction first and make music that will change the world.  

 Tell me about your projects here in Kenya.

I was approached by Vestregaard Frandsen, a company that has built a hospital in Western Kenya, last September. They asked me if I wanted to be part of the project, and since am the Unicef goodwill ambassador and the president of the Princess of Africa which deals with malaria in women, I decided to join in.

The project has helped so much in even helping the community know their HIV status, before it’s too late.

How has been the experience, especially travelling to Kakamega?

It has been exciting, but challenging at the same time. It’s my second time there and a proud to see what is happening, especially the lives that have been changed within a short period of time.

It’s an honour for me working with everyone in the field, the way we have learnt how to deal with challenges in the process and all that.  I first shed tears when I saw how dedicated everyone has been.

 What do you think we should all do as Africans, now that Obama is in power?

We should all be part of the change and not wait for Obama to do everything for us. There is a lot here in Africa that we can do to make life better and that is what every African should focus on.

You as a Kenyan, can reach out to the marginalised people, and make their lives better, in whatever way we can. Let us all use our abilities, and once we start, then change in the world will be achieved.