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| Babies named after Barack Obama | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| By Sue Mitchell Producer, Obama's Babies | By Sue Mitchell Producer, Obama's Babies |
| Three babies named after Barack Obama, from the UK, Kenya and the US | |
| It is hard to imagine a more personal endorsement of a politician than to give your baby his name - after all, a vote takes a moment, a name is for life. | It is hard to imagine a more personal endorsement of a politician than to give your baby his name - after all, a vote takes a moment, a name is for life. |
| But there is a tradition of Americans reacting to their presidents in this way. The name Franklin reached its peak of popularity in 1933, when Roosevelt's tenure was beginning. | But there is a tradition of Americans reacting to their presidents in this way. The name Franklin reached its peak of popularity in 1933, when Roosevelt's tenure was beginning. |
| Dwight jumped in favour in both 1945 and 1953 when Eisenhower helped win World War II, and then became president. | Dwight jumped in favour in both 1945 and 1953 when Eisenhower helped win World War II, and then became president. |
| But the worldwide fascination with Obama - who became the first black US president exactly one year ago - was startling. Here is the story of how babies from three different countries - Kenya, the UK and the US - came to be named after Barack Obama. | |
| KOGELO, KENYA | KOGELO, KENYA |
| The Obama campaign was closely followed in Kenya, particularly in the Nyanza province of south-west Kenya, where Obama's father was born and raised. | The Obama campaign was closely followed in Kenya, particularly in the Nyanza province of south-west Kenya, where Obama's father was born and raised. |
| Evelyne Achieng Oduor, a businesswoman living close to the president's ancestral home in Kogelo, was pregnant with her fourth child as she sat glued to coverage of the Obama campaign. | Evelyne Achieng Oduor, a businesswoman living close to the president's ancestral home in Kogelo, was pregnant with her fourth child as she sat glued to coverage of the Obama campaign. |
| "Our son was born on the same day as the election and we decided to call him Barack Obama, so that as a child maybe he can cut the character of the one we called him after. | "Our son was born on the same day as the election and we decided to call him Barack Obama, so that as a child maybe he can cut the character of the one we called him after. |
| Evelyn Obour with baby son, Barack Obama Obour | |
| "We wanted to remember that day and to remember the first black African to be a US president," she said. | "We wanted to remember that day and to remember the first black African to be a US president," she said. |
| She seems to hope that some of the Obama family magic will rub off on a child who shares the name not just of the president, but of his wife and daughters too. | She seems to hope that some of the Obama family magic will rub off on a child who shares the name not just of the president, but of his wife and daughters too. |
| As Evelyne gazes at her youngest son she is clearly looking for portents of the future. | As Evelyne gazes at her youngest son she is clearly looking for portents of the future. |
| "He repeats what you are saying in gestures. So other people do say that he really behaves like the one whom we named him after. | "He repeats what you are saying in gestures. So other people do say that he really behaves like the one whom we named him after. |
| "The name Barack Obama is being taken seriously in my area. There are some schools called Barack Obama - both primary and secondary. | "The name Barack Obama is being taken seriously in my area. There are some schools called Barack Obama - both primary and secondary. |
| "The people like President Obama, his speeches and the way he's communicating," she said. | "The people like President Obama, his speeches and the way he's communicating," she said. |
| In Swahili the name Barack Obama means "blessed one" and has inspired many mothers when it comes to choosing a name for their baby. | |
| Of the 15 babies born on election night in the New Nyanza Provincial Hospital in Kisumu, five boys were named Barack Obama and three girls were called Michelle. | Of the 15 babies born on election night in the New Nyanza Provincial Hospital in Kisumu, five boys were named Barack Obama and three girls were called Michelle. |
| NEWCASTLE, UK | NEWCASTLE, UK |
| In the city of Newcastle in north-east England, expectant parents Amit and Emer Chatterjee were also swept along in the enthusiasm. | In the city of Newcastle in north-east England, expectant parents Amit and Emer Chatterjee were also swept along in the enthusiasm. |
| I haven't heard him talk a lot on particular race issues, but people around him are talking about race issues so in a way just his very being has brought it to the fore Emer Chatterjee | I haven't heard him talk a lot on particular race issues, but people around him are talking about race issues so in a way just his very being has brought it to the fore Emer Chatterjee |
| Amit's parents were originally from Calcutta and he was brought up in Lancashire during the 1970s, which was, at that time, less than welcoming to Asian immigrants. | Amit's parents were originally from Calcutta and he was brought up in Lancashire during the 1970s, which was, at that time, less than welcoming to Asian immigrants. |
| Emer was raised in County Monaghan in Ireland, where religious rather than racial tensions dominated the atmosphere. | Emer was raised in County Monaghan in Ireland, where religious rather than racial tensions dominated the atmosphere. |
| Barack Obama seemed to offer a vision of harmony absent from their youths. They called their son Art Barack Chatterjee. | |
| "We did feel that it was a kind of historic turning point... who knows what will happen in the future but we definitely felt at that time that there was something very big happening. | "We did feel that it was a kind of historic turning point... who knows what will happen in the future but we definitely felt at that time that there was something very big happening. |
| "He came across as a very inspirational and charismatic figure. | "He came across as a very inspirational and charismatic figure. |
| "His racial background was important as well to us," Amit said. | "His racial background was important as well to us," Amit said. |
| Baby Art Barack Chatterjee | |
| "I haven't heard him talk a lot on particular race issues, but people around him are talking about race issues so in a way just his very being has brought it to the fore and people can see what he's achieved," Emer said. | "I haven't heard him talk a lot on particular race issues, but people around him are talking about race issues so in a way just his very being has brought it to the fore and people can see what he's achieved," Emer said. |
| As a GP Amit is pleased with the progress in health reform Obama has made. | As a GP Amit is pleased with the progress in health reform Obama has made. |
| "In Britain most people think the NHS is a good thing - and the fact that in the richest country in the world some people don't get healthcare because they can't afford it is inconceivable. | "In Britain most people think the NHS is a good thing - and the fact that in the richest country in the world some people don't get healthcare because they can't afford it is inconceivable. |
| "So the fact that he's managed to face down the opposition and get something through is again an historic achievement," he said. | "So the fact that he's managed to face down the opposition and get something through is again an historic achievement," he said. |
| WASHINGTON DC, US | WASHINGTON DC, US |
| Isha says she is now known locally as "Obama Momma" | |
| In Washington DC, 35-year-old Isha Kallay proudly shows customers in her hair braiding salon the latest addition to her family - Obama Alhaji Kabinech Kabba. | In Washington DC, 35-year-old Isha Kallay proudly shows customers in her hair braiding salon the latest addition to her family - Obama Alhaji Kabinech Kabba. |
| The name came to her during the Democratic primary campaign when she dreamt that Barack Obama was stood atop a hill giving a speech to a multitude. The light of the moon and the stars shone upon him. | The name came to her during the Democratic primary campaign when she dreamt that Barack Obama was stood atop a hill giving a speech to a multitude. The light of the moon and the stars shone upon him. |
| "When I turned around, Hillary Clinton was down the hill. She was trying to climb the hill and she couldn't make it. | |
| "I knew Hillary Clinton wouldn't make it and I decided on that day that Obama would be the winner and I decided to call my baby Obama whether a boy or a girl." | |
| By naming him after the president I hope it shapes his destiny - I want him to achieve in his life Isha Kallay | By naming him after the president I hope it shapes his destiny - I want him to achieve in his life Isha Kallay |
| Her son, born on 3 May 2008, is thought to be the first baby to be named after Obama in the US. | Her son, born on 3 May 2008, is thought to be the first baby to be named after Obama in the US. |
| Isha became well-known locally, when Barack Obama won the election. | Isha became well-known locally, when Barack Obama won the election. |
| "People don't even know my name in my area anymore. People just call me Obama Momma," Isha said. | "People don't even know my name in my area anymore. People just call me Obama Momma," Isha said. |
| Originally from Sierra Leone, she arrived in the US 14 years ago, after winning an immigration lottery. | Originally from Sierra Leone, she arrived in the US 14 years ago, after winning an immigration lottery. |
| She and her husband have recently felt the effect of the economic slowdow. The house they bought was in danger of being repossessed but an Obama initiative has brought a halt to the legal proceedings. | She and her husband have recently felt the effect of the economic slowdow. The house they bought was in danger of being repossessed but an Obama initiative has brought a halt to the legal proceedings. |
| She dreams that her son will receive the education she longs for. | She dreams that her son will receive the education she longs for. |
| "By naming him after the president I hope it shapes his destiny. I want him to achieve in his life. | "By naming him after the president I hope it shapes his destiny. I want him to achieve in his life. |
| "The president shows that there is nothing standing in the way of success - it's possible to go as far as your dreams will take you." | "The president shows that there is nothing standing in the way of success - it's possible to go as far as your dreams will take you." |
| Obama's Babies will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Monday 18 January at 1100 GMT. | Obama's Babies will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Monday 18 January at 1100 GMT. |
| Or catch-up afterwards on BBC iPlayer (UK only). | Or catch-up afterwards on BBC iPlayer (UK only). |