Little Known Facts about Barack Obama’s grandmother, Sarah Obama

Mama Sarah Onyango Obama was the third wife of Barack Obama’s paternal grandfather and was not real grandmother of the former US President. Sarah only spoke her native dholuo language and used to communicate with Barack through an interpreter.

She came into limelight in 2008, when Barack Obama was elected as the 44th US President. Mama Sarah was a staunch Muslim adherent and defended his step grandson during the US presidential campaign when there were attempts to portray Barack Obama as a Muslim and foreigner.

Mama Sarah was among the attendants who graced the United States Independence Day in Nairobi on July 4 2008 after she was invited by the then US ambassador in Kenya Michael Ranneberger.

On November 19 2014, Mama Sarah was acclaimed by the United Nations for the role she played as head of the education foundation. She received the Pioneer Award during the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day.

Mama Sarah Obama was born around 1921 and died on March 29, 2021 at the age of about 99 years. According to family, she died at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Hospital in Kisumu after battling with diabetes and old age.

Mama Sarah Obama will be remembered as a loving woman who welcomed many visitors at her Kogello home, even when fame and fortune came in quick succession.

My family and I are mourning the loss of our beloved grandmother, Sarah Ogwel Onyango Obama, affectionately known to many as “Mama Sarah” but known to us as “Dani” or Granny. We will miss her dearly, but we’ll celebrate with gratitude her long and remarkable life. pic.twitter.com/avDY4f1PVu
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 29, 2021

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