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ArchivesRe: Obama
in reply to a message by Paul
I think it's a bit misleading to assume that the President's great-grandfather (whose given name became the family surname) had a big "physical defect."
The custom among the Luo was to give a name which referred to circumstances related to the birth itself. The "slightly crooked" meaning most likely referred to one of the baby's arms or legs looking a little bent just after birth, OR it could have been a reference to a breech birth. It doesn't necessarily mean that the original Obama had a life long obvious handicap.
P.S. And Obama is in the surname list on this site.
The custom among the Luo was to give a name which referred to circumstances related to the birth itself. The "slightly crooked" meaning most likely referred to one of the baby's arms or legs looking a little bent just after birth, OR it could have been a reference to a breech birth. It doesn't necessarily mean that the original Obama had a life long obvious handicap.
P.S. And Obama is in the surname list on this site.
This message was edited 2/3/2009, 1:33 PM
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