Sarah Onyango Obama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sarah Onyango Obama
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Obama in 2014
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| Born |
Sarah Okech
1921/1922 Kenya Colony
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| Died | March 29, 2021 (aged 98–99) Kisumu, Kenya
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| Known for | Mama Sarah Obama Foundation; U.S. President Barack Obama's step-grandmother |
| Spouse(s) |
Hussein Onyango Obama
(m. 1941; died 1979) |
| Children | 4; including Zeituni Onyango |
Sarah Onyango Obama (born in 1922 – died March 29, 2021) was an amazing Kenyan woman. She was an educator and a philanthropist. A philanthropist is someone who helps others, often by giving money or time.
Sarah was the third wife of Hussein Onyango Obama. He was the grandfather of Barack Obama, who later became the President of the United States. Sarah helped raise Barack Obama's father, Barack Obama Sr.. People often called her "Mama Sarah" or "Granny Sarah." She lived in a village called Nyang'oma Kogelo in Kenya. This village is near Kisumu, a main city, and Lake Victoria.
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Mama Sarah's Life and Family Connections
Early Life and Education Support
When Sarah Obama was younger, she helped raise her stepson, Barack Obama Sr. She truly believed that getting a good education early in life was very important. She would often take him to primary school on her bicycle. She wanted to make sure he received the education that she herself had not been able to get.
Meeting Her Grandson, Barack Obama
Sarah first met her step-grandson, Barack Obama II, in 1988. He later became the President of the United States. Even though they were not blood relatives, Barack Obama lovingly called her "Granny Sarah."
He even wrote about her in his book, Dreams from My Father. He also spoke about her in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. Sarah spoke the Luo language. She knew only a few words of English. So, when she talked with President Obama, they used an interpreter.
Her Faith and Public Role
During the U.S. presidential campaign of 2008, some people tried to say that Barack Obama was not truly American or that he was a Muslim. Sarah spoke out against this. She said that while Obama's grandfather had been Muslim, "In the world of today, children have different religions from their parents."
Sarah Obama was a strong believer in the Islamic faith. She had also worked as a cook for Christian missionaries at one point. On July 4, 2008, she went to the United States Independence Day celebrations in Nairobi. The U.S. ambassador to Kenya hosted this event. The next year, she attended Barack Obama's first presidential inauguration. An inauguration is a special ceremony where a new president officially takes office.
Mama Sarah's Foundation and Legacy
Helping Children Through Her Foundation
In 2010, Sarah Obama started her own organization. It was called the Mama Sarah Obama Foundation. This foundation worked to provide food and education for children who had lost their parents. She even welcomed some of these children into her own home.
Receiving an Award for Her Work
On November 19, 2014, the first-ever Women’s Entrepreneurship Day was held at the United Nations. Sarah Obama received a special award there. It was called the Pioneer Award in Education. This award honored the great work her foundation was doing.
When she accepted the award, she shared her vision. She said, "Our vision is a world where children are nurtured and supported physically, educationally, and emotionally to thrive and succeed in life."
Her Passing
Mama Sarah passed away on March 29, 2021. She was 99 years old. She died in a hospital in Kisumu, Kenya, after being ill for a few days. After her death, the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, praised her. He said she was strong, good, and "an icon of family values."
