Kenyans in the Illinois senator’s ancestral homeland sang and danced with joy as news broke out that Obama has taken a giant leap, Reuters news agency reported. Hundreds of Kenyans, media reports say, gathered in a field at Obama’s late father’s village to watch the results relayed on a big screen inspite of a tropical downpour overnight.

“We are going to the White House! We are going to the White House!" relatives sang at the top of their voices as they danced around the family's modest homestead, pausing only to hug each other and hoist small children into the air.

Well-wishers, family members and armies of local and foreign journalists have descended on Kogelo, the tiny village in western Kenya where Obama's 87-year-old grandmother lives. “We haven't slept all night,” Biosa Obama, Obama's 39-year-old sister-in-law told Reuters, dancing on the spot. "I don't know what to say. This is just too amazing."

Nearby, a villager walked past wearing a huge top hat made of newspaper clippings of Obama's picture. Babies have been named after Obama, drinkers knock back "Senator" beers in his honour, pop stars sing his praises and "Obama: The Musical" opened in the capital Nairobi on Sunday, Reuters said.

Ghana

The mood was not different in Ghana. Dozens of Ghanaians joined American citizens – students and workers – at the Headlines Hospitality Centre in the capital Accra to monitor results all night long. The atmosphere was filled with tears of joy, kisses, hugs and dancing as CNN declared their projection that Obama is president-elect.

“I am lost for words. It’s amazing and history has been made. Obama has proved to the world that everyone irrespective of race, culture and background is equal. He has made blacks proud,” Alhassah Adamu told AfricaNews.

“I’m proud to be an African and a black. Obama has changed the mindset of the world. Africa has proved a point. We are there,” Derbie, an African-American student said amidst tears of joy.

Holiday

Thursday has been declared a national holiday in Kenya to let people celebrate Obama’s success. “We the Kenyan people are immensely proud of your Kenyan roots. Your victory is not only an inspiration to millions of people all over the world, but it has special resonance with us here in Kenya,” President Mwai Kibaki said in a statement.

Many Africans fervently hope his victory will mean more U.S. support for local development and an improvement in living conditions for the majority on the world's poorest continent.

However, Derbie quoted earlier warned her fellow Africans to desist from that mentality. She noted: “Obama cannot solve our problems. We can solve our own problems. We should just hope that his policies would favour Africa to improve living conditions. It’s Obama all the way.”