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American Embassy’s "Election 2008" Programs Culminate in Open House for 400+
Wednesday morning, November 5, over 400 Congolese guests gathered at the American Embassy to watch, discuss and ponder the 2008 election results. Although it was known as early as 5 AM that Barak Obama had been elected the next U.S. president, people made their way through the morning traffic to the Embassy. Some guests simply wished to be with others to watch the election night coverage offered by major satellite news networks. Others came to join in a "never-tried-or-seen-before in the DRC" innovation -- a web chat, in French, with African specialist and U. Vermont political scientist Dr. Ned McMahon. Response and interest in the web chat as a communications tool was strong, and more than 75 people were able to participate in the multimedia and multinational computer program. Radio Okapi was there as well, and produced a two-hour call-in radio program -- broadcast live, nationwide, and direct from the Embassy. The show’s host, Jean-Cluade Ntumba Kamanga, offered his many listeners an opportunity to pose questions to a panel of Congolese and American experts in Kinshasa, Washington and Paris about the elections, American politics, the next administration, and the meaning of Barak Obama’s victory. Listener response was so great, that the show was extended another 15 minutes. A grand time was had by all.
Visit our Kinshasa Podcast page to listen to excerpts from the panel discussion and Radio Okapi call-in show.