Barack Obama hasn’t been sworn in as President of the United States yet, but his global influence is already being felt. In Kenya, mothers are naming their newborn babies after Barack and Michelle Obama, hoping to imbue the desirable qualities of these cultural icons into their kin.
His efforts are far more significant than simple namesakes, however. French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy cited what she called the “Obama effect” in her hopes for a reshaping of French society.
And elsewhere in France, a human-rights manifesto written by Yazid Sabeg featured the French translation of “Yes, we can” and was published. The manifesto advocates racial equality and uses Barack Obama and the United States as shining examples of such social advancement. Below, read an excerpt from the manifesto.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Global Obama Phenomenon
- The widespread influence of Barack Obama in global politics and culture creates opportunities for businesses to leverage his popularity in innovative ways.
- Cultural Imitation
- As seen in Kenya, the trend of using cultural icons like Obama as a source of inspiration for naming newborns presents opportunities for businesses to capitalize on cultural trends.
- Symbolic Social Activism
- Using symbolic figures and social movements like the Obama presidency to promote activism presents disruptive innovation opportunities for businesses seeking to create social change.
Where This Applies
- Marketing and Advertising
- The vast reach of the Obama phenomenon requires businesses to cater to diverse consumer preferences, providing opportunities for marketing and advertising in creative ways.
- Fashion and Apparel
- The trend of cultural imitation through naming children after Barack and Michelle Obama creates potential for the fashion and apparel industry to incorporate Obama-inspired designs into their products.
- Social and Political Activism
- The use of symbolic figures and social movements in promoting racial equality offer disruptive innovation opportunities for organizations involved in social and political activism.
