Where Was Barack Obama Sr. Born? Uncovering the Roots of the 44th President’s Father

When Barack Obama made history as the 44th President of the United States, the world became fascinated not just with his story, but with his unique heritage. A central figure in that story is his father, Barack Obama Sr.

While President Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, his father’s origins trace back to the African continent. If you are looking for the specific details of where Barack Obama Sr. was born and raised, here is the complete history.

The Birthplace: British Kenya

Barack Obama Sr. was born on June 18, 1936 (some sources cite 1934), in the Rachuonyo District on the shores of Lake Victoria.

At the time of his birth, the country was not yet the independent Republic of Kenya we know today; it was a colony and protectorate of the British Empire known as British Kenya. This historical context played a significant role in his life, as he belonged to a generation of young Kenyans eager for independence and education.

Nyang’oma Kogelo: The Ancestral Village

Although born in Rachuonyo, Obama Sr. is most closely associated with the village of Nyang’oma Kogelo in the Siaya District. This is where he was raised and where his family, members of the Luo ethnic group, has deep roots.

• The Family Patriarch: He was the son of Onyango Obama, a man who had traveled widely and worked for the British colonial administration.
• The Burial Site: Today, Barack Obama Sr. is buried in this same village. The site has since become a significant landmark, attracting tourists and dignitaries who wish to see the origins of the Obama family tree.

From Kenya to Hawaii and Back

Obama Sr. was a brilliant academic. He grew up herding goats in his village but eventually earned a scholarship to study in the United States. In 1959, he arrived at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, becoming the university’s first African foreign student.

It was there, in a Russian language class, that he met Ann Dunham. They married in 1961, and shortly after, Barack Obama II (the future President) was born.

Though Obama Sr. eventually returned to Kenya to work as a Senior Economist for the government, his legacy remains tied to the small village in Western Kenya that produced the father of a US President.