Famed Long Beach photographer Navis Oliver reissues his coffee table book, “Granny: Mama Sarah Obama A Pictorial Essay,” to celebrate her life after her recent passing at the age of 99.
Oliver, who has traveled as far as Africa for photography assignments, met Sarah Obama, President Barack Obama’s grandmother in 2013 on his first trip to Kenya. Affectionately called Mama Sarah Obama, she was the last surviving grandparent of President Obama and the official grandmother of her village Kogelo.
Navis and a group of others were on their way to Lake Victoria in Kenya when the community elder asked if they wanted to drive by President Obama’s grandmother’s house. They said yes, and when they got there, the community elder came back and said Mama Sarah Obama was feeling tired but said she would meet with the group.
They set up tables and chairs under a big tree, and she talked to them about her village and her famous grandson. After several visits, Navis, always the photographer, requested to photograph Mama Sarah Obama and the other family members for a picture book. The result is “Granny: Mama Sarah Obama A Pictorial Essay,” and a portion of the proceeds benefit the Sarah Obama Foundation.
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