Wednesday, August 11, 2010

WYCLEF JEAN: CAN HIS FAME GUARANTEE HIS POLITICAL AMBITION?

Wyclef Jean


Wyclef Jean


Ambition, fame, and money are some of the tools that inspire many people into one thing or another. Rapper and R and B singer Wyclef Jean would like to be the president of his native country, Haiti.


Cross-over from one profession to another has been successful to many but not everyone. Ronald Reagan was a former actor that became a governor in the state of California, then in 1981, went on to become the president of the United States of America.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Austrian-born bodybuilder turned film star, gradually made it to the top to become the governor of California. Fred Thompson, from the television series "Law and Order" couldn't achieve his political ambition as a senator, because of little support.

In Africa, especially Nigeria, many millionaires including  Moshood Abiola, Obafemi Awolowo, (both deceased) couldn't fulfill their dreams to be the president of their country. The great Afro-Beat musician, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, also failed despite his thousands of fans behind him.

George Weah, the Liberian soccer star, in the year 2005, joined the presidential race in his country Liberia, but couldn't achieve his political dream.  He is now studying economics at the University of Florida in America.

The question is, "Can Wyclef Jean's fame enhance his chance as a politician, to win a seat as a president in his country, suppose he wants to contest?" The answer is unknown. But it is always better for one to try something and see the result than not trying at all.