The Friesland roots of Obama

This story popped up on several places over the last few days, even in Dutch national newspapers. It is a hoax, though (but apparently not all newspapers realized that).

Radio Netherlands Worldwide: "Local skating hero Lieuwe Obbema's grandpa Jelle apparently went to Kenya in 1870, where he established a successful peppermint business.

Friesian genealogists say Jelle Obbema was a ladies' man, with a particular taste for local Kenyan women. He is said to have sired a number of illegitimate children, who used their father's surname. One such child was called Sjoerd-Bark Obbema. Barack Obama's father is possibly a descendant of one of those children.

And that's not all. Back in Friesland, the Obbema family crest features two lilies, with its motto in Frisian, the local language, 'Ja wy kinne.' In English, 'Yes we can'.

Just for the record: As I stated above, the story is a hoax. To the best of my knowledge, Obama does not have roots in Friesland.