There’s a rumor floating around here, that has yet to be confirmed, but did make the newspapers on Thursday (article in Dutch).
Apparently a Fries business man, who is behind a large peppermint company called King, with the family name Obbema, settled in Africa many years ago. He is apparently an ancestor of Obama’s, and his children took on the name Obama.
Some research into this lead to the family coat of arms (of which I have not seen a picture), and apparently along the bottom it says in old Fries ‘Ja, wy kinne’, which translates into modern English as ‘Yes we can’!
It’s important to mention historically the region of Friesland was much different than it is now, so even if a Fries connection is proved, it doesn’t necessarily mean a Dutch connection.
wow! That’s very interesting! I wonder if it is coincidence, but at least it is a good motto!