The story of the adventurous life of James Martin, who was the first Westerner to make contact with Barak Obama's Luo tribe in Kenya in 1883. Obama's grandfather's generation took advantage of the opportunities the white man brought. Martin, originally from Malta, also founded Nairobi and explored East Africa just after David Livingstone had died. He was ship wrecked twice and was the first white game hunter in Africa. He spoke several East African languages and was well able to communicate with the locals, which eventually led him to administer large areas for the British Government. He achieved much despite being dyslexic and illiterate, which make his achievements all the more notable. His vulnerability and human qualities made him a well know character of his times. His life work helps us understand early development and the times of East Africa and Zanzibar. It explains the advantages Obama had, which led to his success as becoming the first black US president.