Bush greets Tanzanians in Swahili, Texas style

DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - Buoyed by exuberant throngs who have welcomed him to Tanzania, President George W. Bush got into the spirit of Africa on Sunday, greeting a news conference in Swahili: "Vipi Mambo!".

"For the uneducated, that's Swahili for 'Howdy Y'all'," he said to laughter, using a typical Texas greeting.

Bush, unpopular at home due to opposition to the Iraq war and an ailing U.S. economy, appeared relieved and very relaxed to be overseas where he received such a warm welcome.

He made a point of noting that cheering Tanzanians lined the streets after his arrival on Saturday night.

"It was very moving, for those of us racing through the streets of Dar es Salaam, to see thousands of people there greeting us, I really do want to extend my thanks," said Bush, who was greeted by cheers and the beating of drums when he arrived at the State House for meetings with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete.

During his second presidential trip to the continent, Bush received some safari-style mementos.

Kikwete gave Bush a stuffed leopard and lion, as well as a zebra skin. In exchange, Bush gave Kikwete a pair of basketball star Shaquille O'Neal athletic shoes.

The Tanzanian leader sidestepped a question about the possibility that Democrat Barack Obama -- whose father was from Kenya -- might become the first black American president and instead gave Bush a back-handed compliment.

"Of course, people talk with excitement of Obama -- well, our excitement is that President Bush is at the end of his term, and the U.S. is going to get a new president, whoever that one is," Kikwete said.

"For us, the most important thing is, let him be as good a friend of Africa as President Bush has been."

(Reporting by Tabassum Zakaria and Deborah Charles, editing by Mary Gabriel)