WE DID IT: South Sudanese celebrate the secession result in Juba on January 30, 2011 AFP PHOTO/PHIL MOORE

In Nairobi, shirtless men, with white body powder sprinkled on their black chests and shoulders, jumped up and down singing and shouting. Not to be left behind, tall dark women in extravagant bright-colored clothes also ululated as they vigorously shook their shoulders in a beautiful, rhythmical dance.

They were celebrating along with their people in Juba, Rumbek, Abyei and the rest of South Sudan, celebrating the birth of a free nation. The final results of the referendum to determine a split in Africa's largest country were announced on February 7 with 98.83 percent of the electorate opting for secession.

The beauty of the victory is that there was no war prior to and after the referendum. For the people who have been in conflict for the last three decades and lost 2 million of their kith and kin to conflict, those are big reasons to celebrate. The icing on cake is, of course, that they will have a say - for the first time - on how they want to be governed.

The world also watched the birth of Africa's 54th nation, the world's newest nation - the "Republic of South Sudan." Though the name will only be formally adopted on July 9 at the official declaration of independence, the people already have expectations and know the road ahead will be tough.