On Wednesday, U.S. President Barack Obama’s half brother entered the media spotlight. Mark Okoth Obama Ndesandjo appeared in Guangzhou, China, to launch Nairobi to Shenzhen, his first novel. The book started out as a biography, and although it later morphed into a work of fiction, it is still based in large part on Ndesandjo’s real experiences living in Kenya, the U.S. and China. But what’s attracting the most attention about this traditionally quiet presidential sibling is his allegation that Barack Obama Sr., the father he shares with Barack, was both emotionally and physically abusive. He explained: “My mother used to say of my father, he’s a brilliant man but a social failure. I remember times in my house when I would hear screams and I would hear my mother’s pain.” Like his brother Barack, Mark has a white mother, and he also uses his book to explore issues of race and identity.
Still, Ndesandjo is mostly keeping mum about his relationship with Barack. Mark says only that he and Barack are in touch, but not close. The Wall Street Journal reports that he has another book in the works: an autobiography which will elaborate on his ties to the U.S. president.