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'''Malik Obama'''<ref>http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/06/from-the-fact-c.html</ref> (also known as '''Abongo (Roy) Obama''' and '''Malik Obama''', born c. 1959) is the half-brother of presumptive Democratic nominee [[Barack Obama]]. He is one of four children of Obama's father, [[Barack Obama, Sr.]] with his first wife, Kezia.
'''Malik Obama'''<ref>http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/06/from-the-fact-c.html</ref> (also known as '''Abongo (Roy) Obama''' and '''Malik Obama''', born c. 1959) is the half-brother of presumptive Democratic nominee [[Barack Obama]]. He is one of four children of Obama's father, [[Barack Obama, Sr.]] with his first wife, Kezia.


==Childhood==
==Childhood and education==


Malik Obama was born and raised in [[Nairobe]], [[Kenya]].<ref name=slowlane>{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6333496|publisher=The Associated Press|title=Obama's Brother Chooses Life in Slow Lane|author=Tom Maliti|date=2004-10-26}}</ref> During his childhood he and his sister Auma were passed around between relatives.<ref>Obama, ''Dreams from my Father'', 2004, p. 264.</ref>
Malik Obama was born and raised in [[Nairobe]], [[Kenya]].<ref name=slowlane>{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6333496|publisher=The Associated Press|title=Obama's Brother Chooses Life in Slow Lane|author=Tom Maliti|date=2004-10-26}}</ref> During his childhood he and his sister Auma were passed around between relatives.<ref>Obama, ''Dreams from my Father'', 2004, p. 264.</ref> He earned a degree in accounting from the University of Nairobi.<ref>Obama, ''Dreams from my Father'', 2004, p. 265.</ref>


==Interaction with Barack Obama==
==Interaction with Barack Obama==
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Malik Obama met his half-brother for the first time in 1985<ref name=slowlane/> when he flew from Chicago to Washington, D.C. to visit him. Abongo was known as Roy Obama at that time. Roy was married to an American and according to Barack was having troubles with his marriage.<ref>Obama, ''Dreams from my Father'', 2004, p. 262.</ref> When they first met Roy (Malik) would tell his half-brother Barack "The truth is, I don't think I really like myself. And I blame the Old Man for this."<ref>Obama, ''Dreams from my Father'', 2004, p. 264.</ref> Auma, Roy (Abongo), and at times Barack, refer to their father as the Old Man.
Malik Obama met his half-brother for the first time in 1985<ref name=slowlane/> when he flew from Chicago to Washington, D.C. to visit him. Abongo was known as Roy Obama at that time. Roy was married to an American and according to Barack was having troubles with his marriage.<ref>Obama, ''Dreams from my Father'', 2004, p. 262.</ref> When they first met Roy (Malik) would tell his half-brother Barack "The truth is, I don't think I really like myself. And I blame the Old Man for this."<ref>Obama, ''Dreams from my Father'', 2004, p. 264.</ref> Auma, Roy (Abongo), and at times Barack, refer to their father as the Old Man.


Malik and his brother Barak were [[best man|best men]] at each other's weddings.<ref name=slowlane/> Barack Obama spoke fondly of Malik in his book ''[[Dreams from my Father]]''. In the context of recalling his 1992 wedding day to [[Michelle Obama]] Barack wrote: "The person who made me proudest of all, though, was Roy. Actually, now we call him Abongo, his [[Luo]] name, for two years ago he decided to reassert his African heritage. He converted to Islam, and has sworn off pork and tobacco and alchohol. He still works at his accounting firm, but talks about moving back to Kenya . . . . Abongo's new lifestyle has left him lean and clear-eyed, and at the wedding he looked so dignified in his black African gown . . ."<ref>Obama, ''Dreams from my Father'', 2004, p. 441.</ref><ref>Scott Fornek, "[http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/familytree/545461,BSX-News-wotreex09.stng Certainly the older brother] Chicago Sun-Times, September 9, 2007</ref>
Malik (Abongo) Obama earned a degree in accounting from the University of Nairobi.<ref>Obama, ''Dreams from my Father'', 2004, p. 265.</ref>

Barack Obama spoke fondly of his brother in his book ''[[Dreams from my Father]]''. In the context of recalling his 1992 wedding day to [[Michelle Obama]] Barack wrote: "The person who made me proudest of all, though, was Roy. Actually, now we call him Abongo, his [[Luo]] name, for two years ago he decided to reassert his African heritage. He converted to Islam, and has sworn off pork and tobacco and alchohol. He still works at his accounting firm, but talks about moving back to Kenya . . . . Abongo's new lifestyle has left him lean and clear-eyed, and at the wedding he looked so dignified in his black African gown . . ."<ref>Obama, ''Dreams from my Father'', 2004, p. 441.</ref><ref>Scott Fornek, "[http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/familytree/545461,BSX-News-wotreex09.stng Certainly the older brother] Chicago Sun-Times, September 9, 2007</ref>


==Later life==
==Later life==

Revision as of 07:51, 7 July 2008

Malik Obama[1] (also known as Abongo (Roy) Obama and Malik Obama, born c. 1959) is the half-brother of presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama. He is one of four children of Obama's father, Barack Obama, Sr. with his first wife, Kezia.

Childhood and education

Malik Obama was born and raised in Nairobe, Kenya.[2] During his childhood he and his sister Auma were passed around between relatives.[3] He earned a degree in accounting from the University of Nairobi.[4]

Interaction with Barack Obama

Malik Obama met his half-brother for the first time in 1985[2] when he flew from Chicago to Washington, D.C. to visit him. Abongo was known as Roy Obama at that time. Roy was married to an American and according to Barack was having troubles with his marriage.[5] When they first met Roy (Malik) would tell his half-brother Barack "The truth is, I don't think I really like myself. And I blame the Old Man for this."[6] Auma, Roy (Abongo), and at times Barack, refer to their father as the Old Man.

Malik and his brother Barak were best men at each other's weddings.[2] Barack Obama spoke fondly of Malik in his book Dreams from my Father. In the context of recalling his 1992 wedding day to Michelle Obama Barack wrote: "The person who made me proudest of all, though, was Roy. Actually, now we call him Abongo, his Luo name, for two years ago he decided to reassert his African heritage. He converted to Islam, and has sworn off pork and tobacco and alchohol. He still works at his accounting firm, but talks about moving back to Kenya . . . . Abongo's new lifestyle has left him lean and clear-eyed, and at the wedding he looked so dignified in his black African gown . . ."[7][8]

Later life

As of 2004 Malik Obama had settled in the Obamas' ancestral home, Nyangoma-Kogelo, a village of several hundred people he preferred to the city for its slow pace.[2] At the time he ran a small electronics shop a half hour drive outside of town, and was also working as a consultant in Washington, D.C. for several months per year.[2] All of his father's other surviving children were living in the United States or England.[2]

Notes

  1. ^ http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/06/from-the-fact-c.html
  2. ^ a b c d e f Tom Maliti (2004-10-26). "Obama's Brother Chooses Life in Slow Lane". The Associated Press.
  3. ^ Obama, Dreams from my Father, 2004, p. 264.
  4. ^ Obama, Dreams from my Father, 2004, p. 265.
  5. ^ Obama, Dreams from my Father, 2004, p. 262.
  6. ^ Obama, Dreams from my Father, 2004, p. 264.
  7. ^ Obama, Dreams from my Father, 2004, p. 441.
  8. ^ Scott Fornek, "Certainly the older brother Chicago Sun-Times, September 9, 2007

References