Obama’s half-brother promotes book in Albania

TIRANA, July 25 – President Obama’s half brother was in Tirana this week to promote his first semi-autobiographical book “From Nairobi to Shenzen” which has been translated into Albanian. Writers, academics and politicians participated in the book promotion ceremony which was also accompanied by some jazz pieces Mark Okoth Obama Ndesandjo performed on the piano. “Nairobi to Shenzhen, is my first published novel. The protagonist, upon arriving in China in the wake of 9/11 and the onset of a terrifying global war, is forced to confront his early experiences in Kenya and the United States as a result of his growing love for a beautiful Chinese woman and a young orphan. Parallels between his own upbringing and the potential family that lies before him lead to questions about his true identity, the complexities of his multi-racial family and the relationship he had known with his father,” says the author. This novel is a work of fiction and has been many years in the making. “The characters are composites of people I have known, and the novel reflects many experiences in my own life as a child brought up in Kenya, and who has studied and lived in America and China.” Two years ago, Mark Obama promoted his semi-autobiographical book which he says draws on his childhood with an abusive father Born in Kenya and a seven year resident of Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China, American Mark Okoth Obama Ndesandjo is an accomplished pianist, writer, artist and businessman.