(3 Nov 2009) HEADLINE: Obama's half brother recalls their abusive father
CAPTION: President Barack Obama's half brother has broken his media silence to discuss his new novel the semiautobiographical story of an abusive parent patterned on their late father, Barack Obama, Sr. (Nov. 3)
[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE]
NB. THIS IS A VOICEOVER TRANSCRIPT, NOT A FULL SHOT LIST.
[Notes:VO SHOTS AT PIANO]
[Notes:LOCATOR SHENZHEN, CHINA]
His name is Mark Ndesandjo (nuhSAHNjoe).
The talented pianist lives in China and is President Obama's halfbrother.
[Notes:VO PHOTO OF BOOK]
Like the president, he's also an author and his book, which titled "Nairobi to Shenzhen" (shennzenn) goes on sale Wednesday.
Unlike the president's two books, however, it's a novel.
[Notes:VO SHOTS OF NDESANDJO AND BOOK]
But it's also semiautobiographical and it takes a look at an abusive parent modelled on Barack Obama, Sr., who the president wrote about in his own memoir.
Ndesandjo (nuhSAHNjoe) has avoided the media spotlight until now, but told the Associated Press he wrote the book partly to raise awareness of domestic violence.
[Notes:SOT MARK NDESANDJO/OBAMA'S HALFBROTHER]
"My father beat my mother and my father beat me ok, and you don't do that. I feel uncomfortable saying that but it's true and it's something which I think affected me for a long time and it's something just recently I've actually come to terms with."
Ndesandjo says he attended Obama's inauguration as a family guest.
But he has declined to describe their relationship over the years or focus on politics in the book.
[Notes:SOT NDESANDJO]
"I really did not want to cause any, touch on any strong political themes in this book, because I think my brother's team is doing an extraordinary job, and I really don't want to cause him additional heartburn."
However, he says he plans to meet the president in Beijing when the president makes his first trip to China in about ten days.
[Notes:SOT NDESANDJO]
I'm so happy that he's actually coming...one thing I find out is that to understand China...you need to come...experience being with the people here."
[Notes:VO ]
Ndesandjo said the White House is aware of the book project.
A spokesman at the White House declined to comment on Ndesandjo's interview or to discuss President Obama's relationship with his halfbrother.
APTN STORY NUMBER: 625685

FILE: Shenzhen, China January 16, 2009
1. Wide pan of Mark Ndesandjo, half brother of US President Barack Obama, walking onto stage at charity event
2. Close up of Ndesandjo standing on stage
3. Cutaway of media
4. Push in in to Ndesandjo playing piano
Guangzhou, China October 27, 2009
5. Mid of Ndesandjo talking during interview
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mark Ndesandjo, half brother of Barack Obama:
"My father beat my mother and my father beat me ok, and you don't do that. I feel uncomfortable saying that but it's true and it's something which I think affected me for a long time and it's something just recently I've actually come to terms with."
7. Wide of Ndesandjo talking during interview
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mark Ndesandjo, half brother of Barack Obama:
"I really did not want to cause any, touch on any strong political themes in this book, because I think my brother's team is doing an extraordinary job, and I really don't want to cause him additional heartburn."
9. Close up of Ndesandjo's hands
10. Wide of Ndesandjo talking during interview
11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mark Ndesandjo, half brother of Barack Obama:
12. Various of Ndesandjo playing piano

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