Dreams from My Father

by

Barack Obama

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Abo Character Analysis

Abo is one of Barack’s younger half brothers; he grew up with his mother Kezia and brother Bernard in Alego, but he didn’t know his full siblings Auma and Roy until he was older. When Barack meets Abo, Abo is grousing about how boring the family homestead outside of Kendu Bay is. He also reacts with disappointment to Barack’s gift of a cassette player, since it’s not a Sony. Barack notices that Abo looks like the young men in Chicago in that he seems to know from a young age that life won’t be kind to him.
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Abo Character Timeline in Dreams from My Father

The timeline below shows where the character Abo appears in Dreams from My Father. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 11
Fathers, Sons, and Manhood Theme Icon
Storytelling and Truth Theme Icon
...he’d go back to Auma’s mother, Kezia. Their four brothers were born around this time: Abo and Bernard to Kezia, and David and Mark to Ruth. Abo and Bernard never came... (full context)
Chapter 16
Family and Community Theme Icon
Fathers, Sons, and Manhood Theme Icon
Storytelling and Truth Theme Icon
...Kezia—who was technically still his wife—Kezia was also seeing another man. The Old Man accepted Abo and Bernard as his sons, but there’s nothing to prove their paternity. (full context)
Chapter 18
Family and Community Theme Icon
Fathers, Sons, and Manhood Theme Icon
Race and Identity Theme Icon
...explains that he, Bernard, and Kezia are going to travel to Kendu Bay to fetch Abo and he invites Barack. Barack and Sayid pack bags and, after several hours, they reach... (full context)
Fathers, Sons, and Manhood Theme Icon
After dinner, Billy leads Barack, Abo, and Roy to a house. Inside, an old man pours everyone shots of a potent... (full context)
Chapter 19
Storytelling and Truth Theme Icon
Roy and Abo are too hung over to travel, so they stay in Kendu. Barack returns to Home... (full context)
Epilogue
Family and Community Theme Icon
Fathers, Sons, and Manhood Theme Icon
...But life in Kenya seemed more difficult; Sarah and Kezia still weren’t speaking, and Bernard, Abo, and Sayid were still unemployed. Billy died of AIDS not long after their visit. Despite... (full context)