Auma Obama (Barack Obama’s sister) – biography, husband, daughter
Sebastian Wright
Updated on January 07, 2026
Meet Auma Obama, Barack Obama’s older half-sister. She is the second most known paternal relationship of the former President of the United States after her older brother Malik Obama.
Both have the same father, Barack Hussein Obama Sr., a former Kenyan government official.
Auma Obama Biography
Auma Obama was born in Nairobi in 1960 to Barack Obama Sr. and his first wife Kezia. She was practically raised in Kenya but has lived in different parts of the world, most notably Germany and the UK.
Auma Obama went to study in Germany under the DAAD scholarship. From 1981 to 1987 she studied German at the University of Heidelberg. After graduating, Auma studied at the University of Bayreuth. By 1996 she had received a PhD. In her dissertation she dealt with the German concept of work, which has an impact on literary works.
Auma, who also studied contemporary dance in Germany, spent some of her life with a dance group. From there she developed her theatrical talents and enrolled at a film school in Berlin.
When she returned to Kenya, Auma became a community/development worker under the umbrella of CARE International. Her dream was to educate Kenya’s younger generation to lead a productive and better life.Her specific mission at CARE was to spread the sport for social change initiative. She oversaw the collaboration of organizations across Africa and Bangladesh in improving the social conditions of the people, especially for the girl.
Her foundation, known as the Sauti Kuu Foundation, gave structure to her humanitarian vision. Sauti Kuu is a Swahili expression meaning strong voices.
Through various commitments, the foundation pursues goals in the personal development of African young people; education / training; and sustainable economic growth. The healthy idea is to help the growing African generation make the most of their lives regardless of poverty.
In 2015 dr. Obama created the Sauti Kuu Act Now Awards in Berlin. The award ceremony aims to encourage children and young people between the ages of 12 and 25 to take part in social, humanitarian and ecological projects.
Just like her brothers; Malik and Barrack Obama, Auma is a talented author and renowned speaker. She is known for her book and autobiography, And Then Life Happens: A Memoir.
Auma says she is fascinated by the works of German authors such as Heinrich Böll and Wolfgang Borchert. Her public speaking skills enhanced her journalism skills and took her to various international socio-economic platforms.
Nigerian-born film director Branwen Okpako, an old schoolmate of the intuitive motivator, directed and produced a documentary about her in 2011.
In the documentary titled The Raising of Auma Obama, Okpako took us through Auma’s education, career and life as an African person on a mission. The director also didn’t fail to show off her relationship with her father and Barack Obama.
The documentary gave an insight into Dr. Auma’s postcolonial and feminist identity. Auma grew up in an extremely conservative society in the 1960s and was sensitive to the place of young people and especially women in Africa.
With her exposure from years studying abroad, she learned to appreciate her continent and was keen to open her people’s eyes to often-neglected opportunities that can enhance their well-being.
The Education of Auma Obama won the Best Diaspora Documentary Award at the 2012 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
DR. Auma Obama has received numerous humanitarian awards, including the German Speakers Association Award 2015; Look Magazine World Human Rights Award (2015); Paris Awards 2014; Kiwanis Club Stuttgart Award (2016) among other awards.
For 3 years she has been the patron of the International Storymoja Festivals in Kenya. The festival is designed to seek out and discover young literary talent.
She is a member of the World Future Council, a member of the board of trustees of the German Reading Foundation and a member of the advisory board of the Bayreuth Academy for African Studies at the University of Bayreuth.
In Kenya, Dr. Auma Obama is a member of the Governing Council of the Kilimanjaro Initiative. The local council organizes an annual event where disadvantaged youth have the opportunity to explore Mount Kilimanjaro. Climbing Africa’s highest mountain was an important decision made by the council to boost their confidence.
husband, daughter
dr Auma Obama married an Englishman, Ian Manners, after completing her doctoral program. The couple had one daughter, Akinyi, who is pictured below with her mother before they decided to split.
