Knowmadic facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ahmed Ali
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| Born | November 28, 1984 Mogadishu, Somalia
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| Nationality | Somali-Canadian |
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| Known for | Poet Laureate of Edmonton |
Ahmed Ali, known to many as Knowmadic, is a talented Somali-Canadian artist. He is a poet, writer, actor, and musician. Knowmadic also works as a youth activist, helping young people.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ahmed Ali was born on November 28, 1984, in Mogadishu, Somalia. His father came from a nomadic family, and his mother's family were farmers. His stage name, Knowmadic, is a mix of the words knowledge and nomadic.
In 1989, his family moved from Somalia to Italy. Later, they immigrated to Canada. While in Italy, Ahmed and his three older brothers lived in boarding schools.
After finishing school, Ahmed studied Comedy Writing and Performance. He attended Humber College in Toronto, Ontario. In 2009, he discovered spoken word poetry. A poet named Titilope Sonuga introduced him to it. She ran a poetry night called Rouge Poetry. Ahmed helped her start the Breath in Poetry Collective.
Career Highlights
In 2011, Ahmed Ali and his team from Edmonton won the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word championship. This was a big achievement for him. In 2013, he became an Artist in Residence. This was at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center in Seattle, Washington. This opportunity allowed him to become a full-time artist.
From July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2019, Ahmed served as Edmonton's Poet Laureate. This is an official poet who represents the city. He was the seventh person to hold this special role.
Community Involvement
Ahmed Ali is very active in his community. He is a member of several community boards. One of these is the Edmonton Arts Council. There, he leads the equity committee, which works for fairness.
He also visits local schools to give speeches and perform. He has taken part in events to speak out against violence. In 2017, he ran to be a public school board trustee in Edmonton. This role helps make decisions for local schools.
Ahmed is married and has two daughters.
Awards and Recognition
Ahmed Ali has received many awards for his work:
- Top 30 Under 30
- Cultural Diversity in the Arts Awards
- Canadian Champion of Spoken Word
- Top 40 Under 40
- Human Rights Champions Award
- Michaëlle Jean Young Arts Entrepreneur Award
Art Residencies
Ahmed has been an artist in residence at:
- Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center
- Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers
