Ladan Osman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ladan Osman
لادان عثمان |
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|---|---|
| Born | |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Otterbein University University of Texas at Austin |
| Occupation | Poet, teacher |
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Notable work
|
The Kitchen Dweller's Testimony (2015) |
Ladan Osman is a talented poet and teacher from Somalia and the United States. Her poems often explore her Somali and Muslim background. Her work has appeared in many well-known literary magazines. In 2014, she won the Sillerman First Book Prize for her poetry collection, The Kitchen Dweller's Testimony.
Contents
About Ladan Osman's Life
Ladan Osman was born in Mogadishu, Somalia. She grew up in Columbus, Ohio, in the United States.
Education and Fellowships
Ladan Osman went to Otterbein University and earned a bachelor's degree. Later, she studied at the University of Texas at Austin's Michener Center for Writers. There, she received a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree.
She has also received special awards called fellowships. These came from places like the Fine Arts Work Center and the Cave Canem Foundation. These fellowships help writers and artists focus on their work.
As of 2014, Ladan Osman lives in Chicago.
Ladan Osman's Career as a Poet
Ladan Osman works as a teacher. She is also a well-known poet.
Where Her Poems Appear
Her poems have been published in many poetry magazines. Some of these include Narrative Magazine, Artful Dodge, and Prairie Schooner. Her poems have even been featured in a newspaper column called "American Life in Poetry." This column was written by former US Poet Laureate Ted Kooser.
Inspirations for Her Poetry
Ladan Osman's poetry is deeply influenced by her Somali and Islamic heritage. She looks up to other Somali writers like Nuruddin Farah. She also finds inspiration in the works of poets from other countries. These include the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish and the Sudanese writer Tayeb Salih. American poets like Sherman Alexie, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Li-Young Lee also inspire her.
Published Works
Ladan Osman released a short collection of poems called Ordinary Heaven in March 2014. Her first full-length book of poems, The Kitchen Dweller's Testimony, came out in 2015. This book won the Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets.
Awards and Recognition
In February 2014, Ladan Osman won the annual Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets. She won this award for her collection The Kitchen Dweller's Testimony. The prize included $1000 and her book was published by the University of Nebraska Press.
