Nuruddin Farah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nuruddin Farah
نورالدين فارح |
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Farah in 2010 before a lecture at
Simon Fraser University. |
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| Born | Nuuradiin Faarax 24 November 1945 Baidoa, Somalia |
| Occupation | Novelist, essayist, professor |
| Alma mater | Panjab University among many |
| Subject | Nationalism, colonialism, feminism |
| Notable works | From a Crooked Rib (1970) Sweet and Sour Milk (1979) Maps (1986) Gifts (1993) Secrets (1998) |
| Notable awards | Kurt Tucholsky Prize, Lettre Ulysses Award, Neustadt International Prize for Literature, Premio Cavour, St. Malo Literature Festival Prize |
| Spouse | Chitra Muliyil (1982–1992) Amina Mama (1992–2006) |
| Children | Koshin (born 1983) Abyan (born 1994) Kaahiye (born 1995) |
Nuruddin Farah (born November 24, 1945) is a famous writer from Somalia. His first novel, From a Crooked Rib, came out in 1970. Many people see it as a very important book in modern East African writing.
He has also written plays for the stage and radio, plus short stories and essays. Since the 1970s, he has lived and taught in many countries. These include the United States, Britain, Germany, and South Africa. Farah is known as one of the greatest writers of our time. He has won many awards for his work, like the Neustadt International Prize for Literature.
Contents
About Nuruddin Farah's Life
Nuruddin Farah was born in 1945 in Baidoa, which was then called Italian Somaliland. His father, Hassan Farah, was a merchant and interpreter. His mother, Aleeli, was a poet who told stories and poems aloud. Nuruddin was the fourth oldest boy in a big family.
His Early Education and Moves
As a child, Farah went to schools in Somalia and nearby Ethiopia. He studied English, Arabic, and Amharic. In 1963, he had to leave the region because of fighting between Somalia and Ethiopia. He moved to independent Somalia and worked as a typist for the Ministry of Education.
From 1966 to 1970, he studied at Panjab University in India. There, he studied philosophy, literature, and sociology. He later went to England to continue his studies.
Later Life and Family
In 1990, Farah received a special grant and moved to Berlin, Germany. In 1996, he visited Somalia for the first time in over 20 years.
Farah's sister, Basra Farah Hassan, was a diplomat. She died in a bombing in January 2014 while working for the United Nations in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Today, Farah lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the United States, and in Cape Town, South Africa.
Nuruddin Farah's Writing Career
Nuruddin Farah first wrote a short story in his native Somali language. But while he was at university in India, he started writing in English. His books have now been translated into 17 different languages.
His First Novels and Exile
His first novel, From a Crooked Rib (1970), tells the story of a young nomad girl. She runs away from an arranged marriage to a much older man. This book brought him international attention.
After his novel A Naked Needle came out in 1976, Farah was warned. The Somali government planned to arrest him because of what he wrote in the book. Instead of going back to Somalia and facing prison, Farah decided to live outside his home country. This self-imposed exile lasted for 22 years. During this time, he taught in many countries, including the United States, Germany, and India.
Why He Writes About Somalia
Farah says he writes "to keep my country alive by writing about it." He wants to make sure people remember Somalia through his stories. Another famous writer, Nadine Gordimer, called him one of Africa's "true interpreters." This means he helps people understand the continent through his words.
His Famous Trilogies
Farah has written several series of novels, called trilogies (meaning three books).
- His "Variations on the Theme of an African Dictatorship" trilogy (1980–83) includes Sweet and Sour Milk (1979), Sardines (1981), and Close Sesame (1983). These books were very popular in many countries.
- His "Blood in the Sun" trilogy (1986–99) is also very important. The first part, Maps (1986), is his most famous novel. Maps is set during the Ogaden War in 1977. It uses a special way of telling the story, called second-person narration. This helps explore ideas about cultural identity after a country becomes independent.
He followed Maps with Gifts (1993) and Secrets (1998), both of which won awards. His later "Past Imperfect" trilogy includes Links (2004), Knots (2007), and Crossbones (2011). His more recent novels are Hiding in Plain Sight (2014) and North of Dawn (2018).
A writer named Bhakti Shringarpure said that Farah has "kept his country alive in our collective imaginations for the past 40 years." She also noted that North of Dawn shows the worries and feelings of people who move to new countries.
Plays and Other Works
Farah is also a playwright, meaning he writes plays. Some of his plays for the stage include A Dagger in Vacuum (1970) and The Offering (1975). He has also written plays for radio, like Tartar Delight (1980).
Besides writing stories, Farah is an important scholar in Somali Studies. He helps guide Bildhaan: An International Journal of Somali Studies, a journal published by Macalester College.
Awards and Honours
Nuruddin Farah has received many awards and honours for his writing:
- 1974–76: UNESCO fellowship
- 1980: English-Speaking Union Literary Award (for Sweet and Sour Milk)
- 1991: Kurt Tucholsky Prize, Sweden
- 1993: Best Novel Award, Zimbabwe (for Gifts)
- 1994: Premio Cavour, Italy (for the Italian version of Close Sesame)
- 1998: Neustadt International Prize for Literature
- 1998: St Malo Literary Festival award (for the French version of Gifts)
- 2024: Royal Society of Literature International Writer
See also
In Spanish: Nuruddin Farah para niños
