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 (Somali: Nuuradiin Faarax, Arabic: نورالدين فارح) is a famous Somali writer. He was born on November 24, 1945. His first book, From a Crooked Rib, came out in 1970. People say it is a very important book in modern East African writing.
Farah writes many different things. He writes novels, plays for the stage and radio, short stories, and essays. He left Somalia in the 1970s. Since then, he has lived and taught in many countries. These include the United States, Britain, Germany, and India.
Many people think Farah is one of the best writers alive today. He has won many awards for his writing. These include the Premio Cavour in Italy and the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 1998. He is also often suggested for the Nobel Prize in 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 shared her poems by speaking them. 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. This was because of conflicts between Somalia and Ethiopia. He then moved to independent Somalia. There, he worked as a typist for the Ministry of Education.
From 1966 to 1970, he went to Panjab University in India. He studied philosophy, literature, and sociology. He met his first wife, Chitra Muliyil Farah, there. They had a son together. Later, they divorced. Farah then went to England. He studied at London University and Essex University.
Family and Later Life
Farah's mother passed away in 1990. In 1992, he married Amina Mama, who is a British-Nigerian academic. They have a son and a daughter.
In 1990, he received a special grant. He moved to Berlin, Germany. In 1996, he visited Somalia again. It was his first visit in over 20 years. Sadly, his sister, Basra Farah Hassan, died in 2014. She was a diplomat working for the United Nations in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Today, Farah lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Cape Town, South Africa.
Nuruddin Farah's Writing Career
Nuruddin Farah wrote an early short story in his native Somali language. But he started writing his books in English while he was still at university in India. His books have been translated into 17 different languages.
His First Novels and Exile
His first novel, From a Crooked Rib, came out in 1970. It tells the story of a young nomad girl. She runs away from an arranged marriage to a much older man. This book made him known around the world.
After his book A Naked Needle was published in 1976, Farah traveled in Europe. He was told that the Somali government planned to arrest him. So, instead of going back home, Farah decided to live outside Somalia. This self-imposed exile lasted for 22 years. During this time, he taught in many countries.
Why He Writes and His Main Works
Farah says he writes to "keep my country alive by writing about it." Another famous writer, Nadine Gordimer, called him one of Africa's "true interpreters."
He has written two main sets of novels, called "trilogies." A trilogy is a series of three books.
- The first trilogy is "Variations on the Theme of an African Dictatorship" (1980–83). It includes Sweet and Sour Milk (1979), Sardines (1981), and Close Sesame (1983). These books were very popular.
- His second trilogy is "Blood in the Sun" (1986–99). The most famous book from this series is Maps (1986). Maps is set during the Ogaden War of 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. Farah followed Maps with Gifts (1993) and Secrets (1998). Both of these books won awards.
His later trilogy, "Past Imperfect," includes Links (2004), Knots (2007), and Crossbones (2011). His most recent novels are Hiding in Plain Sight (2014) and North of Dawn (2018). A reviewer said that Farah has kept Somalia alive in people's minds for over 40 years through his writing.
Plays and Other Work
Farah also 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, Farah is an important scholar. He helps guide Bildhaan: An International Journal of Somali Studies. This is a journal about Somali studies published by Macalester College.
Awards and Honors
Nuruddin Farah has received many awards for his amazing 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
