Nuruddin Farah

Somali writer · Somalia · On the map · Writers · Born 1945 · age 80

Nuruddin Farah is a Somali novelist. His first novel, From a Crooked Rib, was published in 1970 and has been described as "one of the cornerstones of modern East African literature today". Farah has also written plays both for stage and radio, as well as short stories and essays.

Nuruddin Farah is read about 60 times a day, in 35 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 9 November 2026

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A life in dates

2024“In the condition of the colonized there is no choice in the working language”In their words8 December 2024Ali Ahad interviews novelist Nuruddin Farah 8 December 2024Read the whole statement

2023“one has to be very cognizant of the fact that you can’t get away with mistakes.”In their words3 November 20235 Interesting Things We Learned About Nuruddin Farah from His Recent Interview 3 November 2023Read the whole statement

2020“To understand a society, you have to have many different writers writing about it, so that each author gives you . you know . covers a certain territory”In their wordsReflecting back, projecting forward: A conversation with Nuruddin Farah 2020Read the whole statement

2018“My feeling is that any text written with informed African sensibility belongs to African literature.”In their words18 January 2018INTERVIEW WITH NURRUDIN FARAH 18 January 2018Read the whole statement

2004“am hoping that peace will become more fashionable in my country”In their words1 April 2004Nuruddin Farah by Kwame Anthony Appiah 1 April 2004Read the whole statement

2000“it is the African leaders I blame for, time and time again, not sorting out the problems internally”In their wordsMay 2000Interview with Nuruddin Farah May 2000Read the whole statement

1998Neustadt International Prize for LiteratureAward1991Kurt Tucholsky PrizeAward1945Born24 November 1945

People around Nuruddin

Family

Nuruddin Farah

Partners

Spouse Amina Mama

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Also in Deutsch

Media & music

Photos 2

Farah at the Festivaletteratura in Mantua, September 2008.

In their own words 4

Nuruddin Farah

4 statements, newest first

What no one can reconstruct is the idea that was in our hearts, because there is mistrust among the people
2018 · Nuruddin Farah in conversation with Binyavanga Wainaina 2018, Own words
There’s a lot of things that you internalise when something is happening right in front of you. Your emotion is raw
, Own words
Studying dictatorship and writing about it and analysing it is something that requires either madness or bravery
, Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Neustadt International Prize for Literature1998

Kurt Tucholsky Prize1991

About this person

Since leaving Somalia in the 1970s, he has lived and taught in numerous countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Sudan, India, Uganda, Nigeria and South Africa.

Country

Somalia

The same award as Nuruddin

Claribel Alegría VidesBoth received Neustadt International Prize for Literature

Adam ZagajewskiBoth received Neustadt International Prize for Literature

Josef ŠkvoreckýBoth received Neustadt International Prize for Literature

Álvaro MutisBoth received Neustadt International Prize for Literature

David MaloufBoth received Neustadt International Prize for Literature Rohinton MistryBoth received Neustadt International Prize for Literature