The early days of my life

Mahamud Gedi Ahmed

I was born in the bush where there is no shelter and no education. As time went on the Civil War of Somalia broke out. My family crossed the border of Kenya and then we came here to Dagaghaley where we got shelter and education. In my life I have never thought about going to school and learning but now I have learned more, and my family in general as well, because of the Civil War we have got opportunities. Why because my brother has gone to Canada through his education of secondary schools and now he is in the world university and he is there because of the Civil War. If there was no war in Somalia my family could not learn well and my brother could not be in Canada at the world university.

Happening Now

  • We regret the passing, on April 11, 2024, of the distinguished Romanian author and critic Dan Cristea, who served as the editor in chief of the Luceafărul de Dimineață cultural monthly. In addition to being an alum of the 1985 Fall Residency, Cristea received his PhD in Comparative Literature at the University of Iowa.

  • Our congratulations to 1986 Fall Residency writer Kwame Dawes, who has been named the new poet laureate of Jamaica.

  • Congratulations to our colleagues Jennifer Croft and Aron Aji, who are among those serving as judges for the National Book Awards this year, in their case in the category of translated literature.

  • Ranjit Hoskote’s speech at the 2024 Goa Literary Festival addresses the current situation in Gaza.

  • In NY Times, Bina Shah worries about the state of Pakistani—and American—democracy.

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