Mahmood Mamdani (Ugandan Author) Biography

Quick Info

Profession	Author, Ugandan Anthropologist, Professor, Political Commentator
Nationality	Ugandan
Date of Birth	23/04/1946
Age	79 years
Birthplace	Bombay, Province of Bombay, British India

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Bio/Wiki

Full Name	Prof Mahmood Mamdani
Known For	Being father of Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City (2025) Foundational work in postcolonial studies and decolonization theory

Physical Stats & More

Height	5' 10" (178 cm)
Eye Color	Lavender Gray
Hair Color	Salt and Pepper

Educational Qualification(s)

Qualifications	A bachelor's degree in Arts from University of Pittsburgh (1967) A Master of Arts degree in political science from Tufts University (1969) A Master of Arts degree in law and diplomacy from Tufts University (1969) A PhD degree in government from Harvard University (1974)

Personal Life

Religion	Islam
Ethnicity	Gujarati Muslim
Hobbies	Reading Writing

Relationships & More

Marital Status	Married
Marriage Date	January 1991

Family

Father	Yusuf Kermalli Alibhai (deceased)
Mother	Kulsumbai Panju
Siblings	Brother - Anis Mamdani Sister - Masuma Mamdani
Spouse	Mira Nair (Indian film Director and Producer)
Children	Son - Zohran Mamdani (New York City Mayor) Daughter -

Career

Overview	Mahmood Mamdani has had a distinguished academic and professional career, focusing on issues of settler colonialism, decolonization, anti-colonialism, human rights, and the history of war and genocide in Africa. He has held numerous esteemed positions across leading African and international institutions.
Highlights	Became founding director of the Centre for Basic Research (CBR) in Uganda. Served as the first holder of the AC Jordan Chair of African Studies at the University of Cape Town. Appointed director of the Institute of African Studies at Columbia University, and continued to hold influential roles in educational institutions including the Makerere Institute of Social Research in Uganda. Elected Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy in 2017. His latest book, 'Slow Poison: Idi Amin, Yoweri Museveni, and the Making of the Ugandan State,' was published in October 2025. Taught at the University of Dar es Salaam from 1973 to 1979. President of CODESRIA (Council for the Development of Social Research in Africa) from 1998 to 2002. Director of the Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) at Makerere University. Selected as part of the Kennedy Airlift in 1963, a US-funded scholarship program that brought East African students to universities in North America. Joined Columbia University faculty in 1999 as Herbert Lehman Professor of Government in the School of International and Public Affairs. Ranked ninth on Prospect Magazine's list of 100 greatest contemporary public intellectuals in 2008. His landmark work 'Citizen and Subject: Contemporary Africa and the Legacy of Late Colonialism' (1996) is foundational in postcolonial studies. Published 'Slow Poison: Idi Amin, Yoweri Museveni, and the Making of the Ugandan State' in October 2025.

Overview

Mahmood Mamdani has had a distinguished academic and professional career, focusing on issues of settler colonialism, decolonization, anti-colonialism, human rights, and the history of war and genocide in Africa. He has held numerous esteemed positions across leading African and international institutions.

Highlights

Became founding director of the Centre for Basic Research (CBR) in Uganda.
Served as the first holder of the AC Jordan Chair of African Studies at the University of Cape Town.
Appointed director of the Institute of African Studies at Columbia University, and continued to hold influential roles in educational institutions including the Makerere Institute of Social Research in Uganda.
Elected Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy in 2017.
His latest book, 'Slow Poison: Idi Amin, Yoweri Museveni, and the Making of the Ugandan State,' was published in October 2025.
Taught at the University of Dar es Salaam from 1973 to 1979.
President of CODESRIA (Council for the Development of Social Research in Africa) from 1998 to 2002.
Director of the Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) at Makerere University.
Selected as part of the Kennedy Airlift in 1963, a US-funded scholarship program that brought East African students to universities in North America.
Joined Columbia University faculty in 1999 as Herbert Lehman Professor of Government in the School of International and Public Affairs.
Ranked ninth on Prospect Magazine's list of 100 greatest contemporary public intellectuals in 2008.
His landmark work 'Citizen and Subject: Contemporary Africa and the Legacy of Late Colonialism' (1996) is foundational in postcolonial studies.
Published 'Slow Poison: Idi Amin, Yoweri Museveni, and the Making of the Ugandan State' in October 2025.

Social Media

Twitter	https://x.com/mm1124

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Mahmood was born in Mumbai and raised in Kampala, Uganda by parents who were both Gujarati Muslims.
2. He attended a madrasa and then a Government Indian Primary School in Uganda.
3. He was part of the Kennedy Airlift, a US-funded program that brought East African students to schools in the USA.
4. He was arrested while supporting the civil rights movement in Montgomery, Alabama.
5. He became stateless when his Ugandan citizenship was withdrawn for opposing the Milton Obote government.
6. Criticized the limitations of education given to Black people during his time at the University of Cape Town, an incident known as 'the Mamdani affair.'
7. He was arrested in 1965 while supporting the civil rights movement in Montgomery, Alabama.
8. He became stateless in 1984 when his Ugandan citizenship was withdrawn for criticizing the Milton Obote government.
9. His briefcase containing his passport was stolen in New York in 1969, an incident that influenced his decision to pursue academia.
10. He was expelled from Uganda in 1972 by Idi Amin due to anti-India policies and spent three months in a refugee camp in England.

Mahmood Mamdani Author, Ugandan Anthropologist, Professor, Political Commentator Ugandan Bombay, Province of Bombay, British India