Mahmood Mamdani, a scholar specializing in colonialism and anti-colonialism in Africa, is the father of Zohran Mamdani, a political figure in New York City.
Mamdani's academic work is informed by his personal history as a Ugandan citizen of Indian origin. He experienced periods of statelessness twice due to political upheaval in East Africa during the 1970s and 1980s.
Mamdani has stated that the colonial system classified migrants as non-Indigenous, leading to individuals like him not feeling fully integrated in Uganda and being deprived of specific rights. These experiences have influenced his research into questions of identity and belonging over time.
Since 1999, Mamdani has held a position as a professor of government in the department of anthropology at Columbia University.
His most recent book, "Slow Poison," analyzes the formation of the Ugandan state after British colonialism. The book examines the leadership of Idi Amin and current president Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986. Mamdani argues that these leaders operated within and inherited an established colonial legacy from the British.
Mamdani discussed his book and the connections between his experiences in exile and his son's political activities in New York City during an interview with NPR.