Mahmood Mamdani, a scholar recognized for his work on colonialism and anti-colonialism in Africa, is associated with his son, Zohran Mamdani, a New York City council member.
Mamdani's academic pursuits are informed by his personal history as a Ugandan citizen of Indian descent. He experienced statelessness twice during periods of political unrest in East Africa in the 1970s and 1980s.
Mamdani stated, "We were migrants, and under the colonial system, migrants were defined as non-Indigenous." This status, as articulated by Mamdani, resulted in individuals like him facing challenges to their rights within Uganda. These experiences influenced his academic focus on themes of belonging and identity within evolving historical contexts.
Since 1999, Mamdani has served as a professor of government in the department of anthropology at Columbia University.
His recent book, "Slow Poison," examines the formation of the Ugandan state following British colonialism and the roles played by two key leaders, Idi Amin and the current president Yoweri Museveni, who has held power since 1986. Mamdani's thesis in the book suggests that both leaders operated within a colonial legacy inherited from the British.
During an interview with NPR's Leila Fadel, Mamdani discussed the book. He also drew parallels between his own experiences with exile and his son's engagement with concepts of power and belonging in New York City.
The radio broadcast of this interview was produced by Milton Guevara, and the digital version was edited by Majd Al-Waheidi.