Abdi warsame uses clear, yet vivid language to tell his extraordinary story of. Born keinan abdi warsame, knaan first came to prominence when he performed a spoken word piece before the united nations high commissioner for refugees in 1999. He rose to prominence with the success of his single wavin flag, which was chosen as cocacolas promotional anthem for the 2010 fifa world cup. The somali diaspora follows the family of abdisalem, his wife ijabo, and their three daughters as they struggle to survive in dadaab before being relocated first to anaheim, california, where they barely make ends meet, and then to portland, maine. Keinan abdi warsame, known as knaan, was born on 1 february 1978, in mogadishu, somalia.
Abdi warsame is a somaliamerican and a practicing muslim. Despite being paralyzed from the waist down when he was twelve years old during a rocket attack in mogadishu, abdi overcame grave odds to survive his injuries in a place and time where he should have died within days. Datasets available include lcsh, bibframe, lc name authorities, lc classification, marc codes, premis vocabularies, iso language codes, and more. However, although he has been active in his career since 2001, he is certainly best known from the year of 2010, when knaans. I will spend my time as a council member working toward an innovative, equitable, and inclusive minneapolis where everyone has a chance to succeed. After moving to london as an asylum seeker, he immigrated to minnesota in 2006. Knaan, byname of keinan abdi warsame, born 1978, mogadishu, somalia, somaliborn canadian hiphop musician of the early 21st century whose brightly melodic songs and clever socially conscious lyrics demonstrated international appeal and made him. Biimaal, beesha biimaal, jamal, or beesha jamal, arabic.
Besides hip hop, knaans sound is influenced by elements of somali music and world music. Keinan abdi warsame, better known by his stage name knaan, is a somali canadian poet, rapper, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist. On wednesday, he was tapped to lead the citys sprawling public housing system, making him. In addition, the book portrays life in two of the largest somali communities in the united states. Abdi warsame audio books, best sellers, author bio.
Executive director of minneapolis public housing authority. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading always rolling forward. Loved reading this true story of hope, family, faith and overcoming tragedy against all odds. Abdi warsame sharjah, 06, the united arab emirates 1 book. Abdi warsame is a member for city council in the minneapolis, mn with one video in the cspan video library. I am a passionate advocate for disability inclusion in the workplace. This creative and impressive book for children aged six and up tells the story behind that song. Knaan biography affair, single, ethnicity, nationality. I am here with abdi warsame, who is the highest somali official elected in. A member of the audience, the singer youssou ndour, was so impressed that he asked. He rose to prominence with the success of his single wavin flag, which was chosen as cocacolas promotional anthem for the. Interviewees include both everyday somali people as well as prominent community members, like abdi warsame, the firstever somali on the minneapolis city council. Abdi warsame made history tuesday by becoming the highest elected somali in the country, winning a seat on the city council in a landslide. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
In 1991, at the height of the somali civil war, 12yearold abdi warsame ran for his life through the streets of mogadishu. The book also includes the complete lyrics and sheet music for wavin flag, which became a worldwide hit after being chosen as the official song of the 2010 fifa world cup soccer series. War of words continues in minneapolis ward 6 council race after noor skips dfl endorsement convention. Abdi warsame appointed ceo of minneapolis public housing authority.
His latest is another first, and puts a city council seat in play. The only limitation is that of which we put on ourselves. The book tells, in a simple conversational style, how yearold knaan, his mother and three siblings, left their home in mogadishu after the 1991 outbreak of the somalian civil war, and. The legacy of black hawk down history smithsonian magazine. Knaan spends his early years escaping death in somali knaan was born in somali, a country where a war was emerging faast and dangerous. Abdi writes from the heart and shares a story that makes you appreciate life and the power of resilience. Marginalized young americansomalis look east to join isis the twin cities area has the largest somali population in america.
Im abdi warsame, the elected city council representative for ward 6. Since it became the theme song of the soccer world cup in 2010, many young people all over the world have come to know and love the wavin flag song of canadiansomali hip hop singer knaan born keynaan abdi warsame. Goats and soda the girls were ages 10 and 11 and lived in somalia, which has the highest rate of fgm in the world. Marginalized young americansomalis look east to join isis.
His grandfather was a renowned poet who passed on his. For somali immigrants, all politics really is local. In 1991, at the age of twelveyearold, i survived a rocket attack in mogadishu during somalias civil war. Abdi warsame was appointed after five months search of a new assistant manager, after greg russ, the former manager started a similar job in new york. Knaan was born on february 1st 1978 under the name keinan abdi warsame. Thank you abdi warsame, for sharing your inspiring story. Abdi warsame born 1978 is a somaliamerican politician and member of the. The court also ordered the release of mukhtar mohamud hassan and abdul abdi warsame. Abdi warsame appointed head of minneapolis public housing. Abdi warsame is the author of always rolling forward 5. Minneapolis city councilman abdi warsame sits for an interview at his office in city hall on thursday, oct. He moved to minneapolis in 2006, shortly landing a job in the financial sector. Born in mogadishu, somalia, just as the civil unrest that rocked the country was beginning, rapper knaan spent the early years of his life trying to avoid death and listening to the hiphop records sent to him from america by his father, who had left somalia earlier. The 6th ward covers parts of steven square, ventura village, philips west, elliot park, seward and cedar riverside neighborhoods.
The ward 6 race for minneapolis city council is tinged by a complicated history of shifting alliances in a community that has become deeply invested in electoral politics. His latest move makes history again, and puts a city council seat in play. Ive never felt so close to death before, as if every rifle crack was the ticking of a clock marking my time on earth. Nprs rachel martin speaks with minneapolis councilman abdi warsame. The power of hope against insurmountable odds kindle edition by warsame, abdi. Im abdi warsame, a senior strategic pricing manager for business mobility customers. The power of hope against insurmountable odds abdi warsame on. In november 20, he was elected to the minneapolis city council, becoming the first somali official to be elected to the. He lives with his family in the cedar riverside neighborhood of minneapolis. Knaan is a rapper, and also a great instrumentialist as well as a song writer and poet.
Warsame, the citys first somaliamerican council member. In his first book for children, when i get older, somalicanadian poet, rapper, singer, and songwriter knaan tells his own story. Mnhs worked closely with macalester college and the somali museum of minnesota to complete this oral history. My book celebrates the unique contributions people with. For somali immigrants, all politics really is local kpbs. Abdi warsames stature in cedarriverside and beyond the. War of words continues in minneapolis ward 6 council race. Provided to youtube by universal music group the seed knaan country, god or the girl. Abdi warsame chosen as executive director of minneapolis. Warsame previously competed for the district 6 seat in the city council and won, becoming the first somali candidate to win district elections. As a public servant, warsame focuses on the citys most pressing issues. This includes data values and the controlled vocabularies that house them. It reminds the reader repeatedly that with hard work, and determination, you can achieve your goals and that there is hope for a better tomorrow. Somali court sentences man to death for october bombing.
Warsame made history in 20 as the first somali in minnesota elected to a city council seat. Today, i am a happily married american citizen and telecom manager. In 1991, at the height of the somali civil war, twelveyearold abdi warsame ran for. Abdi warsame addresses minneapolis public housing authority board of commissioners on wednesday, jan. Abdi warsame takes the helm at the minneapolis public. With his country literally falling apart around him, abdi had little hope for recovery. Warsame made history in 20 when he became the first somali in minnesota elected to the minneapolis city council. Knaan was born in mogadishu, somalia on february 1. The legacy of black hawk down twentyfive years after the battle chronicled in the bestselling book, the author argues that weve learned the wrong lessons about fighting terrorism. This clan is widely known for leading a resistance against the colonials in southern somalia for decades which can be compared to the war of the sayyid in northern somalia. Knaan, byname of keinan abdi warsame, born 1978, mogadishu, somalia, somaliborn canadian hiphop musician of the early 21st century whose brightly melodic songs and clever socially conscious lyrics demonstrated international appeal and made him an ambassador for the plight of his homeland.
Keinan abdi warsame, also known as knaan is somali canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and poet. Always rolling forward is my epic memoir of survival against insurmountable odds. This creative and impressive book for children aged six and up tells the story behind. Mphas former executive director, greg russ, left the position in august after being named head of new york city housing authority. Abdi warsame made history in 20 when he became the first somali in minnesota elected to the minneapolis city council. Its powerful words of hope have crossed generations and borders, and have made knaan an international star. Canadiansomali hip hop singer knaan born keynaan abdi warsame. Abdi warsame was born in somalia and grew up in the united kingdom of great britain where he studied and attained a bsc in business and a masters degree in international business. Warsame would replace interim executive director and ceo, tracey scott. Abdi warsame appointed ceo of minneapolis public housing. Abdi warsame oo ka hadlay dilka lagu eedeynayo askariga soomaali. Abdi warsame has resigned from the minneapolis city council to take over as executive director of the minneapolis public housing authority. New oral histories document the stories of minnesotas.
As i read the book i was moved by each challenge and i cheered each triumph. Always rolling forward and millions of other books are available for instant. Abdi warsama, better known by his stage name knaan. People mostly know him for his single wavin flag, which became the promotional anthem for the 2010 fifa world cup. Transcript of oral history interview with abdi warsame. Tapped to lead minneapolis housing system, warsame makes. In a flash, his legs were paralyzed and his cousin killed. The linked data service provides access to commonly found standards and vocabularies promulgated by the library of congress. In 1991, at the height of the somali civil war, twelveyearold abdi warsame ran for his life through the streets of mogadishu. Paralyzing me from the waist down, that event irrevocably altered my life. Abdi warsame is not qualified to lead mpha because he is not about the people, the statement reads.