Knowmadic
{{Short description|Somali-Canadian poet}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=June 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ahmed Ali
| image = Knowmadic Public Speaking.jpg
| alt = Ali speaking at a podium
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|11|28}}
| birth_place = Mogadishu, Somalia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Somali-Canadian
| other_names =
| occupation = {{hlist|Poet|actor|musician|activist|politician}}
| years_active =
| known_for = Poet Laureate of Edmonton
| notable_works =
| website = {{URL|https://www.ahmedknowmadic.com}}
}}
Ahmed Ali, better known by the pseudonym Knowmadic, is a Somali-Canadian poet, writer, actor, musician, and youth activist.{{cite web|url=http://t2conline.com/apap-comes-to-new-york-january-12th/|title=APAP 2018 Comes To New York January 12th. - Times Square Chronicles|website=t2conline.com|date=January 3, 2018 }}
Early life
Ali was born November 28, 1984, in Mogadishu, to a nomadic father and a mother whose family were farmers. His name is a portmanteau of knowledge and nomadic.{{cite web|url=http://afrospora.com/Ahmed-ali-knowmadic-spoken-word-poet-somalia|title=Spoken Word Poet, Ahmed Ali is Africa! - Afrospora|website=afrospora.com}} His family immigrated first to Italy in 1989, then to Canada. While in Italy, Ali and his 3 older brothers stayed in boarding schools. Upon graduating, he attended Humber College in Toronto, Ontario for Comedy writing and performance.{{cite web|url=https://www.vueweekly.com/knowmadics-immigrant-experience-informs-his-art-and-community-contributions |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209034735/http://www.vueweekly.com/knowmadics-immigrant-experience-informs-his-art-and-community-contributions/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=February 9, 2017 |title=Knowmadic's Immigrant Experience Informs his art and community contributions|date= February 9, 2017|publisher= Vue Weekly}} Ali was introduced to spoken word in 2009 by Titilope Sonuga, who curated a regular poetry night called Rouge Poetry; She invited Ali and others to help her found the Breath in Poetry Collective.{{cite web|url= https://passionpassport.com/edmonton-feature-knowmadic/ |title=Empowering Edmonton Through Spoken Word: A Conversation with @Knowmadic|website= PassionPassport.com}}
Career
In 2011, Ali and team Edmonton won the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.avenueedmonton.com/April-2012/Breath-In-Poetry-Pits-Verse-Against-Verse/|title= Breath in Poetry Pits Berse Against Verse|website=avenueedmonton.com|date= April 8, 2012}} In 2013, Ali received an opportunity to be Artist in residence at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center in Seattle, Washington, initiating his career as a full-time artist. In 2017, he was runner-up for public school board trustee in Ward A in Edmonton.{{cite web|url=https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/municipal_elections/elections-results-text-view.aspx|title=Official Election Results (Text View)|first=City of|last=Edmonton|date=28 May 2018|website=www.edmonton.ca}} In January 2018, Ali hosted the APAP Annual Awards Ceremony, honoring Martin Luther King. He served a two-year term as Edmonton's Poet Laureate, from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2019, as its seventh Poet Laureate.{{cite web|date=27 June 2017|title=Ahmed (Knowmadic) Ali is Edmonton's newest poet laureate|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/local-arts/ahmed-knowmadic-ali-is-edmontons-newest-poet-laureate|publisher=}}{{Cite web|last=Bremness|first=Rick|date=June 8, 2019|title=Edmonton poet Ahmed Ali reaches end of term as poet laureate|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-poet-ahmed-ali-reaches-end-of-term-as-poet-laureate-1.5165692|access-date=2021-06-26|website=CBC News}}
Ali sits on community boards including the Edmonton Arts Council where he chairs the equity committee.{{cite web|url=https://jasminpjoe.com/portfolio/feature-article-building-a-bridge-of-understanding/|title= Building a Bridge of Understanding|website=jasminpjoe.com}} He also performs speaking engagements at local schools,{{cite web|url=http://edmontonsun.com/2017/03/27/free-webinars-aim-to-help-edmonton-schools-integrate-refugee-children/wcm/4baa45b7-a382-4e4f-bf3c-dbbce007ef45|title=Free webinars aim to help Edmonton schools integrate refugee children|date=28 March 2017|publisher=}} and has participated in vigils against violence.
Ali is married and has two daughters.{{cite web|title=Edmonton poet laureate ahmed "Knowmadic ali on poetry and life in edmonton over coffee interview|url=http://www.jacanabooks.com/edmonton-poet-laureate-ahmed-knowmadic-ali-on-poetry-and-life-in-edmonton-over-coffee-interview/|website=jacanabooks.com}}
Awards and nominations
- Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund Award {{cite web|url=https://www.ecfoundation.org/blog/breathing-life-into-community/|title=Breathing Life into Community|website=ecfoundation.org|date=May 27, 2021 }}
- Top 30 Under 30 {{cite web|url=https://acgc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ACGC-Top30Under30Magazine-2014.pdf|title=Thirty Youth from Alberta and the Global South who are Making a Difference in the World|website=acgc.ca}}
- Cultural Diversity in the Arts Awards {{cite web|url=https://grants.edmontonarts.ca/2013%20CDA%20recipients/|title=Cultural Diversity in the Arts Awards|website=edmontonarts.ca}}
- Canadian Champion of Spoken word
- Top 40 Under 40 {{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3832676/meet-this-years-top-40-under-40-as-chosen-by-edmontons-avenue-magazine/|title=Meet this year's Top 40 Under 40 as chosen by Edmonton's Avenue Magazine|website=globalnews.ca}}
- Human Rights Champions Award{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/human-rights-awards-edmonton-1.4938865|title=Edmontonians recognized as human rights heroes|website=edmontonarts.ca}}
- Michaëlle Jean Young Arts Entrepreneur Award {{cite web|url=http://www.fmjf.ca/en/programming/social-innovation/young-arts-entrepreneur/2014-2/|title=The Young Arts Entrepenuer|website=fmjf.ca}}{{cite web|url=http://pridenews.ca/2014/05/06/three-african-canadian-youth-selected-to-receive-michaelle-jean-foundation-young-arts-entrepreneur-funding/|title=Three African Canadian Youth Selected To Receive Michaëlle Jean Foundation Young Arts Entrepreneur Funding|website=pridenews.ca}}
Art Residencies
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
- {{IMDb name|nm3717833}}
- {{musicbrainz artist|id=9eeb796d-3763-43e2-99c1-15b84ca62ed2|name=Knowmadic}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Somalian emigrants to Canada
Category:21st-century Canadian poets
Category:Writers from Edmonton
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