<p>After being expelled from his homeland in 1972, the academic has grappled with questions of political belonging – a major theme of his son’s mayoral campaign</p><p>The night before Mahmood Mamdani was expelled from Uganda in 1972, a senior professor from the university where he had been employed as a lowly teaching assistant wandered into his family home, looking for spoils. The rest of the family had already left – for the UK, the US and Tanzania – but 26-year-old Mamdani had decided to remain until the final day of the three-month period that Idi Amin, the Ugandan president, had designated for all Asians to leave the country. Passing over the furniture and other remnants of decades of family life, the professor hit upon a carton of Johnnie Walker Red, which Mamdani invited him to take home.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/nov/18/mahmood-mamdani-father-interview-zohran">Continue reading...</a>

ماحمود مانداني، أكاديمي تم طرده من أوغندا في عام 1972، يتأمل في تجاربه المتعلقة بالطرد القسري وأسئلة الانتماء السياسي. في الليلة التي سبقت طرده، زار أستاذ كبير منزله بحثًا عن ممتلكات، بينما قرر مانداني البقاء حتى اللحظة الأخيرة من المهلة المحددة بثلاثة أشهر من قبل الرئيس Idi Amin للأشخاص الآسيويين لمغادرة البلاد. لقد أثرت هذه القصة الشخصية على الحملة السياسية لابنه زوهاران، الذي يتناول موضوعات الهوية والانتماء في ترشحه للمنصب.

Mahmood Mamdani, un académico expulsado de Uganda en 1972, reflexiona sobre sus experiencias de expulsión forzada y las cuestiones de pertenencia nacional. La noche antes de su expulsión, un profesor senior visitó su hogar, buscando pertenencias mientras Mamdani decidió quedarse hasta el último momento del plazo de tres meses establecido por el presidente Idi Amin para que los asiáticos abandonaran el país. Esta historia personal ha influido en la campaña política de su hijo, Zohran, quien aborda temas de identidad y pertenencia en su candidatura a la alcaldía.

Mahmood Mamdani, un universitaire expulsé d'Ouganda en 1972, réfléchit à ses expériences d'expulsion forcée et aux questions d'appartenance nationale. La nuit précédant son expulsion, un professeur senior a visité son domicile, cherchant des biens alors que Mamdani avait choisi de rester jusqu'à la dernière minute de la période de trois mois fixée par le président Idi Amin pour que les Asiatiques quittent le pays. Cette histoire personnelle a influencé la campagne politique de son fils, Zohran, qui aborde des thèmes d'identité et d'appartenance dans sa candidature à la mairie.

Mahmood Mamdani, an academic expelled from Uganda in 1972, reflects on his experiences of forced expulsion and questions of national belonging. The night before his expulsion, a senior professor visited his home, scavenging for belongings as Mamdani chose to stay until the last moment of the three-month deadline set by President Idi Amin for Asians to leave the country. This personal history has influenced the political campaign of his son, Zohran, who is addressing themes of identity and belonging in his mayoral run.

Mahmood Mamdani on Zohran, Uganda and forced expulsion: ‘Who is part of the nation and who is not?’

Postcolonial scholar says Palestinian rights are &#039;near and dear&#039; to Zohran, who showed &#039;grit&#039; under campaign pressures.

قال محمود ممداني، الأكاديمي البارز في الدراسات ما بعد الاستعمار، إن حقوق الفلسطينيين مهمة لابنه زهران، الذي يتنافس حاليًا على منصب عمدة. وأشاد ممداني بزهران لظهوره بمثابرة تحت ضغوط حملته الانتخابية.

Mahmood Mamdani, un destacado académico poscolonial, ha afirmado que los derechos de los palestinos son significativos para su hijo Zohran, quien actualmente se postula para alcalde. Mamdani elogió a Zohran por demostrar resistencia ante las presiones de su campaña.

Mahmood Mamdani, un éminent universitaire postcolonial, a déclaré que les droits des Palestiniens sont importants pour son fils Zohran, qui se présente actuellement aux élections municipales. Mamdani a loué Zohran pour sa résilience face aux pressions de sa campagne.

Mahmood Mamdani, a prominent postcolonial scholar, has stated that the rights of Palestinians are significant to his son Zohran, who is currently running for mayor. Mamdani praised Zohran for demonstrating resilience amid the pressures of his campaign.

Mahmood Mamdani on Zohran, Uganda and forced expulsion: ‘Who is part of the nation and who is not?’

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