Nadifa Mohamed is a critically acclaimed author, born in Hargeisa, Somaliland, in the year 1981. Her parents were a sailor in the merchant navy and a local landlady, respectively. In 1986, when Nadifa was just five years old, her family moved to London for what was initially intended to be a temporary stay. However, due to the civil war that broke out in Somalia shortly after their departure, they ended up staying in the United Kingdom permanently.
Nadifa's debut novel, "Black Mamba Boy," was published in 2010 and is based on her father's memories of his travels in the 1930s. The novel received widespread acclaim and was longlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction and the Dylan Thomas Prize. It was also shortlisted for the John Llewellyn-Rhys Memorial Prize and the Guardian First Book Award, ultimately winning the 2010 Betty Trask Prize. Nadifa's personal background and experiences have greatly influenced her writing, providing unique perspectives and insights into the immigrant experience and the complexities of identity. She currently resides in London, continuing to explore and expand upon these themes in her work.