Writer and freelance researcher born in Rome in 1974, daughter of Somali parents fleeing from the dictatorial regime of Siad Barre, has always dealt with colonialism and post-colonialism. Her works are characterized by a deep historical research and an acute observation of the present. She collaborates for the magazines Internazionale and Domani. She has also written for The Guardian, Le monde, Folha de Sao Paulo. Her books include the novels Adua (Giunti) and Oltre Babilonia (Donzelli), the memoir La mia casa è dove sono (Rizzoli) winner of the Mondello prize, the children’s book Prestami le ali. Storia di Clara la Rinoceronte (Rrose Sélavy) and the essay Roma Negata (Ediesse) on the urban traces of the Italian capital linked to colonial history. She edited in collaboration with UNHCR the book Anche Superman era un rifugiato. Her works are translated into several languages. Her latest novel, La linea del colore (Premio Napoli), was published in 2020 by Bompiani.

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(Ph. Simona Filippini)