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Zohran Mamdani was born in Uganda in 1991, and moved to New York at the age of seven. He attended Bronx High School of Science, where he formed a cricket team, and later earned a degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College. (Social Media) His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is an academician who teaches African Studies at Columbia University. Mahmood Mamdani was born in 1946 in Bombay, India, a year before independence, and specialised in the study of African and international politics. (AFP) His mother, Mira Nair, is celebrated across the world for her independent films, including Monsoon Wedding, Mississippi Masala and The Namesake. Her movies have won two awards at the Cannes Film Festival and four at the Venice Film Festival, along with two Oscar nominations. (Reuters) Mamdani is a hip-hop fan and pursued a music career as a rapper and producer. His music showcases his Ugandan and Indian roots, seamlessly blending English and Luganda in his lyrics. (Reuters) Before entering politics, Mamdani worked as a housing counsellor, helping low-income homeowners in Queens fight eviction. He has positioned himself as a staunch advocate for the working class in his campaign. (Reuters) Mamdani became a naturalised US citizen by 2018. The self-declared democratic socialist was elected to the New York State Assembly after he defeated incumbent Democrat Aravella Simotas to represent the 36th district in Queens. (Reuters) He met Brooklyn-based Syrian artist Rama Duwaji in 2021 on the dating app Hinge. The duo got engaged in October 2024 and were married in February 2025 in a civil ceremony at New York City Hall.
