IGIABA SCEGO
IGIABA SCEGO is a Somali Italian writer, cultural activist and freelance scholar. She was born in Rome to Somali parents who took refuge in Italy following a coup d’état in their native country, where her father served as foreign minister. She holds a PhD in education on postcolonial subjects, has done extensive academic work in Italy and around the world and has a special interest in immigration and mobility. Her memoir won Italy’s prestigious Mondello Prize. The Italian edition of The Colour Line won the Premio Napoli. Scego received the International Award Viareggio-Répaci in 2021. Most recently, she was longlisted for this year’s Premio Strega (2023), Italy’s most prestigious literary award. Her previous novels include Beyond Babylon (2019) and Adua (2017). She also co-edited the anthology series Africana (Feltrinelli), with Chiara Piaggio.
Igiaba Scego has written for
The Observer, New York Times and
Monocle. She is a frequent contributor to
La Lettura, the literary supplement to
Corriere della Sera and the magazine
Internazionale.
Photo: © Simona Filippini
