Abdi Nor Iftin

When the civil war in Somalia began, Abdi Nor Iftin was five; he and his brother became
the sole providers for the family while they also attended a madrassa. Amidst the daily
shelling and the famine, Abdi had one escape: American movies and music. At
neighborhood showings of Rambo, Commando, and The Terminator, Abdi learned of
America, and taught himself English, and began to dream of a life in the United States.

In his memoir Call Me American, Iftin recounts his harrowing, extraordinary, and
uplifting story. His love of western culture and music earned him the name “Abdi
American.” This became a liability when Islamic extremism took hold of Somalia.
Evading conscription by al-Shabaab while secretly filing stories for NPR under penalty
of death,

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