Ahmed Ali, better known by the pseudonym Knowmadic, is a Somali-Canadian poet, writer, actor, musician, and youth activist.
Early life
Ali was born November 28, 1984, in Mogadishu, to a nomadic father and a mother whose family were farmers. His name is a portmanteau of knowledge and nomadic. His family immigrated first to Italy in 1989, then to Canada. While in Italy, Ali and his 3 older brothers stayed in boarding schools. Upon graduating, he attended Humber College in Toronto, Ontario for Comedy writing and performance. Ali was introduced to spoken word in 2009 by Titilope Sonuga, who curated a regular poetry night called Rouge Poetry; She invited Ali and others to help her found the Breath in Poetry Collective.
Career
In 2011, Ali and team Edmonton won the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word championship. In 2013, Ali received an opportunity to be Artist in residence at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center in Seattle, Washington, initiating his career as a full-time artist. In 2017, he was runner-up for public school board trustee in Ward A in Edmonton. In January 2018, Ali hosted the APAP Annual Awards Ceremony, honoring Martin Luther King. He served a two-year term as Edmonton's Poet Laureate, from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2019, as its seventh Poet Laureate.
Ali sits on community boards including the Edmonton Arts Council where he chairs the equity committee. He also performs speaking engagements at local schools, and has participated in vigils against violence.
Ali is married and has two daughters.
Awards and nominations
Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund Award
Top 30 Under 30
Cultural Diversity in the Arts Awards
Canadian Champion of Spoken word
Top 40 Under 40
Human Rights Champions Award
Michaëlle Jean Young Arts Entrepreneur Award
Art Residencies
Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center
Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers.