Abdi Iftin's guest appearances

Abdi Iftin

Portland Press Herald Audio

Past Forward

New Mainers Speak

A World Without Books

Hillary Clinton

Sam Sifton

Timothy Simons

Patrick Dempsey

Michael Walsh

David Carlson

Angus King

Michael Lee

Susan Collins

Bill O'Reilly

Lauren Shippen

Michael Simon

Janet Mills

Bruce Poliquin

Diane Russell

OwlTail

Abdi Nor Iftin is a reporter and the author of “Call Me American,” a memoir of his immigration to the United States. Growing up in Mogadishu, Somalia, Iftin learned English by watching action movies. When U.S. Marines landed in the 1990s to get involved in the civil conflict, Iftin felt it was an arrival of real-life action heroes and grew fascinated with American culture. Sporting hip-hop clothes and dance moves, he became known as “Abdi American.” In 2006, as conflict again emerged in Somalia, Iftin risked his life posting secret dispatches to NPR. He eventually fled to Nairobi, Kenya as he became a target. In an eventual stroke of luck, he won entrance to the U.S. in the annual visa lottery, though his route to America—which was documented on the radio show This American Life—did not come easily. Iftin is now a US citizen. His naturalization ceremony took place in Portland on Jan. 17, 2019. He lives in Yarmouth and writes a regular column for the Forecaster. He is also working on a documentary about his life story. Iftin was interviewed by Portland Press Herald reporter Eric Russell.

Abdi Nor Iftin is a reporter and the author of “Call Me American,” a memoir of his immigration to the United States. Growing up in Mogadishu, Somalia, Iftin learned English by watching action movies. When U.S. Marines landed in the 1990s to get involved in the civil conflict, Iftin felt it was an arrival of real-life action heroes and grew fascinated with American culture. Sporting hip-hop clothes and dance moves, he became known as “Abdi American.” In 2006, as conflict again emerged in Somalia, Iftin risked his life posting secret dispatches to NPR. He eventually fled to Nairobi, Kenya as he became a target. In an eventual stroke of luck, he won entrance to the U.S. in the annual visa lottery, though his route to America—which was documented on the radio show This American Life—did not come easily. Iftin is now a US citizen. His naturalization ceremony took place in Portland on Jan. 17, 2019. He lives in Yarmouth and writes a regular column for the Forecaster. He is also working on a documentary about his life story. Iftin was interviewed by Portland Press Herald reporter Eric Russell.

Maine Voices Live: Abdi Iftin

When the civil war in Somalia began, Abdi Nor Iftin was five; he attended a madrassa while providing for his family. Amidst the daily shelling and the famine, Abdi had one escape: American movies and music. He learned of America, and taught himself English, and began to dream of a life in the United States. In Call Me American, Abdi 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, he stayed in Somalia until he had no choice but to flee to Kenyan. And then, a stroke of incredible luck: he won the Diversity Visa Lottery. Now a proud and legal resident of Maine and on the path to citizenship this year, Abdi will become one of us.* * *Call Me AmericanKnopf, June 2018

When the civil war in Somalia began, <a href="http://callmeamerican.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Abdi Nor Iftin</a> was five; he attended a madrassa while providing for his family. Amidst the daily shelling and the famine, Abdi had one escape: American movies and music. He learned of America, and taught himself English, and began to dream of a life in the United States. In Call Me American, Abdi 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, he stayed in Somalia until he had no choice but to flee to Kenyan. And then, a stroke of incredible luck: he won the Diversity Visa Lottery. Now a proud and legal resident of Maine and on the path to citizenship this year, Abdi will become one of us.* * *<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Call Me American</a> Knopf, June 2018

This is an hour-long (two part) interview with Abdi Iftin, author of Call Me American.  He came to the US in 2014 and became a US citizen in January 2020.  In this interview he talks about his memoir which details his epic journey from Mogadishu, Somalia to Maine.Abdi speaks about things that are sometimes considered taboo like being black in Maine, FGM (Female Genital Mutilation), religion and politics.Currently, Abdi is a student at Boston College getting a bachelor's degree in political science while promoting his book and working on a movie based on his book.For more background on his life you can listen to his 2017 interview on New Mainers Speak. Click here. Music: A2VT (Africa to Vermont) sings "Faas Waa"

This is an hour-long (two part) interview with Abdi Iftin, author of Call Me American. He came to the US in 2014 and became a US citizen in January 2020. In this interview he talks about his memoir which details his epic journey from Mogadishu, Somalia to Maine. Abdi speaks about things that are sometimes considered taboo like being black in Maine, FGM (Female Genital Mutilation), religion and politics. Currently, Abdi is a student at Boston College getting a bachelor's degree in political science while promoting his book and working on a movie based on his book. For more background on his life you can listen to his 2017 interview on New Mainers Speak. Click here. Music: A2VT (Africa to Vermont) sings "Faas Waa"

Abdi Iftin, Somalia - part 2