Zohran Mamdani: the story of the first Muslim mayor of New York
5 november 2025 в 20:37
Zohran Mamdani made history by becoming the first Muslim-elected mayor of New York and the youngest elected mayor since the late 1800s. As he prepares to take on his new role, the self-proclaimed democratic socialist Mamdani has become a topic of discussion across the country. Since most people outside of New York are not familiar with him, some wonder where the resident of Astoria, Queens, was born and raised.
In his victorious speech on November 4, 2025, Mamdani proudly declared that New York «will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, whose strength lies in immigrants, and today, starting from this evening, led by an immigrant».
«Here we believe in protecting those we love, whether it be an immigrant, a member of the transgender community, one of the many black women whom Donald Trump fired from federal jobs, a single mother still waiting for food prices to drop, or anyone else in a difficult situation», - Mamdani continued. «No longer will New York be a city where Islamophobia can be traded and elections won».
Below you will learn all about Mamdani’s background, from his birthplace to his upbringing.
Mamdani is currently 34 years old, with his birthday falling on October 18.
Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, and moved to Cape Town, South Africa, with his parents, Mira Nair and Mahmood Mamdani, when he was 5 years old. At the age of 7, the Mamdani family moved to New York.
Mamdani grew up in the Morningside Heights neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
Mamdani’s mother, Mira, is a talented Indian-American film director, known for films such as «Mississippi Masala», «Namesake», «Queen of Katwe», «Monsoon Wedding», and «Hello Bombay!». She was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and a BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language.
His father, Mahmood, is a scholar, author, Herbert Lehman Professor of Government, and professor of anthropology, political science, and African studies at Columbia University, as well as the Chancellor of Kampala International University in Uganda.
The elected mayor attended the Bronx High School of Science. After high school, Mamdani attended Bowdoin College in Maine, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in African Studies.
Mamdani currently resides in Astoria, Queens, with his wife, Rama Duwaji
In his victorious speech on November 4, 2025, Mamdani proudly declared that New York «will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, whose strength lies in immigrants, and today, starting from this evening, led by an immigrant».
«Here we believe in protecting those we love, whether it be an immigrant, a member of the transgender community, one of the many black women whom Donald Trump fired from federal jobs, a single mother still waiting for food prices to drop, or anyone else in a difficult situation», - Mamdani continued. «No longer will New York be a city where Islamophobia can be traded and elections won».
Below you will learn all about Mamdani’s background, from his birthplace to his upbringing.
Mamdani is currently 34 years old, with his birthday falling on October 18.
Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, and moved to Cape Town, South Africa, with his parents, Mira Nair and Mahmood Mamdani, when he was 5 years old. At the age of 7, the Mamdani family moved to New York.
Mamdani grew up in the Morningside Heights neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
Mamdani’s mother, Mira, is a talented Indian-American film director, known for films such as «Mississippi Masala», «Namesake», «Queen of Katwe», «Monsoon Wedding», and «Hello Bombay!». She was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and a BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language.
His father, Mahmood, is a scholar, author, Herbert Lehman Professor of Government, and professor of anthropology, political science, and African studies at Columbia University, as well as the Chancellor of Kampala International University in Uganda.
The elected mayor attended the Bronx High School of Science. After high school, Mamdani attended Bowdoin College in Maine, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in African Studies.
Mamdani currently resides in Astoria, Queens, with his wife, Rama Duwaji
© Smirnova Olga
