Fabio Liverani (b. 1976) – Somali-Italian international footballer Mustafa Mohamed (b. 1979) – Somali-Swedish long-distance runner who mainly competes in the 3000 meter steeplechase; won gold in the 2006 Nordic Cross Country Championships and at the first SPAR European Team Championships in Leiria, Portugal in 2009; beat the 31-year-old Swedish record in 2007 Authors Jama Musse Jama – ethnomathematician and writer Ayaan Hirsi Ali (Ayaan Xirsi Cali or Ayaan Hirsi Magan) (b. 1969) – feminist and political writer Gaariye (Mohamed Hashi Dhamac) (b. 1951) – poet and writer Yasmine Allas – actress and writer Farah Awl (1937–1991) – author; specialized in historical fiction Cristina Ali Farah (b. 1973) – Somali-Italian writer and poet Elmi Boodhari (d. 1940) – pioneer, writer and poet, known as (King of Romance) among Somalis Nuruddin Farah (b. 1945) – considered one of the greatest contemporary writers in the world Musa Haji Ismail Galal (b. 1917) – writer, scholar, historian and linguist; one of the foremost historical authorities on the Somali astrological, astronomical, meteorological and calendrical systems Hadrawi (Mohamed Ibrahim Warsame) (b. 1943) – songwriter, philosopher, and Somali Poet Laureate; dubbed the "Somali Shakespeare" Afdhere Jama (b. 1980) – Somali-American writer based in San Francisco Abdukadir Osman – writer Aadan Carab, poet who narrated the Dhulbahante genocide at the hands of European colonialists in the Darawiish era Salaan Carrabey (d. 1943) – legendary poet Hussein M. Adam – writer, journalist and professor Ladan Osman – poet and teacher Sofia Samatar – Somali-American writer Igiaba Scego – Somali-Italian writer Warsan Shire (b. 1988) – poet Abdillahi Suldaan Mohammed Timacade (1920–1973) – poet known for his nationalist poems such as "Kana siib Kana Saar" Abdourahman Waberi (b. 1965) – writer and teacher Nadifa Mohamed – Somali-British novelist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature Directors Abdisalam Aato – film director and producer; leader in Somaliwood cinematic movement Fathia Absie – film director, broadcaster and writer Said Salah Ahmed – playwright, poet, educator and filmmaker Mo Ali – Somali-British film director Ali Said Hassan – film director and producer; former Somali Film Agency representative Idil Ibrahim – filmmaker; founder of Zeila Films Barni Ahmed Qaasim – multimedia artist and filmmaker Abdulkadir Ahmed Said (b. 1953) – film director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer and editor Entrepreneurs Nasra Agil – Somali-Canadian civil engineer and entrepreneur Omar A. Ali – entrepreneur, accountant, philanthropist, and specialist on Islamic finance; formerly CEO of DMI