ɐlˈɛm wʌz bˈɔːɹn ɪn kɹˈuːnstæd, ˈɔɹɪndʒ fɹˈiː stˈeɪt, sˈaʊθ ˈæfɹɪkə, ðə mˈɪdəl tʃˈaɪld ʌv fˈaɪv tʃˈɪldɹən ænd ðə ɡɹˈændsʌn əvə lˌɛbənˈiːz tɹˈeɪdɚ; hiː hæd ɐ pɹˈɪvᵻlɪdʒd əpbɹɪŋɪŋ.
Allem was born in Kroonstad, Orange Free State, South Africa, the middle child of five children and the grandson of a Lebanese trader; he had a privileged upbringing.