Zohran Mamdani.

Born in Kampala, Uganda on October 18, 1991, Zohran Kwame Mamdani is the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and scholar Mahmood Mamdani. He attended St. George’s Grammar School and later moved to New York City for high school at the Bronx High School of Science. He graduated from Bowdoin College and also studied at Bank Street College of Education. His middle name, Kwame, honors Ghanaian independence leader Kwame Nkrumah.

Mamdani appeared as a bookie student in the 2016 film Queen of Katwe, directed by his mother Mira Nair. He also made guest appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Daily Show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and The View. Before politics, he performed as a rapper under the names Young Cardamom and Mr. Cardamom. He served as a New York State Assemblyman for the 36th District, where he led campaigns for taxi driver debt relief and a fare-free bus pilot. On November 4, 2025, he won the election for the 111th Mayor of New York City.

Mamdani is married to Rama Duwaji. His parents are filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani. He is a Ugandan citizen by birth and resides in New York City. His nickname Mr. Cardamom originated from his time as a rapper.

Zohran Mamdani made history in 2025 as the first Muslim mayor of New York City and the youngest in modern times. His advocacy for working-class New Yorkers, including taxi driver debt relief and fare-free transit, has left a lasting impact on city policy. He continues his family’s legacy of activism and art, following his mother Mira Nair’s filmmaking and his father Mahmood Mamdani’s scholarship.