20th Karlsruhe Dialogues - Speakers

© Walter Korn

Fadumo Korn was born in 1964 to a nomadic family in rural Somalia. She was circumcised at the age of eight and suffered significant health problems as a result of this. She was thus sent, in 1972, to her uncle in the capital city Mogadishu, who later sent her to Italy, and ultimately to Germany. Fadumo Korn has been living in Germany since 1979. Her biography Geboren im großen Regen was published in 2004 and garnered her fame in the German-speaking world. She followed this up with her book Schwester Löwenherz. Eine mutige Afrikanerin kämpft für Menschenrechte (2009). Korn is the first chairperson of the registered NALA association, which campaigns against female genital mutilation. She has been invited by various international organisations, institutions, and agencies to give readings and lectures. Korn has received numerous awards and honours for her great commitment and dedication, including the Medal of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2011.