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Safia Elhillo

サフィア・エルヒッロ

Safia Elhillo

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1990-12-16 （Rockville, Maryland, United States）
Nationality
Sudanese-American
Languages
English, Arabic
Religion
Islam
Residence History
Rockville, Maryland (birthplace) → New York (residence/studies) → Stanford, California (Stegner fellowship period)

Career

Occupations
Poet, Spoken-word performer
Active Years
2010-
Influenced By
Sonia Sanchez

Education

Gallatin School, New York University
Degree: BA
Period: 2008-2012
Year of Graduation: 2012
Country: United States
The New School
Degree: MFA
Period: 2014-2016
Year of Graduation: 2016
Country: United States

Awards

Brunel University African Poetry Prize (co-winner)
2015
Organization: Brunel University
Result: Co-winner
Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets
2016
Work: The January Children
Organization: Sillerman/University of Nebraska Press
Result: Winner
Pushcart Prize (special mention)
2016
Organization: Pushcart Prize
Result: Special mention
George Ellenbogen Poetry Award (Arab American Book Award)
2018
Work: The January Children
Category: Poetry
Organization: Arab American National Museum
Result: Winner
Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Fellowship
2018
Organization: Poetry Foundation
Result: Fellowship
Wallace Stegner Fellowship
2019
Organization: Stanford University
Result: Fellowship (2019–2021)
Michael L. Printz Award (Honor)
2025
Work: Bright Red Fruit
Category: Young Adult Literature
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: Honor
Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 (Creatives)
2018
Organization: Forbes Africa
Result: Recognition

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The January Children

2017 Poetry

A poetry collection that explores belonging and identity in the contexts of migration and nationality, addressing separation, connection, language, and memory.

belongingidentitymigrationlanguage

Home Is Not A Country

2021 Poetry

A collection probing the idea of 'home,' interweaving themes of belonging, loss, and reclamation.

homebelongingloss

Girls That Never Die: Poems

2022 Poetry

A collection focusing on girlhood, youth, and memory, where personal narratives intersect with public histories.

girlhoodmemoryyouth

Bright Red Fruit

2024 Poetry / Young Adult

Combines verse and narrative to examine complex identity and longing for love; also recognized within young adult literature.

identitylovelongingcoming-of-age

Bibliography

  • The January Children (2017)
  • Home Is Not A Country (2021)
  • Girls That Never Die: Poems (2022)
  • Bright Red Fruit (2024)
  • ars poetica (chapbook, 2016)
  • a suite for ol' dirty (chapbook, 2016)
  • Asmarani (chapbook, 2016)
  • The Life and Times of Susie Knuckles (chapbook, 2012)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
spoken-word influencedlyrical with narrative elementslinguistic play and fragmentary imagery
Recurring Motifs
belongingmigration and nationalitylanguage and translationlove and longingmemory

Legacy

A young poet highly regarded for work on migration and identity, notable in both spoken-word and written traditions. Recipient of multiple awards and fellowships, with influence extending into young adult literature.

Trivia

  • Her collection The January Children won the 2018 Arab American Book Award (George Ellenbogen Poetry Award), making her the first Sudanese American author to win the prize.
  • Has performed at TEDxNewYork and appeared in commercial and stage platforms including an Under Armour campaign.
  • Named to Forbes Africa's '30 Under 30' (Creatives) in 2018.