Somalis abroad in public life
Bilan Osman
Bilan Osman (born 1992 in Gothenburg) is a Swedish journalist, columnist and anti-racism activist whose parents came from Somalia. She has written columns for Svenska Dagbladet and Expressen, worked for eight years as an educator for the Expo foundation, and received the ELSA Award of the Swedish Committee Against Antisemitism in 2014.
Bilan Osman
- Lived
- 1992 to today
- Known as one of
- Somalis abroad in public life
- Era
- Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
- Sources
- 1 sources
Who is she?
Bilan Osman is a Swedish journalist, opinion columnist and anti-racism activist born in Gothenburg in 1992 to parents from Somalia (Wikipedia, Bilan Osman). Her paternal grandfather, Nor Osman, was a poet (same source). See Somalis in Sweden.
Work
She has been a columnist for Svenska Dagbladet (2018 to 2019) and Expressen (Wikipedia). From 2013, for eight years, she worked as a travelling educator for the anti-racism Expo foundation (same source). She has contributed to several anthologies, including Svart kvinna (2015) (same source).
In 2013 she co-signed an open letter urging Muslim women in Sweden to wear the veil for a day in solidarity with a woman attacked for her hijab (same source). Her writing on race and the far right has drawn both support and criticism (same source).
Honours
In 2014 she received the ELSA Award from the Swedish Committee Against Antisemitism, and in 2020 she was nominated for a Rising Star award by the Swedish Magazine Publishers Association (Wikipedia).
In short
A Gothenburg-born journalist who writes and teaches about racism in Sweden.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Bilan Osman · en.wikipedia.org
Bilan Osman
- Lived
- 1992 to today
- Known as one of
- Somalis abroad in public life
- Era
- Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
- Sources
- 1 sources
Toosoo!
Calankii is made by Toosoo, which works for one united, prosperous Somalia.
Can you help with Bilan Osman? Tell us what you can give.
I want to help with this
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- Iman (Iimaan Maxamed Cabdulmajiid)Iman, born 1955 in Mogadishu: supermodel, actress, founder of Iman Cosmetics (1994) and CARE Global Advocate.
- Waris Dirie (Waris Diiriye)Waris Dirie, born 1965: model, author of Desert Flower, UN special ambassador against FGM and founder of the Desert Flower Foundation.
- Halima Aden (Xaliimo Aadan)Halima Aden, born 1997 in Kakuma: hijab-wearing model, UNICEF ambassador and BBC 100 Women honoree.
- Ahmed HussenAhmed Hussen (born 1976): Mogadishu-born refugee who became Canada's first Somali-Canadian MP and Cabinet minister.
- Yasmin Warsame (Yaasmiin Warsame)Yasmin Warsame (born 1976): Mogadishu-born Canadian model on Vogue covers, Canada's Next Top Model judge and actor.
- Ilhan OmarIlhan Omar (born 1982): Mogadishu-born former refugee, first Somali American in the US Congress, since 2019.