Zohran Mamdani's last name reflects centuries of intercontinental trade, migration and cultural exchange

BY THE time Zohran Mamdani became the next mayor-elect of New York City on November 4, many Americans were familiar with his progressive platform and legislative record. But understanding the democratic candidate's background requires examining the rich cultural tapestry woven into his surname: Mamdani.

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He takes the name from his father, Mahmood Mamdani, a prominent academic who was raised in Uganda and whose work focuses on postcolonial Uganda.

I studied the history of the Khoja community for my doctoral work and have helped develop Khoja studies as an academic discipline.

The Mamdani surname tells a story of migration, resilience and community-building that spans centuries and continents.

The Khoja history

Mamdanis in Uganda belong to the Khoja community, a South Asian Muslim merchant caste, that shaped economic development across the western Indian Ocean for centuries.

The name originates from greater Sindh, a region in South Asia that today includes southeastern Pakistan and Kachchh in western India.

Its etymology is twofold. "Mam" is an honorific title in Kachchhi and Gujarati languages, meaning kindness, courage and pride. "Mamado" is a local version of the name, Muhammad, that often appeared in surnames in Hindu castes that converted to Islam, such as the Memons.

The Khoja were categorised by the British in the early 19th century as "Hindoo Mussalman" because their traditions spanned both religions.

Over time, the Khoja came to be identified only as Muslim and then primarily as Shia Muslim.

Today, the majority of Khoja are Ismaili: a branch of Shia Islam that follows the Aga Khan as their living imam.

The Mamdani family, however, is part of the Twelver community of Khoja, whose Twelfth Imam is believed to be hidden from the world and only emerges in times of crisis. Twelvers believe he will help usher in an age of peace during end times.

Around the late 18th century, the Khoja helped export textiles, manufactured goods, spices and gems from the Indian subcontinent to Arabia and East Africa.

Through this Western Indian Ocean trading network, they imported timber, ivory, minerals and cloves, among other goods.

Khoja family firms were built on kinship networks and trust.