First Days

Author Nayomi Munaweera was born in Sri Lanka, and then moved with her family to Birnin Kebi, Nigeria, to avoid civil war. Here Munaweera stands with her mother, Mali, and younger sister, Namal.

After escaping turmoil in Sri Lanka and Nigeria, her next hurdle was surviving LA schools

September 30, 2014Books

Nayomi Munaweera was born in Sri Lanka, raised in Nigeria — and then fled that country for the US after a coup. Now, she’s published her first novel and recounts the difficulties of learning the ins and outs of teen life in Los Angeles, including her first encounters with hairspray.

What’s the story of your first days in America?

September 17, 2013Arts, Culture & Media