Jack Mapanje
Encyclopedia
Jack Mapanje is a Malawi
an writer and poet
. He was the former head of English at the University of Malawi
, and is currently a senior lecturer in English at Newcastle University.
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
an writer and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. He was the former head of English at the University of Malawi
University of Malawi
The University of Malawi is an educational institution established in 1964 and composed of five constituent colleges located in Zomba, Blantyre, and Lilongwe. Of the five colleges, the largest is Chancellor College in Zomba. The name of the school is abbreviated to UNIMA. It is part of the...
, and is currently a senior lecturer in English at Newcastle University.
Works
- Of Chameleons and GodsOf Chameleons and GodsOf Chameleons and Gods is the title of the first collection of poetry by Malawian poet Jack Mapanje, published in 1981 in the UK. Despite critical acclaim, the collection was withdrawn from circulation in Malawi, because it was seen as a critique of the current government and especially the leader...
, 1981 - The Chattering Wagtails of Mikuyu Prison, 1993
- The Last of the Sweet Bananas: New and Selected Poems, 2004
- The Beasts of Nalunga, 2007
Awards
- 1988 Rotterdam Poetry International Award
- 1990 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write AwardPEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write AwardThe PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award honours writers anywhere in the world who have fought courageously in the face of adversity for the right to freedom of expression....
- 2002 African Literature Association (USA) Fonlon-Nichols Award