Jack Mapanje facts for kids

Jack Mapanje (born 25 March 1944) is a famous writer and poet from Malawi. He used to lead the English department at Chancellor College, which is part of the University of Malawi. In 1987, he was put in prison because of his book of poems called Of Chameleons and Gods. This book seemed to criticize the government of President Hastings Banda in a hidden way. He was set free in 1991 and moved to the UK, where he became a teacher.

Early Life and Education

Jack Mapanje was born on March 25, 1944. His birthplace was Kadango Village in the Mangochi District of Malawi. His parents were from the Nyanja and Yao groups.

He earned his first degree in education from the University of London. After that, he worked as a lecturer in Malawi for some time. Later, in the early 1980s, he went back to the UK. There, he studied linguistics at University College, London.

After his studies, he became the head of the Department of Language and Linguistics at the University of Malawi.

Time in Prison

During the time President Hastings Banda ruled Malawi, Jack Mapanje was arrested. He was put in jail in 1987 without any official charges. It seemed this happened because he published his book of poems, Of Chameleons and Gods.

Why the Book Was a Problem

The poems in his book quietly criticized President Banda's government. The "chameleon" in the book's title was a way for Mapanje to talk about how writers had to hide their true feelings. This was necessary to criticize the politics of that time.

The government never officially banned the book. However, it was "withdrawn from circulation," meaning it was taken off shelves.

Help from Others

Amnesty International, a group that helps people who are unfairly imprisoned, called him a prisoner of conscience. They worked hard to get him released. As part of their efforts, the UK Nobel Prize winner Harold Pinter read parts of Of Chameleons and Gods outside the Malawian High Commission in London.

While he was in prison, Mapanje also received the 1990 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award. This award came with US$3,000. The president of PEN, US novelist Larry McMurtry, hoped the award would create enough attention to help Mapanje get out of jail. Other famous writers, like Wole Soyinka and Ronald Harwood, also campaigned for his freedom.

Release and Moving Away

Jack Mapanje was held for three and a half years. He was finally released in 1991. After his release, he was told he needed to apply again for his old job at the University of Malawi. Because of a long delay in his application, he decided to move to the UK instead.

He later wrote a book about his experience in prison. It was called And Crocodiles Are Hungry At Night. This book was also turned into a play.

Life in Exile

After moving to the UK, Jack Mapanje received a special fellowship at The University of York. He later became a visiting professor at Leeds University. He also taught creative writing classes to people in prisons.

In 1994, he went back to Malawi with BBC2. They made a documentary film about his return.

Chameleon Politics

Jack Mapanje is known for using the term "chameleon politics." This term describes a political situation where politicians often change parties. They also form new alliances very quickly and without much warning. This happens in political environments where switching parties and forming new groups is common. He described this idea in his 1981 book, Of Chameleons and Gods.

His Books and Poems

• Of Chameleons and Gods, 1981
• The Chattering Wagtails of Mikuyu Prison, 1993
• The Last of the Sweet Bananas: New and Selected Poems, 2004
• The Beasts of Nalunga, 2007
• And Crocodiles are Hungry at Night – a memoir, 2011

Awards and Recognition

• 1988: Rotterdam Poetry International Award
• 1990: PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award
• 2002: African Literature Association (USA) Fonlon-Nichols Award