Jack Mapanje was born in Malawi in 1944. While he was head of the English department at the University of Malawi, he was imprisoned without trial for over three and a half years. His first collection of poems was Of Chameleons and Gods (1981). His other works include The Chattering Wagtails of Mikuyu Prison (1993) which was composed while he was in prison, and Skipping without Ropes (1998). His latest book is The Last of the Sweet Bananas: New & Selected Poems (2004). He is currently an academic at Newcastle University and is planning to write his memoirs.

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What is it like to live as a poet in exile from your people, your culture and your language? openDemocracy features a special audio of live poetry readings by Jack Mapanje, Yang Lian and Choman Hardi from an event organised by Poet in the City and Amnesty International.