7 December 2005
Wednesday 7 December 2005 21:50-22:20 (Radio 3)
Paul Allen interviews Jack Mapanje, the Malawian born poet now living in Yorkshire
Programme details
Paul Allen talks to Jack Mapanje, the Malawian born poet now living in Yorkshire . In 1987 Mapanje was arrested at the university where he taught and imprisoned, without charge or trial, for over 3 and a half years on the orders of the country's ruler, Dr Hastings Banda. On his release he moved to England believing his life to be in danger in Malawi. Since then he has published several volumes of poetry while working as a part-time university lecturer. He discusses his childhood in Malawi , brought up by a mother who raised money brewing beer to finance his education, his imprisonment and the way it has informed his life and his views on Africa 2005 and the Make Poverty History campaign.
Jack Mapanje's The Last of the Sweet Bananas: New Selected Poems is published by Bloodaxe Books. And you can experience the UK's largest ever celebration of African Culture on the Africa 05 website at
