Renowned Malawian writer and poet, Jack Mapanje, has died in the United Kingdom where he lived for a long time.
His daughter, Judith, told the media that her father had been taken ill for some time before his death.
“He had been unwell for some time, and we are grateful for the support we received during his illness,” Judith said.
Mapanje came from Kadango village in Mangochi District.
Born John Alfred Clement Mapanje on 25 March 1944, he was once Head of English at Chancellor College, then the main campus of the University of Malawi.
He was later imprisoned in 1987 for his collection, “Of Chameleons and Gods”, which indirectly criticised the administration of President Hastings Kamuzu Banda.
Mapanje was released in 1991 and emigrated to the UK, where he worked as a teacher.
Gafelo Chimunkho, a long-time follower of Mapanje’s works, has described his death as a huge loss to Malawi’s literary world.
“His poetry spoke truth to power and Malawi has lost a giant,” Chimunkho said.
