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And Crocodiles Are Hungry At Night
This book is a powerful contribution to the genre of the prison memoir in Africa. Jack Mapanje represents the moving account of a poet’s imprisonment by the state, the struggle to probe the hidden motives behind his arrest and his attempt to provide an unforgettable record of the architecture of imprisonment, the archeology of oppression and the perpetual struggle between the forces of trust and those of naked power. Mapanje’s release after three years, seven months and sixteen days was largely due to British and international protest campaigns by human rights organizations and ordinary citizens. This book is a must read for anyone who believes in international justice and freedom of expression. A moving contribution to the growing world literature of incarceration. As such, it has universal appeal.
448 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2011
About the author
Jack Mapanje
18 books19 followersJack Mapanje (born 25 March 1944)[1] is a Malawian writer and poet. He was the head of English at the Chancellor College, the main campus of the University of Malawi before being imprisoned in 1987 for his collection Of Chameleons and Gods, which indirectly criticized the administration of President Hastings Banda. He was released in 1991 and emigrated to the UK, where he worked as a teacher.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 19, 2012
And Crocodiles Are Hungry at Night: A chronicle of a poet’s imprisonment under life president Banda of Malawi
Jack Mapanje’s memoir not only chronicles his imprisonment, it also sets out how the life of a young poet and academic is viciously destroyed by the absence of academic freedom. Brilliantly crafted, with a touch of humour even in grim circumstances, this is a moving contribution to the growing world literature of incarceration. As such it has universal appeal.
Lady Antonia Fraser DBE Vice-President (former President) English PEN
Jack Mapanje’s imprisonment without trial or charge was the subject of protests by linguists, writers, academics, human rights organizations and lovers of freedom throughout the world. Apart from being an ordinary prison memoir, the writer offers us a rare glimpse on how inner circles operate in repressive regimes, in order to protect themselves and the despots they serve. This work is crafted with passion, cheek and wry humour. But it is a necessary warning to future African and other world leaders to care about the people who vote them into power. It is also a testimony to the efforts of those who fight for prisoners of conscience throughout the world. A long awaited and much welcome contribution to the growing world literature of political incarceration.
Noam Chomsky Emeritus Professor of Linguistics and Philosophy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA.
This book is a powerful contribution to the genre of the prison memoir in Africa. Jack Mapanje presents the moving account of a poet’s imprisonment by the state, his struggle to probe the hidden motives for this arrest and his attempt to provide an unforgettable record of the architecture of imprisonment and the perpetual struggle between the forces of truth and those of naked power. In 1981, Jack Mapanje was a budding poet and scholar in Malawi. His first collection of poetry, Of Chameleons and Gods had just been published in the prestigious African Writers Series and his scholarly work in linguistics was also transforming language and literary studies in Central Africa—his work was drawing international attention. But two years later the state ordered the withdrawal of Mapanje’s poetry from all schools, institutions of higher learning and bookstores. In 1987, Mapanje was arrested by the Malawian secret police and imprisoned without charge until 1991. This book is a recollection of those years in prison. Written in the tradition of the African prison memoir and often echoing the works of other famous prison graduates such as Wole Soyinka The Man Died and Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s Detained, the memoir represents Mapanje’s retrospective attempt to explain the cause and terms of his imprisonment, to recall in tranquility the terror of arrest, the process of incarceration and the daily struggle to hold on to some measure of sanity and spiritual freedom.
Dr Simon Gikandi, Robert Schirmer Professor of English, Princeton University, USA.
Mapanje’s memoir powerfully recounts the human will to survival as well as the capacity to confound even the most repressive and highly organized regime of surveillance and offers an important historical resource of Post-colonial Malawi. It has the intensity of Soyinka’s The Man Died, the moral and political purpose of Ngugi’s Detained and the anguished, but immensely hopeful tone of Vera Chirwa’s Fearless Fighter.
Dr Mpalive-Hangson Msiska, Reader in English and Humanities, Birkbeck, University of London.
Jack Mapanje’s memoir not only chronicles his imprisonment, it also sets out how the life of a young poet and academic is viciously destroyed by the absence of academic freedom. Brilliantly crafted, with a touch of humour even in grim circumstances, this is a moving contribution to the growing world literature of incarceration. As such it has universal appeal.
Lady Antonia Fraser DBE Vice-President (former President) English PEN
Jack Mapanje’s imprisonment without trial or charge was the subject of protests by linguists, writers, academics, human rights organizations and lovers of freedom throughout the world. Apart from being an ordinary prison memoir, the writer offers us a rare glimpse on how inner circles operate in repressive regimes, in order to protect themselves and the despots they serve. This work is crafted with passion, cheek and wry humour. But it is a necessary warning to future African and other world leaders to care about the people who vote them into power. It is also a testimony to the efforts of those who fight for prisoners of conscience throughout the world. A long awaited and much welcome contribution to the growing world literature of political incarceration.
Noam Chomsky Emeritus Professor of Linguistics and Philosophy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA.
This book is a powerful contribution to the genre of the prison memoir in Africa. Jack Mapanje presents the moving account of a poet’s imprisonment by the state, his struggle to probe the hidden motives for this arrest and his attempt to provide an unforgettable record of the architecture of imprisonment and the perpetual struggle between the forces of truth and those of naked power. In 1981, Jack Mapanje was a budding poet and scholar in Malawi. His first collection of poetry, Of Chameleons and Gods had just been published in the prestigious African Writers Series and his scholarly work in linguistics was also transforming language and literary studies in Central Africa—his work was drawing international attention. But two years later the state ordered the withdrawal of Mapanje’s poetry from all schools, institutions of higher learning and bookstores. In 1987, Mapanje was arrested by the Malawian secret police and imprisoned without charge until 1991. This book is a recollection of those years in prison. Written in the tradition of the African prison memoir and often echoing the works of other famous prison graduates such as Wole Soyinka The Man Died and Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s Detained, the memoir represents Mapanje’s retrospective attempt to explain the cause and terms of his imprisonment, to recall in tranquility the terror of arrest, the process of incarceration and the daily struggle to hold on to some measure of sanity and spiritual freedom.
Dr Simon Gikandi, Robert Schirmer Professor of English, Princeton University, USA.
Mapanje’s memoir powerfully recounts the human will to survival as well as the capacity to confound even the most repressive and highly organized regime of surveillance and offers an important historical resource of Post-colonial Malawi. It has the intensity of Soyinka’s The Man Died, the moral and political purpose of Ngugi’s Detained and the anguished, but immensely hopeful tone of Vera Chirwa’s Fearless Fighter.
Dr Mpalive-Hangson Msiska, Reader in English and Humanities, Birkbeck, University of London.
February 4, 2015
Another book recommended by my Utah colleague in the ALA Reader's Advisory Class.
Dr. Jack Mapanje is a poet and linguist who was head of the English Department at the University of Malawi, when he was arrested for no apparent reason and imprisoned for over three years in a maximum security prison for political prisoners. After the Kafkaesque beginning, the book describes his life in prison and the international campaign which ultimately lead to his release. Along the way, he speculates on the possible reasons for his arrest and gives the reader much information on the political situation and history of Malawi after it became independent from Great Britain. The narrative is punctuated with poems he wrote about the various events which happened to him.
This is very good informative and inspirational book, especially since I knew nothing of Malawi or the Banda regime.
Dr. Jack Mapanje is a poet and linguist who was head of the English Department at the University of Malawi, when he was arrested for no apparent reason and imprisoned for over three years in a maximum security prison for political prisoners. After the Kafkaesque beginning, the book describes his life in prison and the international campaign which ultimately lead to his release. Along the way, he speculates on the possible reasons for his arrest and gives the reader much information on the political situation and history of Malawi after it became independent from Great Britain. The narrative is punctuated with poems he wrote about the various events which happened to him.
This is very good informative and inspirational book, especially since I knew nothing of Malawi or the Banda regime.
May 4, 2020
As many in history of Malawi's political suffering, Jack is among the few who Lived to tell the tale. In his memoir, one reads and is as confused as Jack was when he was arrested without trial. His story speaks to the heart of every Malawian who likes history of the country. A lot has changed since then, or has it?
August 4, 2019
An important memoir...
May 5, 2025
A prison memoir by a Malawian scholar and poet imprisoned under the regime of Hastings Banda. Beginning on the day of his arrest, the narrative alternates between scenes from prison and the years leading up to it. Never formally charged, Mapanje constantly wonders what might have landed him in jail: His poetry book? His involvement with foreign publishers and academics? His attending the wedding of an opposition leader’s daughter? Through secret correspondence facilitated by a sympathetic guard and an Irish priest whose Gaelic skills shake off wiretappers, Mapanje is able to glean the scale of the international campaign for his release, with titans like Wole Soyinka and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o becoming his advocates abroad.
One of the things that fascinated me was the memoir’s account of the power struggles at the heart of the Banda regime. Even after Banda releases Mapanje from prison, the Kadzamira-Tembo clan does everything it can to sabotage this decision, impeding his re-employment and conspiring (allegedly) to assassinate him. Also interesting is the jealousy of the regime; anyone’s success automatically detracts from the fame of the president and the authority of his coterie. Mapanje wonders whether he was arrested because his name was once written above that of his country, implying he was more important than the president. He writes of another prisoner whose business was impounded and handed over to the Kadzamiras for the sole crime of being successful. Meanwhile, those Kadzamiras who are less than successful at managing universities and so on are moved to sinecures abroad.
One of the things that fascinated me was the memoir’s account of the power struggles at the heart of the Banda regime. Even after Banda releases Mapanje from prison, the Kadzamira-Tembo clan does everything it can to sabotage this decision, impeding his re-employment and conspiring (allegedly) to assassinate him. Also interesting is the jealousy of the regime; anyone’s success automatically detracts from the fame of the president and the authority of his coterie. Mapanje wonders whether he was arrested because his name was once written above that of his country, implying he was more important than the president. He writes of another prisoner whose business was impounded and handed over to the Kadzamiras for the sole crime of being successful. Meanwhile, those Kadzamiras who are less than successful at managing universities and so on are moved to sinecures abroad.
June 9, 2021
Global Read 129: Malawi
I was really dreading reading this 400+ page book about being in prison where the first chapter is Hell Hole, but I'm really glad I did. Not only did Dr. Mapanje have an extraordinary life but he wrote about his experiences really well. He does a great job of conveying the horror and helplessness of his experience without just writing a tragedy porn style memoir where you want to jump out a window after. I learned a lot about Malawi also which was really interesting. The book definitely did not need to be as long as it was, but overall I'm very glad I read it.
I was really dreading reading this 400+ page book about being in prison where the first chapter is Hell Hole, but I'm really glad I did. Not only did Dr. Mapanje have an extraordinary life but he wrote about his experiences really well. He does a great job of conveying the horror and helplessness of his experience without just writing a tragedy porn style memoir where you want to jump out a window after. I learned a lot about Malawi also which was really interesting. The book definitely did not need to be as long as it was, but overall I'm very glad I read it.
October 23, 2025
This book offers powerful narratives and provides a good glimpse into Banda’s dictatorship in Malawi. I read it after traveling to Malawi and enjoyed learning more about the country’s history. At times, I felt the book was a bit repetitive, and the many names made it somewhat difficult to follow. However, I believe the abundance of names serves the purpose of giving voice to the many people who suffered under Banda’s regime. If you want to learn more about Malawi’s history, I would definitely recommend it.
November 9, 2019
#AndCrocodilesAreHungryAtNight completed. Wow, what a book. Heard so little of the horrors 🇲🇼 faced under President Kamuzu Banda. This book is an eye opener. If anyone knows where #DrJackMapanje is in York do let me know, I would like to meet and shake his hand. #MalawiMagic
May 16, 2020
Finally done with this gem of a book. Highly recommend to anyone who wants to supplement their knowledge if what life was like under Kamuzu and the Kadzamira-Tembo clan. This passage particularly sums the need to forgive but never forget (or stop speaking out) about that time.
May 11, 2022
Reading this book has taught me several things. I am far too illiterate in the history of Africa for one. That the dangers we have seen of totalitarian government are always present for another.
And that history should be a cautionary tale for the future.
And that history should be a cautionary tale for the future.
Read
April 9, 2016A plain book written in academic English chronicling the life of the author behind bars, without reason or cause.
An interesting story, for people who know the history of this country, and the plight of political prisoners. He is a stranger to me.
On another note, it just shows what lenghts insecure leaders can go to to make sure they are still in charge, still in control. Political prisoners have been on the decline in the continent due to a myriad of reasons now.
It is not an easy read.
An interesting story, for people who know the history of this country, and the plight of political prisoners. He is a stranger to me.
On another note, it just shows what lenghts insecure leaders can go to to make sure they are still in charge, still in control. Political prisoners have been on the decline in the continent due to a myriad of reasons now.
It is not an easy read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews