Vunimaqo and Me: Mango Tree Collections is Daren Kamali's third poetry publication in almost seven years. The intention behind this publication is to celebrate captive childhood memories within its pages. This collection of memoir poems is written through a teenager’s eyes and experience of 17 years, growing up in the barracks of Tubou Street - Samabula North – Suva – Viti Levu - Fiji. Of Fijian, Uvean, Futunan, Samoan and Scottish heritage, he is the Pacific Poet/Curator/ artist/researcher and Heritage Pacific Advisor - Auckland Libraries (Research and Heritage). He has a Master of Creative Writing: First Class Honours (University of Auckland 2017), a Bachelor of Creative Arts: (Manukau Institute of Technology 2014), was the Fulbright/CNZ - Pacific Writer in Residence at University of Hawai’i (2012), and did the International Writers program – Iowa City, USA (2014).
THE THREE LAMPS
The Three Lamps is named for an old Auckland landmark that used to stand at the top of College Hill – a gathering place where the trams turned, speakers drew crowds, and the city met the suburbs.