Skip to main content
MCW Books

Vunimaqo and Me: Mango Tree Collections

By May 10, 2024July 2nd, 2024No Comments

This powerful new collection by Daren Kamali centres on a mango tree—Vunimaqo— that was a focal point of his youth. Vunimaqo stands by the Tubou Street Barracks, in Samabula North, Suva, Fiji. More than just a tree, Vunimaqo is at the intersection of a community’s life, overseeing and sharing the stories of its people. Vunimaqo and Me is a unique and compelling collection of poems, coupled with images that deepen the words, channelling the many voices and the stories of those who found connection and shelter by the mango tree.

Listen to Daren reading from his collection in Tangata Pasifika.

Vunimaqo and Me: Mango Tree Collections

by Daren Kamali

Kava Bowl Media

ISBN: 9780473556051 

Published: January 2021

Format: Paperback, 66 pages

Daren Kamali

Daren Kamali

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).