Vunimaqo and Me by Daren Kamali

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.

Daren Kamali is an Auckland based poet, curator, performer and artist. Of Fijian, Uvean, Futunan, Samoan and Scottish, he was born and raised in Suva, at the Tubou Street Barracks, in the shade of the Vunimaqo. This is his third collection of poetry.

Publisher: Kava Bowl Media | English | 66 pages