There is no way we can survive as a nation in the world without finding unity.

For me, being in prison writing in an African language was a way of saying: "Even if you put me in prison, I will keep on writing in the language which made you put me in prison."

Life, struggle, even amidst pain and blood and poverty, seemed beautiful.

In terms of language, English is very dominant vis-Ã-vis African language. That in itself is a power relationship - between languages and communities - because the English language is a determinant of the ladder to achievement.

I was wondering why I was put in prison for working in an African language when I had not been put in prison for working in English. So really, in prison I started thinking more seriously about the relation between language and power.

There is no way we can survive as a nation in the world without finding unity.

We think of politics in terms of power and who has the power. Politics is the end to which that power is put.