After living in Zambia and other African countries, Mankell was invited from 1986 onward to become the artistic director of Teatro Avenida in Maputo, Mozambique. He subsequently spent extended periods in Maputo working with the theatre and as a writer. He built his own publishing house, "Leopard Förlag", in order to support young talented writers from Africa and Sweden. His novel "Chronicler of the Winds", published in Sweden as "Comédie infantil" in 1995, reflects African problems and is based on African storytelling. On 12June 2008, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate from the University of St Andrews in Scotland "in recognition of his major contribution to literature and to the practical exercise of conscience".