'Kumukanda' and 'Jamaican British' both explore the struggle in finding belonging when the speaker is of dual heritage.
'Kumukanda' and 'The Émigrée' both use the power of memory to create a sense of belonging.
'Kumukanda' and 'The Émigrée' both explore permanent severance whereas 'Jamaican British' explores a partial separation.
'Kumukanda' and 'I Remember, I Remember' explore grief and sadness through idealised memories.
'Kumukanda' and 'I Remember, I Remember' mourn the loss of childhood innocence.

Common misconception

'Kumukanda' can only be compared to other anthology poems about cultural identity (e.g. 'Jamaican British' and 'The Émigrée'.

Although poems centred around cultural identity and inner conflict are most obvious choices to compare, you could compare 'Kumukanda' with another poem that focuses on grief and loss (for example 'I Remember, I Remember').

Keywords

Inner conflict - a struggle within oneself between opposing desires, beliefs or emotions
Dual identity - simultaneously identifying with two different cultural backgrounds or traditions
Grief - deep sorrow caused by the loss of someone or something important
Diaspora - people who have been dispersed from their homeland, maintaining cultural connections to their origins
Mourn - to express grief or feel sorrow over a loss or death

For an extra challenge task (or a homework task), encourage students to think about other poems that could be comapared to 'Kumukanda'. Options include: 'Clear and Gentle Stream', 'Captain Cook' or 'Mild the Mist Upon the Hill'.

Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of 'Kumukanda' by Kayo Chingonyi. You will also need access to a copy of the Edexcel Belonging anthology for this lesson.

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

Skip video

Worksheet

Download worksheet

Skip worksheet

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.

What is a thematic connection between two poems?

a plot twist that occurs in more than one poem

Correct answer: a message or key idea shared by two poems

a literary method used to build suspense

two poems written in the same period of history

Q2.

What is cultural identity?

unique traits and practices that define a specific profession

the biological characteristics inherited from one's parents

the personal hobbies and interests that one enjoys in their free time

Correct answer: a person's sense of belonging to a particular group of people

Q3.

What is a 'refrain'?

a type of dance move in traditional folk music

a character's inner thoughts and feelings

Correct answer: a repeated line or group of lines in a poem

a technique used to describe scenery in poetry

Q4.

Which of these describes the poem 'I Remember, I Remember'?

Correct answer: a nostalgic reflection on childhood in a rural village

a critique of modern technology and its impact on society

an epic poem about mythical creatures and magical lands

a political commentary on current global issues

Q5.

Which of these describes the poem 'Jamaican British'?

a celebration of Jamaican cuisine and traditional music

a critique of colonial history and its impact on Jamaica

a fantasy poem set in a blend of Jamaican and British cultures

Correct answer: a reflection on the experiences and identity of being Jamaican and British

Q6.

Which of these best describes the poem 'The Émigrée'?

a celebration of urban life and its vibrancy

Correct answer: a nostalgic look at childhood memories and longing for a homeland

a critique of modern technology and its impact on society

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.

'The speaker reflects on whether an alternate version of himself who had never left the homeland would recognise or accept him now.' Which poem is being described here?

Correct answer: 'Kumukanda'

'I Remember, I Remember'

'Jamaican British'

'The Émigrée'

Q2.

Which of the following poems could be compared to 'Kumukanda' to explore themes of cultural identity and separation?

Correct answer: 'Jamaican British'

'I Remember, I Remember'

Correct answer: 'The Émigrée'

'Clear and Gentle Stream'

'To My Sister'

Q3.

What is diaspora?

Correct answer: the dispersion of people from their homeland to different parts of the world

a literary technique used in novels to depict historical events

a government in which power is divided between national and regional authorities

Q4.

How can having a dual identity link to inner conflict?

Correct answer: people often worry they aren't fully accepted in each of their cultures

people know they have to choose one cultural identity over the other

it doesn't - this is a common stereotype

Q5.

How is the verb 'mourning' linked to the idea of 'grief'?

Mourning is a way to process grief by trying to forget about someone's death.

Mourning means trying to contact someone's spirit in order to process grief.

Correct answer: People who are mourning the loss of someone will also feel grief at this loss.

Mourning and grief aren't linked - this is a common misconception.

Q6.

How do 'Kumukanda' and 'I Remember, I Remember' both explore ideas of loss and grief?

both include an alternate version of the speaker in the final stanza

Correct answer: both focus on memories of the past, comparing it to a disappointing present

both poems focus on how someone's cultural identity suffers when they emigrate

both poems focus on the past and how life is so much better now