Understanding the poem ‘Kumukanda’ by Kayo Chingonyi
I can show understanding of the poem 'Kumukanda' through annotation and an exploration of its big ideas.
Understanding the poem ‘Kumukanda’ by Kayo Chingonyi
I can show understanding of the poem 'Kumukanda' through annotation and an exploration of its big ideas.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- 'Kumukanda' was written by Kayo Chingonyi, a Zambian poet who moved to the UK when he was six.
- 'Kumukanda' means initiation, referring to a ceremony marking the transition from boy to man in the Luvale tribe.
- The speaker (seemingly Chingonyi) didn’t take part in this initiation so would be considered "unfinished" by his tribe.
- The speaker reflects on how he grew up in other ways, particularly caring for his dying mother.
- Stanza three sees the speaker think about feelings of connection and disconnection to his Zambian roots and ancestors.
Keywords
Initiation - a ceremony or event which sees someone be accepted into a particular group
Initiates - a person being initiated, accepted via a ceremony, into a particular group
Pretensions - a claim to something, often an unsupported claim
Dislocation - feeling out of place; the opposite of a sense of belonging
Ritual - actions or words which form part of a ceremony, often religious
Common misconception
The speaker calls himself "unfinished" because he didn't participate in the initiation ceremony.
The line says that his tribe would consider him unfinished, but doesn't explain how the speaker himself feels.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the poem 'Kumukanda' by Kayo Chingonyi published by Aitken Alexander Associates in 2017. You can find it in the Edexcel Belonging anthology.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
a being or doing word
when one or more word begins with the same letter
a verse of a poem
a describing word
the recurrence of a word or phrase
actions or words which form part of a ceremony, often religious
event which sees someone accepted into a particular group
feeling out of place
a feeling of acceptance
Exit quiz
6 Questions
the initiation ceremony of the Luvale tribe
the death of the speaker's mother
the speaker's feelings of disconnection to his heritage