Kumukanda - Kayo Chingony Flashcards
Who was Kayo Chingonyni?
Kayo Chingonyi was born in Zambia in 1987 and moved to the UK with his family in 1993.
In a recent interview, he discussed his work and heritage and commented - ‘To be both British and Zambian is to be neither one or the other. It is a hybrid way of being that means I can’t be accepted by either ‘side’. In the space of the poem, though, I can be both.
What does ‘Kumukanda’ mean?
The word ‘Kumukanda’ means ‘Initiation’.
Luvale Tribe’s initiation ceremony for the young men of the tribe
What is the form and structure of the poem?
The poem is split into 3 stanzas – each of cover a certain ‘life’ of the speaker/poet. The first stanza describes the Luvale ritual and the poet’s ‘old life’; the second stanza describes the poet’s reality and upbringing and then the third stanza brings the two separate lives together.
What is the tone of the poem?
he overall tone is simple and matter of fact. The poet is nostalgic and curious about his Zambian heritage, but he does not make any comment about which life is ‘better’ or more rewarding. He is respectful of the life he has left behind in Zambia.
How does Chingyoni use enjambment?
Chingonyi uses enjambment throughout his poem to allow the reader to follow his thoughts and feelings. The first stanza is one long sentence which highlights the cyclical nature of life and the Kumukanda ceremony.
What are some key quotes in the poem?
If my alternate self, who never left, could see me
what would he make of these literary pretensions
this need to speak with a tongue that isn’t mine?
father’s father and my father’s father’s father?
What are the key themes in the poem?
Identity
Belonging
