a ceremony or event which sees someone be accepted into a particular group

a person being initiated, accepted via a ceremony, into a particular group

a claim to something, often an unsupported claim

feeling out of place; the opposite of a sense of belonging

actions or words which form part of a ceremony, often religious

Understanding the poem ‘Kumukanda’ by Kayo Chingonyi

English

In 'Edexcel Belonging Poetry continued', pupils used a range of reading skills to aid the supported decoding of challenging poems. In 'Unseen Poetry', pupils use these reading skills to decode texts with independence. 

In 'Edexcel Belonging Poetry', pupils compared the language, form and structure of a variety of poems connected by the themes of culture and belonging. In 'Edexcel Belonging Poetry continued', pupils work on making more nuanced comparisons, focusing on the three final poems: *Kumukanda*, *In Wales, wanting to be Italian* and *Us*.

Poetry anthology: continued study

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

What does the title of Kayo Chingonyi's poem 'Kumukanda' mean? (Edexcel Belonging)

the initiation ceremony of the Luvale tribe

the speaker's feelings of disconnection to his heritage

Match each stanza of Kayo Chingonyi's 'Kumukanda' to its focus (Edexcel Belonging).

The speaker says he did not participate in an initiation ceremony in Zambia.

The speaker tells us that, according to his tribe, he is not considered adult.

The speaker relates that he nursed his dying mother.

The speaker tells us that his mother died.

The speaker was not comforted when he stood by his mother's grave.

The speaker considers what he would have been like had he stayed in Zambia.

The speaker considers his connection to his ancestors.

Starting with the first, put the events narrated by the speaker in Kayo Chingonyi's 'Kumukanda' in chronological order. (Edexcel Belonging).

In Kayo Chingonyi's 'Kumukanda' (Edexcel Belonging), what does the speaker say his "almost" father did at when standing next him at his mother's grave?

In stanza 2 of 'Kumukanda' (Edexcel Belonging), the speaker says the Luvale tribe would consider him "{{ }}" because he didn't participate in the initiation ceremony traditional for young boys.

In stanza two of 'Kumukanda' (Edexcel Belonging), the speaker says he grew up not via an initiation ceremony but in "{{}}".

In which continent would you find the country of Zambia, an important country to the poem 'Kumukanda' in the Edexcel Belonging anthology?

when one or more word begins with the same letter

Match each method to its example (Edexcel Belonging).

to leave your country of birth and live permanently in another country

to work in one country, but live in another

In the poem 'Kumukanda' (Edexcel Belonging), the speaker immigrated as a child. What does it mean to immigrate?

event which sees someone accepted into a particular group

Match these words to their definitions, all important to the poem 'Kumukanda' (Edexcel Belonging).

a poet's use of methods, and their effects

images that are repeated throughout a poem

a big idea that is explored in a number of different ways

metaphorical language and imagery are examples of themes

information about a poet which helps us understand their work

The poems in the Edexcel Belonging anthology all explore themes. What is a theme?

The poems in the Edexcel Belonging anthology all explore themes. Which of these is an example of a theme?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Understanding the poem ‘Kumukanda’ by Kayo Chingonyi

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.