Understanding the poem ‘Kumukanda’ by Kayo Chingonyi
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can show understanding of the poem 'Kumukanda' through annotation and an exploration of its big ideas.
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.
Teacher tip
Consider how you will read the poem with your pupils, and how many times. Would further glossary words support their understanding? What further questions might help you gauge their understanding of it?
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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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In which continent would you find the country of Zambia, an important country to the poem 'Kumukanda' in the Edexcel Belonging anthology?
Q2.Match each method to its example (Edexcel Belonging).
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
Q3.In the poem 'Kumukanda' (Edexcel Belonging), the speaker immigrated as a child. What does it mean to immigrate?
Q4.Match these words to their definitions, all important to the poem 'Kumukanda' (Edexcel Belonging).
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
Q5.The poems in the Edexcel Belonging anthology all explore themes. What is a theme?
Q6.The poems in the Edexcel Belonging anthology all explore themes. Which of these is an example of a theme?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does the title of Kayo Chingonyi's poem 'Kumukanda' mean? (Edexcel Belonging)
Q2.Match each stanza of Kayo Chingonyi's 'Kumukanda' to its focus (Edexcel Belonging).
the initiation ceremony of the Luvale tribe
the death of the speaker's mother
the speaker's feelings of disconnection to his heritage
Q3.Starting with the first, put the events narrated by the speaker in Kayo Chingonyi's 'Kumukanda' in chronological order. (Edexcel Belonging).
Q4.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?
Q5.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.
Q6.In stanza two of 'Kumukanda' (Edexcel Belonging), the speaker says he grew up not via an initiation ceremony but in " ".
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Understanding the poem ‘Kumukanda’ by Kayo Chingonyi, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Understanding the poem ‘Kumukanda’ by Kayo Chingonyi, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the Belonging poetry continued unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.