Winner of the Dylan Thomas Prize 2018 Winner of the Somerset Maugham Award 2018 'A brilliant debut - a tender, nostalgic and, at times, darkly hilarious exploration of black boyhood, masculinity and grief. A gorgeous and necessary collection from one of my favourite writers' Warsan Shire Translating as 'initiation', kumukanda is the name given to the rites a young boy from the Luvale tribe must pass through before he is considered a man. The poems of Kayo Chingonyi's remarkable debut explore this passage: between two worlds, ancestral and contemporary; between the living and the dead; between the gulf of who he is and how he is perceived. Underpinned by a love of music, language and literature, here is a powerful exploration of race, identity and masculinity, celebrating what it means to be British and not British, all at once. Shortlisted for the Costa Poetry Prize; Seamus Heaney Centre First Poetry Collection Prize; Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry; Roehampton Poetry Prize; Jhalak Prize 2018
Kayo Chingonyi
Kayo Chingonyi is a Zambian-born British poet known for his powerful exploration of identity, race, and culture in his works. His most notable collection, "Kumukanda," explores themes of masculinity, heritage, and coming-of-age experiences. Chingonyi's poetry is characterized by its lyrical and evocative language, as well as its deep emotional resonance. He has made significant contributions to contemporary poetry, particularly in addressing issues of race and identity in a nuanced and thought-provoking way. "Kumukanda" is considered one of his most famous works and has garnered widespread acclaim for its poignant and insightful reflections on the complexities of identity and belonging.
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