Kayo Chingonyi
Zambian-born British poet and editor, author of Kumukanda (2017) and A Blood Condition (2021). His work explores identity, migration, masculinity, and music; Kumukanda won the 2018 Dylan Thomas Prize, and A Blood Condition was shortlisted for major UK poetry awards.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
-
1. Kumukanda
A poetry collection tracing a rite of passage from childhood to manhood across continents, it weaves Zambian heritage with British upbringing to explore belonging, race, and masculinity. Through lyrical, music-inflected verse, it mourns personal loss while celebrating friendship, love, and the sustaining energy of hip-hop. The poems balance vulnerability and bravado, confronting microaggressions and joy alike to find a language for becoming at the intersection of cultures.