Acclaimed poet Kayo Chingonyi visits Putney

Putney welcomed celebrated poet Kayo Chingonyi, the Zambian British poet featured on the English Literature IGCSE specification, for an inspiring afternoon with Year 10-13 students.

Joined by peers from West London Partnership schools, Putney students enjoyed a reading, lively Q&A and fresh insights into the poems they are studying. A memorable takeaway from the poem 'Some Bright Elegance' were the lines "dance, not to be seen but free, your feet/ are made for better things".

Chingonyi is the author of two poetry collections, Kumukanda and A Blood Condition. He has also published two earlier pamphlets, Some Bright Elegance and The Colour of James Brown’s Scream. Among Chingonyi's accolades are the Geoffrey Dearmer Prize, Dylan Thomas Prize and Somerset Maugham Award. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2022.