Guidelines for Writing an African Praise Poem
Characteristics of an African Praise Poem:
Poet compares himself/herself to animals
Poet may use repeated phrases and metaphors (an implied analogy in which one thing is
imaginatively compared to or identified with another dissimilar thing)
Poet may use interjections (Word conveying emotion such as alas!), alliteration
(Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words or within words as in
Macbeth’s phrase “after life’s fitful fever.”), and/or assonance (The close
repetition of middle vowel sounds between different consonant sounds: fade/pale.
Assonance is usually used within a line of poetry for unity or rhythmic effect,
as Edith Sitwell uses it in this line from “The Drum”: Whinnying, neighed the
maned blue wind).
Guidelines:
1st line—an introduction or a salute—begin with a phrase such as “Praise to,”
“Here’s to,” or “I am”
next 2 to 3 lines—refer to yourself by different descriptive names and phrases—
compare or identify yourself with something without using “like” or “as;”
for example, a wolf, a storm thundering across the plain; animals and natural
occurrences most commonly used
next to last line—refer to some action or deed
last line—begin the same way as the 1st line; repeat the idea of the first line,
but vary the words
Sample African Praise Poems
I am the young lion!
The wild animal with pad-feet and black back!
Whose father has given up hope from the
beginning and whose mother has wept for a long time.
I am the fine elephant of Mathubapulu, the finest
elephant in the Matsaakgang.
--Bantu praise poem
I am the attention-demanding weasel.
The peacock who worked tremendously hard.
Whose parents were so proud of her accomplishments
But would not mingle with all
until a flying bird traveling throughout the world.
I am a quiet and nourishing rainfall.
--V. DiLorenzo
