Guidelines to Writing an African Praise Poem

Characteristics of an African Praise Poem:

1. Poet compares himself/herself to animals


2. Poet may use repeated phrases and metaphors


3. 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


4. 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 using 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


• last 2 lines—refer to some action or deed —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