COMPREHENDING POETIC LANGUAGE

“Words are symbolic in nature. They are powerful mediums to convey messages that go beyond what meets the eye.”

BY IMMACULATE REGINA SIKANYIKA

My desire is to parcel something benefiting the poetry community of Zambia. A package of poetry events by a poet and for the poets, that will deepen our understanding of poetic devices.”
To build a lasting culture of poetry and creativity, we must go beyond the basics of poetic language and literary techniques. Capturing the craft of evocative poetic expression that tells compelling Zambian stories requires us to refine and redefine how we approach poetry. We must revive the resounding nature of our voices and rekindle creativity that renews rhythm, resonance, and reflection.
As poets, we nurture our unique interpretations of reality, human nature, and the universe, and we use words to express imagination, emotions, and ideas. It’s important to invite more readers and listeners into this lyrical world, helping them appreciate the depth and beauty of poetic language and devices.
To help poets strengthen their understanding of symbolism, Dr. Jive Lubbungu, a literature lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University, facilitated a poetic symbolism workshop on July 19, 2025, at Everyday Lusaka Gallery.
The training was an eye-opener for the 21 poets in attendance. Many were, in fact, surprised to learn that they had been using symbolism in their poems without realizing it.
“I must admit, the training was a resounding success. Most poets were able to identify symbols in the poems recited and contributed meaningfully to the post-recitation discussions,” said Dr. Jive.
He shared expert knowledge on both contextual symbols, easily recognized through background, and private symbols that require deeper analysis. He also gave feedback on poems submitted by participants.
“There are certain symbols that we use and don’t realise. There was a necessity, as it educated me more on symbolism and helped me understand the importance of symbols. It rang a wake-up call on me, showing me that there is so much meaning in words and that as an artist, I shouldn’t take advantage of my words but rather use them to impact people’s lives,” said poet Mulamba Chibesakunda.
“Symbolism and elements go together. They add different layers to words which on the surface may seem simple,” added Henry Ndandalika.
“I really enjoyed the symbolism workshop. It was worth traveling for. I learnt some metaphors and figurative languages can be symbols,” said Trycent Milimo.
Going forward, this poet-led initiative will continue hosting events focused on poetic elements. These sessions will stretch the boundaries of poetic expression while celebrating the artistry of language, featuring different poets and facilitators with deep knowledge of poetry.
For more information, contact:
Email: sikanyikaimmaculate@gmail.com