Update: I found another link about Bantus here:
http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-genre/horror-by-writing-genre/how_to_create_haunting_imagery
I have posted a new Contest today.
Time to brush up your Metaphor skills.
There is an article below that explains the form in more detail. Looking forward to reading your imaginative entries.
Two-line Bantu (or Abantu) poetry developed from the Bantu people of Africa (speakers of the Swahili, Kinyarwand, Kirundi, Zulu, Xhosa and other related languages). It arose from the oral tradition of “call and response.” In the rhythm of their work and perhaps in the spirit of a game or to relieve boredom, people would call out to each other. The first speaker called out a line that contained an image. A second speaker replied using a second image. This second image was meant to function as an elaboration or metaphor of the first.
1. It has two lines.
2. Each line contains an image.
3. The two images work together to form a metaphor.
4. Bantu don’t have titles.
5. There are no rules about rhyme, rhythm or line length.
What does a Bantu poem look like? Sheila Bender used the Bantu poetry prompt in classes she taught. Here are student samples from her book Writing Personal Poetry:
Wire hangers on a bar in the closet
Wild geese walking by a lake.
Children in a circle on the floor.
The beaded necklace.
There is more info on the link below.
https://beforeitsnews.com/books/2022/08/sparking-your-writing-using-abantu-2550550.html