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Poetry can do many things – tell stories, capture memories, or stir emotions. One special kind of poem is praise poetry – a poem written to honour or celebrate someone or something. In fact, if you search for “praise poetry meaning”, you’ll find it defined simply as a poem of tribute or gratitude.

In other words, praise poetry is all about expressing admiration and positive qualities. It’s like a poetic cheer or a heartfelt shout-out. Rather than complaining or questioning, praise poems focus on what’s good: they “express admiration” and “proclaim positive attributes”.

You may already know traditions of praise in African cultures – for example, Yoruba oríkì are poems that praise people’s names and virtues, and Zulu izibongo honour chiefs and heroes. It turns out English literature has its own history of praise poems, too.

From ancient psalms sung in churches to modern spoken-word poems, English-speaking poets have long written verses that celebrate heroes, leaders, and ideals. In this post, we’ll explore praise poetry in English: what it means, how it developed, and some inspiring examples today.

We’ll also point out connections to African praise traditions like oríkì. By the end, you’ll see that praise poetry bridges cultures and time, encouraging us to lift each other up in verse.

Historical Roots of Praise Poetry in English

Praise poetry isn’t a new fad – it goes back to the very beginnings of our written tradition. One of the earliest examples in English comes from the Bible. The Book of Psalms is literally a collection of songs of praise to God. Its Hebrew name, Tehillim, means “praises,” and the psalms contain many hymns celebrating God’s goodness. In English Christian worship, these psalms were set to music or recited as praise songs for centuries. (In fact, the title “Psalm” comes from a Greek word meaning “song” or “instrumental music,” highlighting its praise-song roots.)

Moving into the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, praise poetry took on new forms. Poets and musicians often glorified heroes, kings, or gods in ballads and odes. Troubadours and minstrels might sing of a knight’s bravery or a queen’s beauty, and royal courts loved public poems extolling their patrons. As the Academy of American Poets explains, in medieval and Renaissance Europe, praise poems “often expressed worship of or admiration for heroes, kings, or deities”. Think of poetic tributes to a ruler or even love sonnets that idealise a beloved’s virtues – these carry the same spirit of praise. (Famous examples include elaborate sonnets to Queen Elizabeth or epics praising ancient heroes.)

By the Romantic era of the 19th century, poets turned much of their praise toward nature and feeling. They composed odes that celebrate the beauty of the natural world or the human soul. For example, Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem “To Nature” is essentially an ode praising nature as a divine force. One modern commentator notes that Coleridge treats nature “as the one true God, with the poet serving as its humble priest” in that poem. Likewise, poets like Wordsworth and Keats wrote glowing verses about flowers, dawn, or the nightingale’s song – all poetic ways of saying, “Nature, you are amazing.”

African Praise Poetry Traditions

While exploring English praise poetry, it’s meaningful to remember that praising in verse is a universal tradition – especially strong across Africa. A great example is the Yoruba oríkì. In Yoruba culture (West Africa), every person, place, or thing can have an oríkì: a set of poetic epithets that celebrate its essence. As one definition puts it, “Oríkì is the oral praise poetry of the indigenous Yoruba communities of Western Africa”.

These poems string together praise-names describing the qualities of a person, animal, deity, or place. (In fact, every Yoruba poet “strives to know the oríkì of important people,” since “every person… has his own body of utterances by which he can be addressed”.) In daily life, Yorubas might even call someone by their praise-name to honour them.

Similar praise-poetry forms exist all over Africa. Zulu cultures have izibongo, Basotho have lithoko, and the Tswana speak of maboko – all oral poems of praise. As the Academy of American Poets notes, these are “a series of laudatory epithets applied to gods, people, animals, places, etc.” that capture the very essence of being praised. For instance, a praise-poet might recount a chief’s heroic deeds, use metaphors to link a person to noble animals or ancestors, or celebrate the bounty of the land.

In oral ceremonies, professional praise-singers (griots, amagqirha, etc.) chant these poems, weaving imagery and story to honour their subjects. In short, praising through poetry is a living tradition in African cultures, much like it has been in English. The common goal is the same: to uplift and connect people by celebrating their good qualities and history.

Modern Praise Poetry in English

Praise poetry didn’t vanish after Romanticism – it simply found new outlets. Today, spoken-word and performance poets often use praise in creative ways. For example, at cultural events or school talent shows, poets might deliver pieces celebrating their neighbourhood, ancestors, or community heroes. One observer of African literature notes that “oral poetry… includes forms such as praise poems and elegies, often accompanied by music.”

In other words, even now, praise poetry thrives when performed with rhythm and sound, bridging traditional praise-song styles with contemporary English poetry.

Many public and official poems in English also function as praise. A notable case is the presidential inauguration poem. At Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration, poet Elizabeth Alexander wrote “Praise Song for the Day.” She literally uses the language of praise in the poem’s title and refrain. In the text, she writes lines like “Praise song for struggle, praise song for the day”poets.org, calling the piece a “praise song.” The poem honours everyday Americans – bus drivers, teachers, ancestors – and offers a sense of unity and hope. It shows that praise poetry in English can celebrate not just individuals but shared ideals and a nation’s journey.

Tribute poetry is another vibrant modern form. Poets often compose tributes (a kind of praise poem) at memorials or anniversaries. For example, when Nelson Mandela died, American poet Maya Angelou wrote “His Day is Done” in his honour. In that tribute, she praises Mandela’s spirit: “He had not been crippled by brutes, nor was his passion for the rights of human beings diminished by twenty-seven years of imprisonment”nelsonmandela.org. These lines celebrate Mandela’s enduring courage and grace. Similarly, many English-language elegies (poems of mourning) also double as praise poems, highlighting the positive legacy of the departed. In everyday life, even song lyrics and anthems can function as praise poetry when they uplift communities or values.

• Spoken-word performances: Contemporary poets often perform praise poems live. For instance, at African poetry slams or open-mic nights, you might hear a poet praising elders, the land, or modern heroes with rhyme and beat. This blends African oral tradition with modern English verse.
• Official ceremonies: Poets have penned praise poems for public occasions. Elizabeth Alexander’s “Praise Song for the Day” (Obama’s 2009 inauguration) is a clear example. In it, repeating “Praise song” reminds listeners of the poem’s honouring role. Similarly, poets around the world write official tributes or anthems that have an uplifting tone.
• Tributes and elegies: Modern tributes to heroes or loved ones often read like praise poems. Maya Angelou’s tribute to Nelson Mandela, mentioned above, directly celebrates his virtues. Likewise, many hymn lyrics and graduation odes in English serve to honour and give thanks.
• Educational settings: Teachers and workshop leaders sometimes teach students to write praise poems to build confidence. (For example, poet Glenis Redmond often has students compose praise poems about themselves or their heritage.) This shows praise poetry’s continuing role in linking personal identity and pride.

In fact, praise poetry is often used in classrooms to inspire learners. American educator Glenis Redmond (whose family is Nigerian) explains that a praise poem lets each line become “a celebratory declaration”, connecting the student to their ancestry. She even begins her writing classes by guiding students to create short praise poems, because it brings positivity into learning. As Redmond notes, starting with praise is vital “because there is not enough positivity going around in the world today”.

(The photo above shows students in a classroom writing – imagine them brainstorming metaphors to praise their heroes or dreams.) This teaching approach mirrors African traditions like oríkì: by celebrating one’s roots and strengths on paper, students affirm their identity and voice.

Looking Ahead: Praise Poetry for Readers

Today, praise poetry in English continues to be a bridge between cultures. It honours our past while adapting to new forms – from stage performances to video and song. For African readers, noticing these parallels can be enlightening.

The next time you hear or write a poem, remember the concept of praise poetry, meaning: use it to express gratitude, admiration, or love for people and ideals.

Celebrate your community, your ancestors, or your own journey in verse. As we’ve seen from Psalms and oríkì to modern slam poetry, words of praise have a unique power to uplift and connect us across time. Embracing praise poetry in English (or any language) lets us share positivity and inspiration with others.