Poetry as a language of mourning and celebration

THE winners of the seventh Avbob Poetry Competition were announced on Wednesday, September 18 at a gala dinner at the Pretoria Country Club.

Carl van der Riet, Avbob's CEO, described poetry in his keynote address as an essential tool to make sense of our deepest experiences.

He also announced a new theme for the Avbob Poetry Competition. Besides the original themes of Birth, Hope, Death and Love, A New Beginning will be the fifth writing theme from this year.

The winner in each language category of the competition won a cash prize of R10 000, as well as a book voucher for R2 500 and a trophy.

The editor-in-chief of the competition, Johann de Lange, said poetry had the unique ability to express not only particularly personal thoughts but also to articulate a shared language of mourning or celebration of life when we need it most. “When we read or create quality poetry, we are reminded that we are not alone. We know there are others who have already experienced this situation, who were looking for words, just as we are now. The uniqueness of a competition like this is that it encourages participants to tap into their deepest feelings to find the words that always ignite a flame of hope."

The winners of the 2024 Avbob Poetry Competition, in alphabetical language order, are: 

Salvia Ockhuis (Afrikaans), Sarah Frost (English), Nosipho Noxolo Nxumalo (Ndebele), Moses Seletisha (Sepedi), Moeketsi Golden Mokotjo (Sotho), Junior Gcina Nkomo (Swati), Amukelani Deborah Mashele (Tsonga), Othusitse Moses Lobelo (Tswana), Humbulani Julia Tharaga (Venda), Athi Simamkele Dyantyi (Xhosa) and Siyabonga Nxumalo (Zulu).

And here is the winning poem in the Afrikaans category:

Metafoor (vir Clement)

Jy’s daardie Vrydag weg
– vlugtig, soos iets wat deur ’n skeur
in klip sou glip;

en as ek nou ’n plant
in ’n beton- of rotsskeur
sien beur of blom,
slaan dit my asem weg:
ek dink dis jy wat t’rugkom
om te groet,
en – lief soos jy vir plante was –
vir die pyn van jou skielike wegwees
met ’n metafoor wil vergoed.

- Salvia Ockhuis

This year's anthology, I Wish I’d Said … Vol. 7, was launched at the event.

To order I Wish I’d Said … Vol. 7, SMS the word POEM to 48423 (at a standard cost of R1.50 per SMS) to have it posted to you at a total cost of R240. You can also send your order to tertia@naledi.co.za or buy it from selected bookshops.

Visit the Avbob-poësiebiblioteek to register for the 2025 competition, entries for which close on November 30, 2024.

♦ VWB ♦

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