The 2023 AVBOB Poetry Competition winners

By CityLife Arts Writer

Eleven winners of the 2023 AVBOB Poetry Competition (one for each of South Africa’s official languages) were announced at a sparkling gala award ceremony at Pretoria Country Club on Wednesday evening, 20 September 2023.

AVBOB CEO Carl van der Riet delivered the keynote address in which he described poetry as a healing place where we find comfort and consolation; renewal and encouragement. “As we honour Heritage Day on 24 September, we celebrate South Africa’s rich and varied poetic traditions. We are particularly proud of how the AVBOB Poetry Competition contributes to and enriches our country’s cultural heritage in all 11 official languages,” he noted.

“From the start, poets have been encouraged to submit work in their mother tongue. We are delighted to see that 55% of all poems entered this year were written in South Africa’s vernacular languages,” Van der Riet shared. He added that the AVBOB Poetry Library now contains nearly 21 000 poems, each of which earned its author a usage fee of R300. This represents an investment of more than R6.2 million in usage fees supporting South African poets since the competition commenced in 2017.

The winner in each language category of AVBOB Poetry Competition received a R10 000 cash prize, a R2 500 book voucher, and an elegant trophy. Each guest also received a copy of the annual anthology, I wish I’d said… Vol. 6, which was launched at the event. The top six poems in each language appear in the anthology (each with an English translation).

A selection of commissioned poems and six Khoisan poems from the Bleek and Lloyd collection round out the anthology. This comprehensive collection was compiled by Editor-in-Chief of the AVBOB Poetry Competition, Johann De Lange, and the Tshivenda Editor for the competition, Agnes Mawela.

According to De Lange, “Poetry addresses the universal struggle to find meaning and purpose in our darkest hours. The AVBOB Poetry Competition inspires poets to reach deep inside themselves to find words that keep hope alive. Fostering the poetry community helps people find encouragement and camaraderie in the reading and writing of this vital and life-affirming art form.”

Attendees were entertained by talented vocal sextet, Just 6. Their fascinating combination of unaccompanied voices created a distinct and vibrant sound, fusing indigenous African sounds with original harmonies. Their joyful energy set the tone for the event’s glamorous emcee, Bolele Polisa, to introduce each winner.

In alphabetical order of language category, the 2023 AVBOB Poetry Prize (1^st place) winners are: Natalie Goetsch (Afrikaans), Lethube Hellen Phaladi (English), Nkululeko Mthembu (isiNdebele), Siphosakhe Gogo (isiXhosa), Zimkhitha Mbhele (isiZulu), Mahlogonolo Shilela Masehla (Sepedi), Brian Makara (Sesotho), Mosimanegape Jasone (Setswana), Prisca Nkosi (Siswati), Rokunda Mulovhedzi (Tshivenḓa) and Bongani Hlungwani (Xitsonga).

To order I Wish I’d Said… Vol.6 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. Alternatively, email your order to tertia@naledi.co.za or find it at selected bookstores.

Visit www.avbobpoetry.co.za to access the AVBOBPoetry library and to register for the 2024 AVBOB Poetry Competition (which closes on 30 November 2023).

In alphabetical order of language category, the 2023 AVBOB Poetry Competition winners are:

Afrikaans winner	Name: Natalie Goetsch Poem: Jaareind
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Wilmarie Pekeur	Ian de Beer	Jaomi Zeeman	Jacques Boshoff	Gerhard Barkhuizen
Poem	Onder die invloed van die dood	In absentia	Diepsee in (vir Oom Willem)	Boodskapper	Oom Neels

English winner	Name: Lethube Hellen Phaladi Poem: Shai, Isaac Shai
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Geoffrey Haresnape	Adre Marshall	Jaco Fouché	David Muirhead	Sanelisiwe Nqashosho
Poem	Tom Southcross – How the Nazarene loved the world	Autumnal	Train of thought	The triple rainbow	Rooted: The grounding

isiNdebele winner	Name: Nkululeko Mthembu Poem: Angeze angiliselela
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	NP Sikhosana	Thobile Skosana	Da Poet Nkanyiso	Musa Machabe	Nozipho F Sikhosana
Poem	Ngisale ngibambe uboya bentenetjha	Lirhabe latjhinga	Usesenawe nagadesi	Ungazilahli iinkhali zokuthumba	Iinhlungu zizokutjhuguluka zibe ziimbusiso

isiXhosa winner	Name: Siphosakhe Gogo Poem: Eluthulini
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Anelisa Thengimfene	Siwaphiwe Fortune ‘Spurz’ Shweni	Ayanda Chris Mntwapi	Elona Ramente	Athi Simamkele Dyantyi
Poem	Intswelangqesho	Ingoma yengcwaba	Hamb’uhambe, Khorona!	Ukuzibulala	Halala maqobokazana!

isiZulu winner	Name: Zimkhitha Mbhele Poem: Lwephukile udondolo kwamnyama
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Yolanda Zungu	Delisile Mbatha	Thokozonke Mbatha	Sibusiso Zwane	Mlungisi Shabalala
Poem	Ubeyisihlangu esimagabelo	Wahamba amalombo	Isililo sikazamcolo	Inkunzi ematshezulu	Mntanami

Sepedi winner	Name: Mahlogonolo Shilela Masehla Poem: Lengwalo la Malome Motšhabagabo
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Mosima Phakane	Tshepiso Makgoloane	Matebane Oscar Nkogatsi	Dineo Kekana	Lucia Monama
Poem	Hlanola direthe	Re a le bona	Ke tsene ke homotše	Meokgo ya mma waka	O kae bjale?

Sesotho winner	Name: Brian Makara Poem: Letsoho
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Rethabile Molibeli	Elia Msimanga	Thabo Molefi	Lesitsi Ligunya	Tlhokomelo Khusu
Poem	Moratuwa	Ke hloka lentswe leo	Mme waka	Fela sa lerato	Tlhokomelo

Setswana winner	Name: Mosimanegape Jasone Poem: Loso
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Othusitse Moses Lobelo	Ontiretse Lentotwane	Dineo Ntwayagae	Balekane Frank Mogale	Bongani Tlholatlung
Poem	Motlholagadi	Kopo ya lenyalo	Barutabana	Dumela	Kgorogo

Siswati winner	Name: Prisca Nkosi Poem: Tinyembeti
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Zenani Mooi Muinga	Naledi Mgwenya	Nelisiwe Jele	Zodwa Thumbathi	Tafadzwa Sithembile Ngobe
Poem	Akusibo budvodza kushaya umfati	Kujutjwa ticu temtimba tentiw’imitsi?	Inhlavu yelilanga	Matekuletjeni	Linamuhla kusasa litawuba ngumlandvo

Tshivenḓa winner	Name: Rokunda Mulovhedzi Poem: Gundo ndi ḽaṋu
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Rudzani Neluheni	Livhuwani Phyllis Muofhe	Ronewa Khangale	Shane Rashaka	Jeremiah Neluvhalani
Poem	Iwe, Lufu	Tshilikadzi	Ni ḓo nnḓivha lufuni	Iwe mufu	Vho u rema uḽa muri

Xitsonga winner	Name: Bongani Hlungwani Poem: Mbewulani
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Mufundhisi Thomas Mthombeni	G Mchavi	Millicent Malatswane	Vukosi Mugaza Hlungwani	Brenley Sengen Ngoveni
Poem