The annual AVBOB Poetry Gala returned to Pretoria Country Club on Thursday, 18 September 2025 with an evening of celebration, artistry and heartfelt reflection. Now in its eighth year, the gala marked the launch of I Wish I’d Said… Volume 8 and recognised South Africa’s vibrant multilingual poetry tradition.
 
Guests were welcomed with a stirring performance by the All Stars Trio, whose music set the tone for an evening devoted to creativity and community. Throughout the programme, celebrated poets and performers including Xabiso Vili, Otto Nobela, James Sithole, and Nomonde Sky Mlotshwa brought words from the anthology to life with moving recitals. The audience experienced firsthand poetry’s power to capture joy, temper loss and buoy recovery.
 
The evening also saw the unveiling of a significant new chapter in the competition’s history: the inaugural JdL Award for Poetry, honouring the legacy of Johann de Lange, the late poet, translator, and editor-in-chief of The AVBOB Poetry Project. The award will rotate annually across South Africa’s languages, recognising outstanding published collections and affirming the project’s ongoing commitment to literary excellence.
 
The 11 winners of the AVBOB Poetry Prize are Mufundhisi Thomas Mthombeni (Xitsonga), Rudzani Neluheni (Tshivenda), Senzekile Sindile Ngcane (Siswati), Siyabonga Clinton Koribe (Setswana), Lehlohonolo Bernard Mosoeu (Sesotho), Lethabo Zanele Nhlapo (Sepedi), S’fiso Oscar Zwelihle Mkhize (isiZulu), Zongezile Matshoba (isiXhosa), Andries Solly Skhosana (isiNdebele), Evelyne Rosa Mabussi (English), and Keith Oliver Lewis (Afrikaans). The winners of the inaugural JdL Award for Poetry are Moses Seletisha (Sepedi), Ingrid de Kok (English), and S’fiso Oscar Zwelihle Mkhize (isiZulu).
 
Delivering the keynote address, AVBOB Executive Adriaan Bester reflected on the origins and vision of The AVBOB Poetry Project. He spoke of how the initiative grew from a need to provide words of comfort when words seemed to fail, recalling the moving image of a grieving grandfather who could only whisper “Tata Kiewiet” at a funeral. “That moment,” Bester explained, “reminded us how poets help ordinary folk to find words for that which is otherwise inexpressible.”
 
Tracing the project’s journey from its launch in 2017, Bester highlighted the pivotal decision to broaden the themes of the competition from grief and loss to include renewal and hope. “This duality mirrors life itself,” he said, “and reflects our belief that even in loss, hope endures.”
 
The keynote speech paid tribute to Johann de Lange, whose editorial hand and commitment to literary excellence shaped the anthology from its inception. Quoting former CEO Carl van der Riet, Bester described de Lange’s “unshakeable commitment to dignity, his discerning eye, and his kind curiosity,” noting that his absence is deeply felt in the literary community.
 
Yet, as the evening demonstrated, the project continues to thrive. With more than 22 000 vernacular poems now housed in the AVBOB Poetry Library, and close to 27 000 expected by the end of the current competition, the archive is a living testimony to South Africa’s linguistic diversity and creative richness.
 
“This project is, at heart, a gift,” Bester concluded. “It encourages expression, celebrates talent and inspires hope. That is what makes it so special, and why I look forward to its continued growth.”
 
Between announcements and awards, guests enjoyed a lavish meal and the joyful atmosphere of a community gathered to honour words. The night closed with another rousing performance by the All Stars Trio and the unveiling of the much-anticipated new anthology, of which each guest took home a copy.
 
Apart from the winners whose accomplishments were celebrated, the 2025 AVBOB Poetry Gala also recognised the countless voices that continue to shape South Africa’s poetic landscape. As Emcee Tumelo Mothotoane remarked in her closing: “Poetry is the prize. It pulls us together.”
 
Poets who wish to enter the competition must do so before 23:59 on 30 November 2025. Details and registration are available at www.avbobpoetry.co.za
 
In alphabetical order of language category, the 2024 AVBOB Poetry Competition winners are: 
 

Afrikaans winner	Name: Keith Oliver Lewis  Poem: my pa is doot
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Dianne Du Toit Albertze	Natalie Goetsch	Maritha Broschk	Caren Kearley	Christo Meyer
Poem	ek sal na my ma gaan	Met volmaan	’n Gedig oor die hart	Belewenis	Die gebeurtenis

 

English winner	Name: Evelyne Rosa Mabussi Poem: Cozinha da Mãe
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	André Muller	Bronwyn Egan	Ann Scarborough Moore	Dawn Garisch	Phelelani Makhanya
Poem	The folded map	Meeting me in you	In the footsteps of a martyr	Rehearsal	The harvest

 

isiNdebele winner	Name: Andries Solly Skhosana Poem: Lala ubuthongo obunebiza khiwani elihle
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Asanda Khumalo	Nkosinathi Mduduzi Gembe	Mr Nkanyiso	Sphiwe Price Skosana	Jabulile Lindokuhle Kabini
Poem	Ithulile ingoma emnandi	Ipilo likhambo	Vala ivesi elidala	Ukuhloma kwamakari amatjha	Thando

 
 

isiXhosa winner	Name: Zongezile Matshoba Poem: Idilesi
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Unathi Mphikiswa	Aviwe Batula	Landiswa Zoko	Tulani Njovane	Thulisile Zoko
Poem	Umfanekiso	Ephepheni	Ndibolekisa ngezihlangu zam	Yakubhodl' imbongi	Uhamb' olutsha

 
 

isiZulu winner	Name: S’fiso Oscar Zwelihle Mkhize Poem: Manje usubunile
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Muntomuhle Mcambi	Zamokwakhe Mkhize	Petros Sipho Mbatha	Khethiwe Agrineth Mkhize	Sindi Memela
Poem	Mbali yekhethelo eShilo	Siyobhukuda kwaMatshekane	Ubesanuka ubisi	Bese kungubizo lwakhe	Amandla kaSomandla

 
 

Sepedi winner	Name: Lethabo Zanele Nhlapo Poem: Pholo yeo o bego o e labalabelela
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Mahlogonolo Dolly Boshielo	Kelebogile Ashley Manganye	Labelane Mokonyama	Diketso Mogoswane	Mapula Malatswane
Poem	Kgane okae?	Pego ya tša bophelo lebitleng la tate	Kgoroši	Mathomomayo	Ge le phirimile

 
 

Sesotho winner	Name: Lehlohonolo Bernard Mosoeu Poem: Ke tshaba ho tshaba!
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Thabo Brian Makara	Ruben Letsika	Thato Mohokare	Tsietsi Phatsoane	Moeketsi Golden Mokotjo
Poem	Kamohelo ya lerato	Lefu, maswetsa!	Mpho ya badimo	Kotsi ya koloi	Nke ke ka inehela

 
 

Setswana winner	Name: Siyabonga Clinton Koribe Poem: Molao wamanong
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Molebatsi Joseph Bosilong	Lebogang Mogapi	Lotlabareng Tshiping	Ontiretse Lentotwane	Oratile Duncan
Poem	Mošwa	Ke fitlhile	Kgatelelo yamaikutlo	Ke tsogile	Kwa pele

 
 

Siswati winner	Name: Senzekile Sindile Ngcane Poem: Bekufanele Ngimlahle
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Bongani Magagula	Zenani Mooi Muinga	SF Machali	A.F Ngobe	Sifiso Makwakwa
Poem	Ema-ARVs Atawuba Ngumngani Wami	Ingati eMzansi Afrika	Ngamgcina lapho	Kuyedletele siyedle semankentjane (Hulumeni weGNU)	Ngikhulule ngihambe

 
 

Tshivenda winner	Name: Rudzani Neluheni Poem: Mbilu mulaṱedzi
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Azwikonisaho Secret Magoro	Elisa Ramavhoya	Aluwani Tshivhase	Dakalo Mufamadi	Happy Raphasha
Poem	Mulovha	Ḽo, vhuya ḽa tsha ḓuvha	Vuwa u shume	Fulufhelo ḽashu	Musi ndi tshi ṱuwa

 
 

Xitsonga winner	Name: Mufundhisi Thomas Mthombeni Poem: Tihlo rin'we
Runners-up	2nd place	3rd place	4th place	5th place	6th place
Poet	Winnie Ngobeni	Pollen K Rikhotso	Owen Maswanganye	Oweb J Rikhotso	Ornet Miyambu
Poem	Ndzi lamuleleni!	U kotisa Voyager	Xihlovo	I nsimbi	Kukotisa gama

 
 
2025 JdL Award for Poetry - Winners 
 

Language	Position	Winners	Collections
English	1	Ingrid de Kok	Unleaving
isiZulu	1	S’fiso Oscar Zwelihle	Odengezini LukaBhambatha KaMakhwatha
Sepedi	1	Moses Seletisha	Di A Galaka