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WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR POETS AND READERS AS ANNUAL COMPETITION CLOSES
5 days ago
The 2026 AVBOB Poetry Competition officially closed at 23:59 on 30 November 2025.
Poets were invited to submit up to 10 poems in any of South Africa’s 11 official written languages on the theme I Wish I’d Said… At the time of closing, more than 18 000 poems had been entered in response to this invitation.
A cash prize of R10 000 will be awarded to the winner in each language category, and the winning poems will be published in an annual anthology. The winners’ names will be announced at a prestigious gala prize-giving event in 2026 at which the anthology, I Wish I’d Said… Volume 9, will also be launched.
“We are deeply encouraged as we conclude the ninth year of the AVBOB Poetry Competition,” says Douglas Reid Skinner, the Competition’s English-language Editor. “Once again, thousands of poets responded to our invitation. Entries poured in, representing all 11 of our official written languages. This year’s submissions have demonstrated how enduring and varied the passion for poetry is, and the extent to which poets are prepared to learn from each other as they refine their craft. It is always astonishing to witness the extent to which poets from all walks of life are willing to make themselves vulnerable as they find words for the things that move them most deeply.”
As in previous years, selected poems will be published in the AVBOB Poetry Library, a free online resource that offers words of comfort, consolation and encouragement to the general public. More than 3 000 of the poems entered in 2025 were selected for inclusion in the library. Eight years after it was first launched, it now contains over 21 000 poems in all of South Africa’s official written languages.
“This platform is already more expansive than we could have imagined when the competition was launched nine years ago,” confirmed Adriaan Bester, AVBOB Executive: Funeral Products and Services. “It has become a shared space for poets across generations, across linguistic barriers, and from all walks of life.”
The AVBOB Poetry Library fosters a community of local poets by providing an essential resource for all readers and writers of poetry, helping to sharpen the skills and improve the craft of aspiring poets.
To enhance this sense of community, the AVBOB Poetry Project ran a third series of online poetry workshops, freely accessible to the general public, throughout 2025. As before, these were hosted by poet and teacher Liesl Jobson. These events provided opportunities for aspiring poets to learn from more seasoned practitioners in the company of their peers.
While it is still too early to know how this year’s competition differs previous years, we do know that the thousands of poets who entered were diverse in terms of language and age. As usual, some of the youngest poets’ work proved to be most surprising. What’s more, the number of entries in indigenous languages is growing, especially in Tshivenḓa and Xitsonga, which is an encouraging sign.
In conclusion, Reid Skinner had this to say:
“We extend our gratitude to every poet who participated – without you, this expanding platform for poets and readers would not be possible. Thank you for your contributions, which enrich the literary landscape of South Africa. We eagerly look forward to what the future holds as we continue to celebrate the voices that shape this deepening conversation.”
Poets and lovers of poetry can access the AVBOB Poetry Library and Blog – filled with interviews of inspirational poets and how-to articles – at www.avbobpoetry.co.za
Poets were invited to submit up to 10 poems in any of South Africa’s 11 official written languages on the theme I Wish I’d Said… At the time of closing, more than 18 000 poems had been entered in response to this invitation.
A cash prize of R10 000 will be awarded to the winner in each language category, and the winning poems will be published in an annual anthology. The winners’ names will be announced at a prestigious gala prize-giving event in 2026 at which the anthology, I Wish I’d Said… Volume 9, will also be launched.
“We are deeply encouraged as we conclude the ninth year of the AVBOB Poetry Competition,” says Douglas Reid Skinner, the Competition’s English-language Editor. “Once again, thousands of poets responded to our invitation. Entries poured in, representing all 11 of our official written languages. This year’s submissions have demonstrated how enduring and varied the passion for poetry is, and the extent to which poets are prepared to learn from each other as they refine their craft. It is always astonishing to witness the extent to which poets from all walks of life are willing to make themselves vulnerable as they find words for the things that move them most deeply.”
As in previous years, selected poems will be published in the AVBOB Poetry Library, a free online resource that offers words of comfort, consolation and encouragement to the general public. More than 3 000 of the poems entered in 2025 were selected for inclusion in the library. Eight years after it was first launched, it now contains over 21 000 poems in all of South Africa’s official written languages.
“This platform is already more expansive than we could have imagined when the competition was launched nine years ago,” confirmed Adriaan Bester, AVBOB Executive: Funeral Products and Services. “It has become a shared space for poets across generations, across linguistic barriers, and from all walks of life.”
The AVBOB Poetry Library fosters a community of local poets by providing an essential resource for all readers and writers of poetry, helping to sharpen the skills and improve the craft of aspiring poets.
To enhance this sense of community, the AVBOB Poetry Project ran a third series of online poetry workshops, freely accessible to the general public, throughout 2025. As before, these were hosted by poet and teacher Liesl Jobson. These events provided opportunities for aspiring poets to learn from more seasoned practitioners in the company of their peers.
While it is still too early to know how this year’s competition differs previous years, we do know that the thousands of poets who entered were diverse in terms of language and age. As usual, some of the youngest poets’ work proved to be most surprising. What’s more, the number of entries in indigenous languages is growing, especially in Tshivenḓa and Xitsonga, which is an encouraging sign.
In conclusion, Reid Skinner had this to say:
“We extend our gratitude to every poet who participated – without you, this expanding platform for poets and readers would not be possible. Thank you for your contributions, which enrich the literary landscape of South Africa. We eagerly look forward to what the future holds as we continue to celebrate the voices that shape this deepening conversation.”
Poets and lovers of poetry can access the AVBOB Poetry Library and Blog – filled with interviews of inspirational poets and how-to articles – at www.avbobpoetry.co.za
