AVBOB Raises the Bar for South African Poetry with a Thrilling New Award!
AVBOB is doubling down on its passion for South African poetry! In an inspiring announcement, CEO Carl van der Riet unveiled a vibrant addition to the AVBOB Poetry Project, now in its eighth celebrated year. Starting in 2025, the all-new AVBOB Prize for Best Published Collection of Poetry (by an individual poet) will shine a spotlight on South African poets with a R10 000 prize, honouring their artistic vision, linguistic mastery, and unique contributions to the country’s cultural tapestry.
In a powerful push for inclusivity, this prestigious award – open exclusively to submissions from South African publishers – will celebrate the finest poetry collections across each of South Africa’s 11 official languages. The competition will operate on a three-year rotation, kicking off with a focus on English, Sepedi, and isiZulu collections in 2025.
“Our new award salutes poets who bravely bring their unique voices into the world through published works,” said Van der Riet. “AVBOB is thrilled to encourage poets to publish solo collections in their mother tongues, and contribute to South Africa’s rich linguistic heritage.”
AVBOB’s dedication to poets extends well beyond competition prizes. Through online workshops, articles celebrating renowned South African poets, insightful interviews with poetry experts, and creative writing tips shared across social media, AVBOB continues to champion poetry at every level.
The excitement culminates in the annual AVBOB Poetry Gala in September 2025, where winners will be honoured, with travel and accommodation provided for each award recipient. Publishers looking to submit entries or learn more can reach out to AVBOB directly at social@avbobpoetry.co.za. Don’t miss the chance to be part of South African poetry history!
Key dates and languages for the award cycle:
| Year of competition | Language of collection
(one language per collection submitted) |
Publication dates for poetry collections submitted | Submission deadline |
| 2025 | English;
Sepedi; or isiZulu |
1 Jan 2022 – 31 Dec 2024 | 31 May 2025 |
| 2026 | Afrikaans;
isiNdebele; isiXhosa; or Sesotho |
1 Jan 2023 – 31 Dec 2025 | Will be confirmed. Entries not to be submitted now. |
| 2027 | Setswana;
Siswati; Tshivenda; or Xitsonga |
1 Jan 2024 – 31 Dec 2026 | Will be confirmed. Entries not to be submitted now. |