I Wish I’d Said… Vol. 8
(Johann de Lange / NCP Golele, Reds.)
Now in its eighth year, the AVBOB Poetry Competition has produced another excellent and moving poetry anthology, I Wish I’d Said… Vol. 8. This beautifully curated collection of South African poetry introduces a compelling new theme – New Beginnings. It explores themes of resilience, renewal and the quiet courage it takes to start over.
The top six poems in each official language appear alongside three specially commissioned works by leading poets. English translations accompany each poem, offering shared understanding across South Africa’s richly diverse linguistic landscape.
The natural world is vividly present – seeds stir, birds take flight, rivers swell. This mirrors the emotional and spiritual renewal captured in these verses. Familiar themes of love and grief are joined by meditations on hope, healing and the possibility of growth.
This is more than a competition anthology; it is a sanctuary of reflection and a celebration of poetry’s enduring role in fostering connection, community and meaning.
About the compilers
The late Johann de Lange (1959–2025) made his debut in 1983 with the Ingrid Jonker Prize-winning Akwarelle van die dors. In 2011, he was awarded the Hertzog Prize for Die algebra van nood. His final volumes include Die meeste sterre is lankal dood (2020) and Miniatuur (2024).
Dr Agnes Mawela holds a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Limpopo, with a specialisation in terminography. She served as Head of Language Services in Limpopo Province and retired as Director of Language Services in the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture in 2016.
[Naledi 2025. SOFT COVER. 210 x 148 mm. 320 PAGES. R240.00. ISBN: 9781067234843]