Share Your Voice with South Africa Through a Poetry Contest that Celebrates You!

The AVBOB Poetry contest invites entries until 30 November, and you can submit up to 10 original poems in any of South Africa’s 11 official languages! With the contest now open, we welcome poets from every corner of South Africa to share their words before submissions close this year. This free competition provides a platform where every voice is valued. If you are a seasoned writer or simply someone with feelings to express, the contest is an invitation to transform your thoughts into verse and add them to a living archive of South African poetry!

Why Enter a Poetry Contest?

If you have been considering entering our poetry contest, we have some fantastic reasons for you to finally give it a try!

• Your chance to be heard: Poetry contests provide a platform where your voice can travel further than just the pages on which you write. By entering, you allow your creativity to reach readers who may find comfort, connection, or inspiration in your talent.
  
• Creative growth: Every poem you write stretches your ability to express what matters most and improves your technical writing skills. A contest setting gives a boost to that growth, encouraging you to refine your writing process.
  
• Belonging to a community of creators: The AVBOB Poetry contest is a gathering of writers across languages, backgrounds, and life experiences. When you submit your work, you become part of a community that celebrates South African voices and the diversity you add.
  
• A lasting legacy: Selected poems live on in the AVBOB Poetry Project library, an online collection freely accessible to the public. This means your words could be preserved as part of South Africa’s cultural record.
  

How to Enter the AVBOB Poetry Contest

Getting started is simple, and you can join us right now!

• Step 1: Register your profile with your details.
• Step 2: Read through the competition rules and editorial guidelines to understand what the judges are looking for.
• Step 3: Write your poem and submit it before the competition closes on 30 November 2025.
• Step 4: Once submitted, your poem will be considered for publication in the AVBOB Poetry Project library. It may also be eligible for winning a cash prize at the winner’s gala, as well as inclusion in the annual print anthology.

The Benefits Go Beyond Winning

Prizes and recognition are exciting, but there are other benefits to entering a poetry contest, too. Writing is a process that gives you clarity on your own feelings, healing, and courage. When you put your thoughts into verse, you discover things about yourself you may never have noticed before. Sharing that work invites others to connect with you, and that connection is what has kept poetry alive since ancient humans could express themselves. Every entry, no matter the outcome, contributes to a powerful initiative that platforms fresh voices each year.

FAQs About the AVBOB Poetry Contest

1. Is there a theme for the competition?
   Yes! Every poem must connect to the theme “I Wish I’d Said” and explore one of the topics of birth, death, love, hope, or new beginnings.
2. Can I write in my home language?
   Entries are accepted in all 11 official written languages of South Africa. Your poem should reflect the language in which your emotions feel most at home. This platform celebrates you, and we encourage you to express yourself as best as you can!
3. How many poems can I submit?
   You can submit up to 10 original poems.
4. What happens to the poems that are selected?
   Chosen works are published in the AVBOB Poetry Project library, where they remain freely available to readers everywhere. They may also appear in the annual print anthology, which you can purchase for yourself.
5. Do I need to pay to enter?
   The contest is free for everyone to enter. Poetry belongs to all of us, and so does this opportunity.

Share Your Words with Us Today!

The AVBOB Poetry contest is a celebration of creativity, cultural memory, and hope. By registering and entering before 30 November, you give your words the chance to resonate with, and comfort, other people. If you are ready, submit your poems today, and if you would like to be inspired before you begin, explore our library to read thousands of works from talented writers just like you!