Litnet

"The makeshift stage is artfully suited to both the tricks of high office and the gambols of farce, often indistinguishably."

"So simple in its stream:
straight forward."

"your liberators
are singing the same song
as their oppressors'"

"The village erupted in surprised praise. Somehow, the imagery of the entire police team, from the station commander to the most junior constable, picking up sand and wielding brooms, became a beacon of hope."

"when I walk out of the door
my pink suitcase rattling behind
on broken wheels I thought you would fix"

"Nothing grows here now except silence and birdsong by day and the call of the jackal by night."

"It is not easy, waiting for fair sailing weather, permanently watching for the winds to turn."

"Somewhere a mother lifts
a hand to shade her eyes to look and
look again

down the long dusty street
for a son that will never
arrive again."

"I wish you the open heart that brings the truth and love to all mankind,
beyond any political blocks and false leagues.
Only the free flow of borderless wisdom!"

"before our love ossifies
withering unrequited unfulfilled
I will steal your heart truly
once more
committing like never before"

"Let my words caress you,
my gentle hands are thornless,
here to charm you, not to harm you"

"Kora was a curious little fox who had always dreamed of exploring the vastness of space. She spent her days reading books about the stars and planets, and imagining what it would be like to visit them."

"So here’s to sitting in traffic on this morning drive,
May it be a reminder to slow down and enjoy the ride."

"Sparkling shards of broken glass
Beauty in the shards"

This month, as the world celebrates World Migratory Bird Day, the AVBOB Poetry Project celebrates a brilliant, challenging new collection by Kelwyn Sole, an award-winning poet and keen bird watcher, with a particular love of pelagic birding.

Eleven talented poets – one for each official language of South Africa – were announced as the overall winners of the 2022 AVBOB Poetry Competition at a gala prize-giving at the Pretoria Country Club on Wednesday 21 September 2022. Here are the winners.

Stemme | Voices | Amazwi is LitNet’s series of 15 short, powerful monologues, presented in collaboration with Suidoosterfees, NATi and ATKV. In Siphokazi Jonas’ Mkhuseli, a fallen star whose memory was wiped when it fell to earth, stands guard at a shoreline to save the spirits of the drowned. Peggy Mongoato performs the monologue, directed by Qondiswa James. Watch the performance in isiXhosa with English subtitles here.

Stemme | Voices | Amazwi is LitNet’s series of 15 short, powerful monologues, presented in collaboration with Suidoosterfees, NATi and ATKV. In Jane Mpholo’s Ha wa lebona, Lerato gives her former best friend, Palesa, a dressing down after malicious gossiping did the rounds. Tankiso Mamabolo performs the monologue, directed by Mahlatsi Mokgonyana. Watch the performance in Sesotho with English subtitles here.

Stemme | Voices | Amazwi is LitNet’s series of 15 short, powerful monologues, presented in collaboration with Suidoosterfees, NATi and ATKV. In Jemma Kahn’s Not lost, a girl explains how she got fired while working on the set for a Barbie advert. Devonecia Swartz performs the monologue, directed by Jemma. Watch the performance here. The monologue text is also available.

Stemme | Voices | Amazwi is LitNet’s series of 15 short, powerful monologues, presented in collaboration with Suidoosterfees, NATi and ATKV. In Sifiso Mzobe’s Papa dearest, a man remembers his late father who kept smiling while fading away into the arms of death. Sonwabo Mpandle performs the monologue, directed by Gaerin Hauptfleisch. Watch the performance here. The monologue text is also available.