2026 marks the 19th birthday of Modjaji Books and the Woordeloos anthology is a celebration of our work and the writings of southern African women.
We received 240 submissions from poets across southern Africa. The poems showcased inventive use of language, humour, interplay between languages, truth-telling, and remarkable attention to specific details.
Full details about the selection process and submission guidelines are available on our website.
Liliana Risi, funder and initiator of the Woordeloos project, said: “I have read all 240 poems that were submitted. My heart is overflowing that so many people chose and decided to make the effort, to find the time, to find the energy, to find the courage, to send us their poems. I have been so moved by your commitment.”
After multiple rounds of reading, sifting, and shortlisting, we have selected 19 poems for publication.
Selected poets and poems
- Danille Arendse (Bester) – “Kom haal os, Os wo; huistoe ko (Come Fetch us, We Want to Come Home)”
- Diane Awerbuck – “Supergiant”
- Rutendo Chichaya – “Gathered Seams”
- Yvonne Fontyn – “Broccoli”
- Vangile Gantsho – “Makhulu”
- Abigail George – “Why does a woman write”
- Nosipho Gumede – “Dear Gold, rush me to Johannesburg”
- Carri Kuhn – “The Skull”
- Tsholofelo Lebese – “Mothusi Street”
- Olga Leonard – “slaapliedjie vir 'n stilgeboorte”
- Skye Alla Mallac – “The bones of it all”
- Sethunya Hlobisa Matsie – “Little Girl”
- Marthé McLoud – “Grief”
- Asante Mtenje – “Petition”
- Tshifhiwa Hellen Munyai – “A corpse on my shoulder”
- Wilna Panagos – “What I miss about Queenswood”
- Neema Rabannye – “OUR MOTHERS BEAT SELLOANE'S HUSBAND WITH A WOODEN SPOON AFTER HE TOOK HALF OF HER FACE OFF AND WE SANG”
- Patricia Schonstein – “To My Husband of Fifty– one Years”
- Luto Skweyiya – “uQongqothwane”