The 2025 Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards, now in its third year, continue to shine a spotlight on Namibia's vibrant literary and artistic talent. Hosted biennially, the awards recognise and reward Namibian writers, poets, and visual artists whose works have been published in Doek! Literary Magazine, the country’s pioneering platform for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual art from Namibia, Africa, and the African diaspora.
This year’s awards, which will take place in November, are expected to bring together a diverse group of creators; each celebrated for their unique contributions to Namibian storytelling. The judging panel, comprising Ndawedwa Denga Hanghuwo, Samuel Mayinoti, Sylvia Schlettwein, and Michelle Van Wyk, deliberated over a month, evaluating entries for their storytelling prowess, craft, originality, and resonance with both local and international readers. The selected shortlists are Filemon Iiyambo; Hugh Ellis-Mwiya; Jedidja Kavuva; Jeremy Tiboth; Johaness Shikongo; Katherine Hunter, Luigi Arnat; Natache Sylvia Ilonga; Omen Keisho; Perivi Katjavivi and Vekondjisa Katusuva.
Visual Art: Awakening Consciousness
Van Wyk, Director of the National Art Gallery of Namibia, praised the shortlisted visual artists for their ability to spark essential conversations within Namibian society. Works such as “Kasino Street” by Natache Sylvia Ilonga, “Your Wings From The Back” by Omen Keisho, and “Solitude” by Luigi Arnat explored themes of vulnerability, rejection, and isolation. These pieces, rendered in striking black and white, invite viewers to reflect on the complexities of contemporary Namibian life.
Poetry: Echoes of Identity and Heritage
Hanghuwo, winner of the inaugural fiction award in 2021, highlighted the poetry shortlist for its originality and evocative rhythm. The selected poems delve into reminiscences of childhood, family, heritage, and the pain of absent fatherhood. They also address the consequences of war, history, masculinity, and cultural loss. Poets such as Johannes Shikongo (“The Algorithm Of Fading Fathers”), Vekondjisa Katusuva (“Aminus: Pos 11”), and Jedidja Kakuva (“In The Shadow
Of Reflection”) offer raw, beautifully written verses that touch on identity, love, trauma, and religion.
Nonfiction: Stories That Ignite Conversation
Mayinoti, whose experience in Namibian publishing enriches the literary landscape, commended the nonfiction shortlist for its inventive storytelling. Perivi Katjavivi’s “I’ll Tell You Why I Was Late For Church Yesterday: Auralgraph From Gobabis, 1965” and Filemon Iiyambo’s “Sonic Overload: Auralgraph From Cairo” bring history, place, and time to life, stimulating dialogue about vital yet often overlooked themes.
Fiction: Exploring Relationships and Landscapes
Schlettwein, emphasised the extraordinary creativity of the fiction shortlist. Stories like “Poisoned Pawn” by Jeremy Tiboth, “What The Sycamores Saw” by Katherine Hunter, and “Flesh Of The Sun” by Hugh Ellis-Mwiya explore the sometimes-dark dynamics of interpersonal relationships in Namibia. With sharp twists and acute observations of both natural and psychological landscapes, these works draw readers into uniquely Namibian and universally relatable worlds.
The founder and chairperson of the Doek Arts Trust, Rémy Ngamije, said each entry on the longlist underwent extensive editing during the publishing process, making the selection of the shortlist a testament to the depth and power of Namibian storytelling. He congratulated all shortlisted creators and wished them the best as the 2025 Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards nears.
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