The third edition of the Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards (BWDLAs) is back. A biennial celebration to recognise and reward Namibian writers, poets, and visual artists whose work is published in the Doek! Literary Magazine, the event will take place in November. Doek! is Namibia’s first and only literary magazine, curating fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual art from Namibia.
Supported by Bank Windhoek, with a total of approximately N$600,000 since 2021, the BWDLAS is an essential feature of the growing literary movement within the country. The platform has helped launch writing careers and provided national and international exposure.
“The awards have become an important part of the national literary calendar, helping to attract writing from all corners of the country, representing judges from the local writing community, and fostering collaboration with artists working in other artistic disciplines,” said Rémy Ngamije, the founder and chairperson of the Doek Arts Trust. “Each year these awards have been hosted, a new wave of Namibian writers has been recognised and produced meaningful work outside the country. One reason Doek was started is to provide Namibians with opportunities to add their voices to the continental and global literary community.”
Reflecting on the state of the arts in the world, Ngamije added that the third edition of these awards showcases Bank Windhoek’s commitment to the Namibian creative economy. “This level of institutional support is not to be taken for granted in these uncertain times,” he said. “Bank Windhoek continues to show that it believes in the country's arts practitioners and their work. While similarly placed institutions have shrunk away from engaging with the creative sector, they have deepened their investment and collaboration. The ongoing support of Doek’s mission—to create a thriving community of readers and writers—is just one of the many ways Bank Windhoek has lent its institutional weight, keeping the local arts vibrant and thriving.”
The awards
Each winning literary artist from the fiction, nonfiction, poetry and visual arts categories will be awarded cash prizes sponsored by Bank Windhoek. The winners are also presented with a unique trophy commissioned from a Namibian artist. All longlisted, shortlisted and winning literary artists have unique opportunities in their creative fields. Such perquisites may include book prizes, further publication in select anthologies, offers of representation, appearances at literary festivals, participation in creative workshops, access to mentorship programmes, exhibitions in local, national, and international galleries, and art residencies in Namibia and abroad.
Independent judges from Namibia’s literary and arts sectors will select winners from works published in Doek! between December 2023 and July 2025. The panel includes Ndawedwa Hanghuwo, Samuel Mayinoti, Sylvia Schlettwein (fiction, nonfiction, poetry), and Michelle Van Wyk (visual art), all experienced Namibian literary and arts professionals.
Embracing the connection between literature and other artistic disciplines, each edition of the Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards is built around a special animating concept. The concept’s spirit dictates the creative tone of each award season. It is realised as an official logo prominently displayed on all press and digital materials. The idea is finally translated into physical form, taking shape as special trophies awarded to each year’s winning literary artists.
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