The JDL Award for Poetry: honourable mention given to Land | Lines by Shari Daya
The inaugural AVBOB competition for collections of poetry, now known as The JDL Award for Poetry in memory of the contribution to the Poetry Project by the late Johann de Lange, took place earlier this year. The inaugural prizes (2025) were awarded for collections in Sepedi, isiZulu and English.
All of the 2024 single poem and 2025 collection winners are listed here: Avbob Poetry
The winner of the English collections category was Unleaving by Ingrid de Kok. Three collections were given ‘honourable mention’, among them Land | Lines by Shari Daya, published by Karavan Press. The other two were Night Transit by PR Anderson and The Book of Unrest by Nick Mulgrew.
Congratulations to all!
You can watch a short video of the prize-giving event that shows the prizes being awarded for individual poems (the 2024 annual online competition) and collection of poems competition here: The 2025 JDL Award for Poetry
The JDL Award for Poetry in 2026 will go to collections in Afrikaans, isiNdebele, isiXhosa and Sesotho, and in 2027 to collections in Setswana, Siswati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga.
The next competition in Sepedi, isiZulu and English will be run in 2028.
UK edition of ICE SHOCK by Elleke Boehmer to be published by Valley Press
We are excited to share the cover of the UK edition of Elleke Boehmer‘s Ice Shock, first published by Karavan Press earlier this year. Ice Shock will be published in the UK by Valley Press in March 2026.
For details see: Valley Press
PARIS launch of Salt Water Pool Boy by Peter-Adrian Altini
In Paris on the 9th of October? Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity – a first for Karavan Press – the Paris launch of one of our titles, Salt Water Pool Boy by Peter-Adrian Altini. Peter-Adrian will be in conversation with Nafkote Tamirat. Wish I could attend …
First Tuesdays at Art Formes Gallery with Klara du Plessis
Art Formes Gallery: The Old Biscuit Mill, 375 Albert Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town, 7915
Thobeka Yose at the Khayelitsha Book Festival
Don’t miss a great lineup, including Thobeka Yose, author of the award-winning In Silence My Heart Speaks, at this year’s Khayelitsha Book Festival taking place between 26 and 28 September 2025.
Khayelitsha Book Festival is a vibrant celebration of reading, writing, and storytelling rooted in the heart of one of South Africa’s most dynamic communities. Under the powerful theme “We Read, We Write: A Declaration…”, the festival brings together local authors, poets, educators, and young readers to affirm the importance of literacy as a tool for empowerment, identity, and change. Through book launches, panel discussions, performances, and workshops, the festival inspires a love for literature and creates space for voices from Khayelitsha and beyond to be heard, shared, and celebrated.
Venue address: Kilombo Village, 1 Joe Modise St, Mandela Park, Khayelitsha, Cape Town
Book tickets here: Quicket
