Doek announces shortlisted candidates
The shortlist for the 2025 Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards has been announced, highlighting the creativity and diversity of Namibia’s literary and artistic community.Now in its third edition, the biennial awards celebrate Namibian writers, poets, and visual artists whose works have appeared in Doek! Literary Magazine — the country’s pioneering platform for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual art from Namibia, Africa, and the African diaspora.
Set to take place in November, this year’s ceremony will bring together a range of exceptional talents recognised for their storytelling, originality, and emotional impact. The judging panel, comprising Ndawedwa Denga Hanghuwo, Samuel Mayinoti, Sylvia Schlettwein, and Michelle van Wyk, spent a month deliberating before finalising the shortlist.
Among those shortlisted are Filemon Iiyambo, Hugh Ellis-Mwiya, Jedidja Kavuva, Jeremy Tiboth, Johannes Shikongo, Katherine Hunter, Luigi Arnat, Natache Sylvia Ilonga, Omen Keisho, Perivi Katjavivi, and Vekondjisa Katusuva.
Visual art: Awakening consciousness
Michelle van Wyk, Director of the National Art Gallery of Namibia, commended the shortlisted visual artists for their ability to provoke meaningful dialogue through their work. Pieces such as Kasino Street by Natache Sylvia Ilonga, Your Wings from the Back by Omen Keisho, and Solitude by Luigi Arnat explore themes of vulnerability, rejection, and isolation. Rendered in black and white, these works reflect the complexities of modern Namibian life.
Poetry: Echoes of identity and heritage
Hanghuwo, winner of the inaugural fiction award in 2021, praised this year’s poetry shortlist for its authenticity and rhythm. The poems capture the essence of childhood memories, family, heritage, and the lingering pain of absent fatherhood, while also tackling themes of masculinity, war, and cultural loss. Highlights include Johannes Shikongo’s The Algorithm of Fading Fathers, Vekondjisa Katusuva’s Aminus: Pos 11, and Jedidja Kakuva’s In the Shadow of Reflection.
Nonfiction: Stories that spark dialogue
Judge Samuel Mayinoti applauded the nonfiction category for its inventive storytelling and depth. 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 transport readers across time and place, encouraging reflection on overlooked historical and cultural narratives.
Fiction: Exploring relationships and landscapes
Sylvia Schlettwein highlighted the fiction shortlist for its creativity and emotional resonance. Works such as Poisoned Pawn by Jeremy Tiboth, What the Sycamores Saw by Katherine Hunter, and Flesh of the Sun by Hugh Ellis-Mwiya explore the complexities of human relationships and the landscapes, both physical and psychological, that shape them.
Doek Arts Trust founder and chairperson Rémy Ngamije said every shortlisted work represents the strength and evolution of Namibian storytelling. “Each entry underwent extensive editing during publication, so the shortlist reflects not only talent but dedication and growth,” he said. “We congratulate all the shortlisted creators and wish them the best as the 2025 Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards draw near.”
The awards continue to reaffirm Bank Windhoek’s commitment to supporting arts and culture in Namibia, shining a light on the stories that define and connect the nation.