Doek Awards slated for November
The third edition of the Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards (BWDLAs) is set to take place in November, continuing its mission to celebrate Namibian writers, poets, and visual artists whose work is published in Doek!, the country’s first and only literary magazine.Since its founding, the magazine has showcased fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual art, giving Namibian creatives a platform to share their voices nationally and internationally.
Supported by Bank Windhoek, which has contributed close to N$600 000 since 2021, the awards have become a cornerstone of Namibia’s literary calendar. They have helped launch careers, connected writers with new opportunities, and encouraged collaboration across artistic disciplines.
“The awards are vital in recognising writers from all over the country and providing them with opportunities to join the continental and global literary community,” said Rémy Ngamije, founder and chairperson of the Doek Arts Trust.
He noted that each edition has introduced a new wave of talent while demonstrating Bank Windhoek’s long-term commitment to the creative economy. “This support cannot be taken for granted in uncertain times,” Ngamije added. “While other institutions have pulled back from engaging with the arts, Bank Windhoek has deepened its investment, ensuring that the sector remains vibrant.”
Winners in the fiction, nonfiction, poetry and visual arts categories will each receive cash prizes sponsored by Bank Windhoek, along with a bespoke trophy commissioned from a Namibian artist. Beyond prizes, longlisted and shortlisted participants gain access to unique opportunities such as mentorships, festival invitations, gallery exhibitions, residencies, and potential publication in anthologies.
The 2025 judging panel includes Ndawedwa Hanghuwo, Samuel Mayinoti, Sylvia Schlettwein (fiction, nonfiction, poetry), and Michelle van Wyk (visual art). All are respected figures in Namibia’s literary and arts sectors.
Each award cycle is also guided by a special creative theme, expressed through an official logo and ultimately realised in the design of the winners’ trophies - symbolising the connection between literature and other artistic disciplines.
With the BWDLAs now firmly established, Namibian literature and art continue to claim their place on the global stage.