Poetry competition to comfort the bereaved
Every person who enters will stand an equal chance for their work to feature alongside that of some of South Africa’s acclaimed poets
AVBOB, the leading funeral service provider in South Africa, is running a poetry competition and has invited people to enter.
AVBOB said its invitation for poems with an elegiac feel in the 11 official languages was a strategic decision.
It was aimed at building a bridge between those who had the words (established and aspiring poets) and those who desperately needed to hear those words (the bereaved).
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The sponsorship was thus aimed at providing a platform for poets, both unknown and lauded, to offer words of comfort through their craft.
To bring this poetry project to life, AVBOB launched a website completely devoted to South African poetry – www.avbobpoetry.co.za – on 18 July, on Mandela Day.
The features of the website were twofold.
Firstly, the company wished to publish as many quality new poems as possible, in all 11 of the official languages.
These poems would be freely available to all lovers of this everlasting literary form, and to all those searching for a verse to give expression to the complex and unique emotions they were experiencing.
Secondly, the website would form the platform from which AVBOB would launch a nationwide poetry competition.
AVBOB said just as the company belonged to the people, so too did poetry – it knew no boundaries, and transcended all differences.
For this reason, the company had made a massive effort to make the competition as inclusive as possible.
The competition would thus be open to all South Africans to celebrate the richness and diversity of all the voices of our land.
The competition would be open from 1 August 2017 to 30 November 2017.
Should a poem be accepted by the editors, this would open up a world of exciting new opportunities for the entrant of the poem.
First, every poem approved by the relevant editor would feature alongside other poems on the AVBOB poetry website, where it will become part of a library of content to provide words of beauty and comfort to the people of South Africa.
AVBOB offered R300 for each poem selected.
In addition, all entrants of approved poems would be in line for the AVBOB Poetry Prize, in the specific language categories (there will be a winner in each language).
The respective prizes would bring cash rewards.
Winners would be announced towards the end of March 2018 and would be honoured at an awards ceremony.
AVBOB CEO Frik Rademan said this initiative was by no means accidental.
“I am extremely grateful to say that, over the years, AVBOB has been a proud supporter of the arts in our country,” he said.
“We have always believed that the arts provide emotional and intellectual upliftment for our people, and that it is a way to liberate them from the difficulties of daily life.”
Every person who entered would stand an equal chance for their work to feature alongside that of some of South Africa’s acclaimed poets in a 100-poem print anthology, entitled “I wish I’d said”.
The anthology would be published in August 2018 to coincide with AVBOB’s centennial. The title of the anthology, “I wish I’d said”, would also be the theme of the poetry competition.
To enter, go to www.avbobpoetry.co.za, register your profile, read the legal and editorial guidelines and then write and submit your poem.
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