Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards has announced the longlist of writers, poets and visual artists for its inaugural award. The prize, the first of its kind in Namibia, is a collaborative effort between Bank Windhoek, a major financial institution in Namibia, and literary magazine Doek!, to honor the finest work by four Namibian contributors published in any issue of Doek!, in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual art.

In line with its initiative, the longlisted creatives for the inaugural award are duly spread across the six issues published by Doek!, beginning from Issue 1: A Story Happened Here (August, 2019) to Issue 6: Tomorrow/Together (July, 2021).

The windmill has been selected as the featured symbol for its “metaphorical representation of Doek’s motto and the wisdom which makes great storytelling possible: hope and optimism in spite of present difficulties.” (Get more details on the award concept here.)

We celebrate Doek! Magazine’s efforts for bring the work of these relatively unknown writers, hopefully soon to be household names, to a much larger audience, as well as their broader vision to highlight the creative industry in Namibia.

A shortlist will be announced on September 1.

See the full longlist below:

FICTION

“Subterwhere” by Ange Mucyo (Issue 1: August 2019)
“December” by Filemon Iiyambo (Issue 4: November, 2020)
“The Letter” by Dalene Kooper (Issue 4: November, 2020)
“Silhouette” by Ndawedwa Denga Hanghuwo (Issue 5: March, 2021)
“A Cure For Loneliness” by Tessa Harris (Issue 6: July, 2021)

NON FICTION

“The Trip North” by Kavena Hambira (Issue 1: August, 2019)
“Is There A Doctorate In The House?” by Frowin Becker (Issue 5: March, 2021)
“Auralgraph: Spice In The Wind” by Ndakolute Ndilula (Issue 5: March, 2021)
“Ouma Sofie’s Gold” by Natasha Uys (Issue 6: July, 2021)

POETRY

“Slaves To Alcohol” by Verushchka Garises (Issue 2: February, 2020)
“Drag” by Esperance Luvindao (Issue 2: February, 2020)
“Embalming The Past” by Pedro Vorster (Issue 2: February, 2020)
“Queens In Your Bloodline” by Ros Limbo (Issue 3: July, 2020)
“What I Am” by Undjizuva Kaputjaza (Issue 4: November, 2020)
“A Goddess” by Jayson Museta (Issue 4: November, 2020)
“Green And Greening” by Pauline Buhle Ndhlovu (Issue 4: November, 2020)
“Her Yearning Soul” by Beata Namene (Issue 4: November, 2020)
“From The Fury Of A Dying Sun” by Alacia Armstrong (Issue 5: March, 2021)
“Yoga Practice” by Hugh Ellis (Issue 5: March, 2021)
“Church Of The Informally Settled” by Ndaundika Shefeni (Issue 6: July, 2021)

VISUAL ART

“Threshold” by Nina Van Schalkwyk (Issue 3: July, 2020)
“Gentle Alpha” by Jean-Claude Tjitamunisa (Issue 3: July, 2020)
“Chrysalis” by Namafu Amutse (Issue 4: November, 2020)
“Becoming Home” by Katherine Hunter (Issue 4: November, 2020)
“Absent Normal, Normally Absent” by Natache Sylvia Iilonga (Issue 4: November, 2020)
“Fragments” by Inger Junge (Issue 4: November, 2020)
“Carving Out A Home” by Summer Du Plessis (Issue 5: March, 2021)
“Reach” by Immanuel Natangwe Hafeni (Issue 5: March, 2021)

Congratulations to the longlisted authors!