During the month of August, FunDza ran a poetry competition called, “Unusual Love”. Participants were asked to write a poem about a love they felt for an inanimate object, a place, an animal or an experience. The catch? The poem could not be about a person.
The competition was a resounding success with FunDza receiving over 500 entries! Participants were so creative and there were some very unusual expressions of love. We were definitely impressed by the quality to the entries submitted.
The judging process proved to be quite difficult but after much deliberation the judges made their final decision.
We spoke to our SIX winners and brimming with excitement this is what they had to say when they heard the exciting news:
A big round of applause goes to:
Senior Winner: Anele Jonga – The Ghost Crawler
“Winning the competition has justified that my writing skills have been acknowledged and I should pursue the skill to the best of my ability.”
Senior Winner: Resego Sebogodi – Thrown into Comfort
“Winning this competition not only boosts my confidence as a writer but also just shows that poetry is not a medium in South Africa, on the contrary, it is being acknowledged and celebrated and I am happy about that.”
Senior Winner: Botsana Maphanga – A Different Type of Love
“Firstly, it is a beautiful surprise to have won. Truly a pleasure when your work stands among others as one of the best. Winning the competition is validation that all those years of working on my craft has paid off. Thank you Fundza for this wonderful opportunity”
Junior Winner: Mihlali Gwalisa – Home
“Winning the competition means alot to me , I have been writing for a really long time and I have never had the courage to enter competitions and show people my work until this year . Being one of the winners motivates me to continue writing and sharing my work. Thank you so much to everyone involved.”
Junior Winner: Sibusiso Radebe – Mama Africa
“Winning the competition is something incredible to me, it is an affirmation to my poetry skills and this has motivated me to write more frequently”
Junior Winner: Kyle Chad Van Wyk – Unusual Love as the Elephant in the Broom
“Winning the competition means the world to me and has built myself confidence and will help me in my growth in poetry.”
Here are the entries that the judges wanted to highlight as:
Omega Faku – Granny’s Walking Stick
Lona Biyana – Writing
Karabo Moabi – My Wonderful Paintbrush
Somelele Ntamo – The Red Notebook
Heather Louw – A Love Note
Ayanda Mpayazi – A Mean Lover
Ekta Somera – Forevermore
Phindile Mnisi – Mngadi Street
Yandisa Krobani – Adorable Mighty Pen
Chané de Wet – Music in a Box
Ashley Klein – Tattooed Parchment
Commended:
Zandile Zusonge Valela – Love For My African Stream
Skye Almaas – Enough to Live For
Anelihle Matiwane – My Hair, My Crown
George Kapyepye – Beloved Mulanie
Amahle Mbeshu – What Are You, Oh Celestial Being
Zainab Saeed- Lavender Fields and Ocean Tides
Zonke Thwala – Dearest Diary
Lillian Gamuchirai Mtumanje – 5 Bars
Justice Jostino Ripinga – The Aesthetic of the Rising Sun
Siyabonga Mahlalela – Windy Days
Tabani Mtwana – PAIN(T) – The Pain of Devotion to Painting
Matshidiso Matsane – My Techompanion
Nakedi Prudence Masipa – Blissful Tree
Martin Chilapya – My Best Friend, My Flute
Onke Gwentshe – It Is Wordgasm
Sizwe Sithole – To My Love at First Write
Katlego Annah Matsapola – Aquatic Cherub
Phumlile Mpembe – My Four Feet Friend
Tumelo Lewu Rametsi – Starless Night and Me
Nomvume Jansen – In Love With a Red Rose
Seresha Padayachy- Another Chance
Oratile Ndimande – Hanging by Your String Fingers
Thato Malatji – Sunday Service
Onkgopotse Moeletsi – The Earthy and Musky Scent When it Rains
Thabo Fistos Ramatlo – Flying To Dubai
Sebongile Dhlamini – Music
Zinhle Thelma Radebe – The Land of Light and Darkness
Nivashnie Poonsamy – Not Just Another Love Story
Ngcebo Nzimande – My Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Nhlakanipho Khumalo – My Umalusi Certificate, My Shepard
Sthembiso Sigubudu – The Silent Soul
Nomasonto Buthelezi – My Extraordinary Soul Mate
Ntsika Miya – Blue Sky Headlight
Njabulo Goba – A Proud Third Wheel
Congratulations to all those featured here and to everyone who entered the competition. Keep up with the writing!