This year’s judges—Ndawedwa Denga Hanghuwo, Samuel Mayinoti, Sylvia Schlettwein, and Michelle Van Wyk—were appointed to discharge the difficult duty of selecting the best Namibian writing to appear in Doek! in the past two years. With many years of academic, literary, and publishing acumen between them, the 2025 panel of judges was suitably equipped to read, discuss, and debate about the merits of all of the eligible entries.
In choosing this year’s winners, they highlighted the importance of originality, the clever use of language, the integration of local perspectives, and the emphasis of humanity within the respective writings. The winning entries address complex and layered themes within contemporary Namibian society such as fatherhood and its absences; movement and long distance relationships with one’s home; manhood, identity, and lost childhoods; and loneliness, not as an isolating factor, but as a necessary period of transition in one’s life. The richness of the writings offer a glimpse into the level of writing that is developing in the country and the ability for Namibian writers, poets, and visual artists to craft local narratives with regional, continental, and global themes.
The winners of the 2025 Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards are:
NONFICTION
Jeremy Tiboth
for “Poisoned Pawn”
published in Issue 14: December, 2024)
“Jeremy Tiboth’s ‘Poisoned Pawn’ stands out with its carefully crafted, yet easy flow which weaves words into sentences and paragraphs and a story where nothing is out of place. Each element hits a sweet spot, even when filled with pain. ‘Poisoned Pawn’ is not only atmospherically dense and psychologically observant, but also innovative and fresh in its use of metaphors and point of view: the reader is compelled to take a seat across “you”, the enigmatically failed fatherly player, and engage in a game of chess that deals with the coming-of-age, a tense father-and-son dynamic, and in the end, life. Jeremy Tiboth gives a whole new meaning to “checkmate” with this masterpiece of a short story.”— Sylvia Schlettewein, 2025 Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards Judge
Jeremy Tiboth is a Namibian writer from Rehoboth. He is currently studying Applied Maths at the Namibian University of Science and Technology. His work has also appeared in the Kalahari Review.
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NONFICTION
Filemon Iiyambo
for “Sonic Overload: Auralgraph From Cairo”
published in Issue 15: August, 2025
“Filemon Iiyambo possesses a unique way with words. In this reflection, he employs wit, sharp contrasts, and vivid comparisons to filter out everything else, allowing the reader to see what he saw, feel what he felt, think what he thought, and even taste what he ate on his foreign travels. Not only are the first few sentences an immediate hook, but the following paragraphs also captivate, spark the imagination, and highlight a wide range of themes such as water scarcity, cultural unfamiliarity, and local cuisines with striking ease. Filemon Iiyambo is undeniably a star of the Namibian literary scene.” — Samuel Mayinoti, 2025 Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards Judge
Filemon Iiyambo is a writer, former newspaper columnist, and social commentator currently working as a hydrogeologist. He has written for the Namibian Sun, and for the New Era Newspaper. He holds BA and BA Honours in English Literature and Applied Linguistics from the Namibia University of Science and Technology. His work was included in Brittle Paper’s Erotic Africa and Isele Magazine. His short story “December” was shortlisted for the 2021 Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards, while “Their Mother’s Words” was shortlisted in 2023. His short story “A Thousand Ungovernable Voices” was published in Now Now: The 2023 Doek Anthology. He was a fellow of the Narrating Namibia, Narrating Africa Doek Emerging Writers Program and a member of the 2022-2023 Doek Collective. In 2023 he guest-edited Lolwe, one of the most influential literary magazines in Africa, becoming the first Namibian to be invited to do so. Also in 2023, his short story “Nandjila” won second prize at the National Literary Festival of Namibia. He is currently working on a novel.
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POETRY
Jedidja Kakuva
for “In The Shadow Of Reflection”, “Man Enough”, and “When I Wake Up”
published in Issue 15: August, 2025
“These are poems that explore romance, identity, and missing childhood. Each poem possesses a unique voice that evokes powerful reactions from the reader. ‘Man Enough’ is a brave and vulnerable piece that questions what traditional masculinity is, ending with the liberation of self-acceptance. ‘When I Wake Up’ is well-executed in many ways. What makes it a standout is the use of a childhood drink to reminisce about the past and how a plastic bottle symbolises memories, affection, and growth. ‘In The Shadow Of Reflection” paints a complete picture of a love story. The beauty of love and passion, its crumbling ugliness because of loss of self, and the lessons learnt from it all. This is a moving trio of poems because of their versatility, range, and vulnerability. These poems fit together like a puzzle. Jedidja Kakuva brings a fresh voice to exploring selfhood.” — Ndawedwa Denga Hanghuwo, 2025 Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards Judge
Jedidja Kakuva is a Namibian data professional and aspiring writer. They are currently studying Mathematics and Physics while developing a financial management platform aimed at supporting small and medium enterprises in Namibia.
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VISUAL ART
Luigi Arnat
for “Solitude”
published in Issue 12: December, 2023
“‘Solitude’—as a body of work—resonates deeply with the viewer. The selection of works is technically strong and conveys the depth of the chosen concept through the profound choice of subject matter in each work that forms part of the greater collection. While each component of the overall body of work is unique, Luigi Arnat has managed to capture the conversation and complexity of human solitude through multiple focal points and link them all into a whole. The work haunts, calling to vulnerability. An undeniable testament to the excellence that prevails in Namibian creative perspectives, Luigi Arnat brings to the fore a tender phenomenon, a warm light of sorts, that is often misunderstood.” — Michelle Van Wyk, 2025 Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards Judge
Luigi Arnat is a Namibian photographer and aspiring full-time artist. Using the experience he has acquired from working in multiple jobs in the service industry he has developed an understanding of the human condition and the things that make us all tick. His aim is to find his voice through art and its many mediums to be able to tell the stories only he knows how.
Congratulations to all of the winners of the Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards.
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THE PRIZES
Provided by Bank Windhoek, the official sponsor of the Doek Literary Awards, the winners of each category—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual art—were awarded NAD5000 in cash.
All of the shortlisted writers were provided with stationery and writing instruments to keep their creative fires fuelled and stoked. In addition to this, all of the shortlisted writers will be provided with creative writing workshops and will be included in the programming for forthcoming editions of the Doek Literary Festival.