Two poets originally from Vhembe have made the province proud by winning the Tshivenda and Xitsonga categories of the 2024 AVBOB Poetry Competition. The winners were honoured at the AVBOB Poetry Gala Dinner on Wednesday, 18 September, at the Pretoria Country Club.
Their stories show how language, faith and community can turn ordinary lives into extraordinary art.
For Midrand-based auditor Rudzani Neluheni, who hails from Mianzwi village outside Makonde, hearing her name called as the Tshivenda winner felt almost impossible. "Out of 439 poems, mine came first. I thought, there's no way I could have done it on my own – it can only be the grace of God. When the time is right, the Lord will indeed make it happen," she said.
Her winning poem, Mbilu Mulaṱedzi, reflects on heartbreak and healing. "Heartbreak and disappointment are natural," she explains. "But to heal, you must allow yourself to feel the pain and grow through it. And even if your heart deceives you once, you should never stop loving."
Rudzani's love for words began in the Lutheran Church, where hymns with deep emotional power inspired her. At Luaname Primary, teacher Mavis Mafinya encouraged her to recite poems, while principal NE Tshilande gave her a stage at a school assembly in Grade 7. Later, Tshivenda teachers at Thengwe High deepened her vocabulary and passion for the language.
Though her career as an auditor has exposed her to diverse cultures and people, poetry remains her calling. "Writing is an assignment to mend and heal broken hearts. It is my way of giving a voice to the voiceless," she says. Looking ahead, she plans to continue entering the AVBOB competition and hopes to publish her own Tshivenda poetry book.
For teacher and writer Mfundisi Thomas Mthombeni, poetry is both personal and professional. Born in Mahatlani village near Louis Trichardt, he has spent decades teaching Xitsonga at Marholeni High School and publishing works that preserve the language. He co-authored Nhlalala 1, a poetry collection prescribed for Grade 7 learners, and wrote a folklore book now studied in Grade 12.
His 2024 winning poem, Tihlo rin'we (One Eye), tells the story of a mother who loses her only son but heals after adopting another child from the community. It draws from the Xitsonga saying "Nwana a hi lowa ngati ntsena" – a child does not only belong to a natural parent. "It is about grief, resilience and the power of love to restore families and communities," he says.
Mthombeni has been a devoted participant in the AVBOB Poetry Competition since its inception and took second place in 2023 with his poem Nkelunkelu!.