Cultivating African Artistry, One Voice at a Time.

Ulibo Legacy Media's annual flagship platform for oral history, literature, and the spoken word.

The Awards

The Ulibo Poetry & Honours Awards is dedicated to the preservation and celebration of oral history, literature, and performance poetry. It's a national launchpad for brilliant local writers and performance artists, many of whom now stand among KwaZulu-Natal's most celebrated creative voices. This year, Ulibo hosted its 9th edition.

The Process

How Entry Works

From the call for entries to the ceremony, every stage is run by the Awards Secretariat.

1 campaign

Call for Entries

Nominations open and are announced on our website, social platforms, and media partners — with categories, dates, and entry guidelines.

2 how_to_reg

Enter

Enter yourself, nominate someone deserving, or nominate as an organisation.

3 description

Submit Requirements

Completed nomination form, a recent photo, portfolio or body of work, links, and contact details.

4 fact_check

Screening

The Secretariat checks eligibility, that documents are complete, and that each nominee is in the correct category.

5 category

Category Allocation

Eligible nominees are placed into their respective award categories.

Who May Enter

Three Ways In

person

Self-Nomination

Eligible individuals submit themselves for consideration using the official form and supporting material.

groups

Public Nomination

Anyone may nominate a deserving individual or organisation, provided the nominee meets the eligibility criteria.

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Organisational Nomination

Institutions, companies, schools, NGOs, and professional bodies may nominate deserving candidates.

What Each Nominee Submits

check_circleCompleted nomination form
check_circleRecent photograph
check_circlePortfolio or body of work (where applicable)
check_circleSocial media links (if applicable)
check_circleContact information

Late or incomplete submissions may not be considered.

Judging

How Winners Are Decided

Some categories are decided by public vote; others by an independent panel of judges.

how_to_vote

Public Voting Awards

1Official nominees are announced.
2Voting opens on the approved platform — online portal, SMS, or mobile app.
3The public casts votes over the announced period, usually 2 to 3 months.
4Votes are monitored throughout for duplicates, automated voting, and fraud.
5Voting closes on the announced date — no late votes are accepted.
6An independent verification team validates all votes before certification.
7The nominee with the highest number of valid votes is declared the winner.

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Judges' Adjudicated Awards

1
Preliminary Review
Judges independently review all eligible entries against predetermined criteria.
2
Scoring
Each judge scores nominees on excellence, impact, innovation, leadership, originality, contribution to society, and legacy.
3
Panel Deliberation
Judges discuss finalists, review scores, and declare any conflicts of interest — abstaining where affected.
4
Final Selection
Scores are compiled and the highest overall score is recommended as the winner. The judges' decision is final.

What We Recognise

The Values Behind Every Award

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Talent

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Hard Work

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Commitment

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Professionalism

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Impact

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Verified & Confidential

Before winners are confirmed, the Awards Committee verifies each nominee's identity, eligibility, and the accuracy of their information. Judges' scores and deliberations stay confidential until the ceremony. Vote buying, fraudulent voting, or any attempt to influence judges leads to disqualification.

Award Categories

Nominees are placed into their respective categories. These include:

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Poetry

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Literary Excellence

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Community Leadership

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Arts & Culture

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Media Excellence

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Humanitarian

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Business Excellence

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Youth Leadership

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Education

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Lifetime Achievement

The Experience

This is a night, not a ceremony. Red carpet arrivals, live performances between categories, a full stage production, and Ulibo TV filming the whole thing. Come as a guest, or come to be recognised.