The Goethe-Institut’s Word N Sound Poetry League Returns for Another Season in Joburg

Get ready for the ultimate poetic showdown as Season 11 of the Word N Sound Poetry League kicks off on 1 March 2025, running bi-monthly until 1 November 2025 with the Back to Basics theme—no props, no music, just raw talent, bold words, and the mic. Here’s what you need to know.

A poet at Goethe-Institut's Word N Sound Poetry League Season 11

What to expect from Word N Sound Poetry League

The iconic bi-monthly Word N Sound Poetry League platform invites seasoned poets and newcomers to battle it out, accumulate points, and aim for the grand finale in November. Interested poets must arrive early at Goethe-Institut on Saturday, 1 March and register by adding their names to the list. Entrants get 5 minutes on stage, and a panel of their peers will score their performance.

The winner of the night takes home a cash prize, but every point earned counts toward qualifying for the final showdown in November, where the 2025 Word N Sound Poetry League Champion will be crowned.

Following the launch on 1 March, the season schedule continues as follows:

Round 2 – 3 May
Round 3 – 5 July
Round 4 – 6 September
Final Showdown – 1 November

Cost: R50 entry. Book here

When: Launches— Saturday, 1 March 2025 from 12pm to 5pm. Runs until 1 November 2025
Where: Goethe-Institut South Africa, 119 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood, Johannesburg

More about the Goethe-Institut

The Goethe-Institut aims to cultivate international and local cultural exchange through the arts, sciences and languages. With over 100 institutes worldwide, and 14 in the sub-Saharan region, including the one in Johannesburg, the Goethe-Institut is committed to fostering transnational diversity, understanding and trust.

Their Cultural Programmes Department focuses on a variety of different artistic approaches from the visual arts to drama, dance, literature, film, and others to support the local cultural scenes and strengthen pan-African dialogue through the arts.