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About Us > History
The History of Singapore Writers Festival
The biennial Singapore Writers Festival is a major literary event in Singapore and since the turn of the 21st century, has gained prominence in both domestic and regional literary landscapes.
The Festival started in 1986 as “Singapore Writers Week” as a component of the Singapore Festival of Arts (now known as Singapore Arts Festival) before striking it on its own to become the “Singapore Writers Festival” in 1991.
SWF has featured many writers from around the world and delighted book lovers with literary celebrities such as Czech Republic writer, Arnošt Lustig, twice-Man-Booker-nominee David Mitchell and celebrated Chinese writer, Yu Hua.
It has seen a steady growth in attendance with the recent SWF in 2007, Crossings, witnessing a two fold increase in audience-ship as compared to the 2005 festival.
SWF2009 will be the Festival’s 13th edition.
2007 | 2005 | 2003 | 2001 | 1999 | 1997 | 1995 | 1993
SWF 2007: Crossings
2007 saw several firsts for the festival. SWF 2007 saw the establishing for a clear mission and vision for the festival, with a distinct focus on new Asian writing while at the same time retaining its aim of presenting major literary talents to Singapore audiences. The 2007 festival also saw administrative developments with the festival jointly organized by the National Arts Council and The Arts House. As festival, the theme Crossings celebrated the intersecting of disciplines, cultures, traditions, languages, time and space in literary arts and featured a variety of programmes ranging from readings to film screenings to performances. Of significance too in Crossings was its focus on literary tradition and heritage of Singapore.
Featured writers:
Eli Amir | Israel
Tash Aw | Malaysia
Sharon Baker | Malaysia
M. Balakrishnan | Singapore
Kunal Basu | India
Bei Dao | UK/China
Boey Kim Cheng | Australia/Singapore
Paddy Bushe | Ireland
Kurt Busiek | USA
Nigel Cawthorne | UK
Meira Chand | Singapore
Jung Chang | China/UK
Chen Qi Yun | Singapore
Felix Cheong | Singapore
Ivan Chew | Singapore
Cheryl Chia | Singapore
Chia Hwee Pheng | Singapore
Chua Chee Lay | Singapore
Charlie Dark | UK
David Davidar | Canada
Alexander Deriev | Sweden
Regina Derieva | Sweden
Shamini Flint | Singapore
Foo Chen Loong | Singapore
Goh Poh Seng | Canada
Rasiah Halil | Singapore
Abdul Ghani Hamid | Singapore
Heng Siok Tian | Singapore
Ho Poh Fun | Singapore
Huang Jianli | Singapore
Howard Hunter | Singapore
KTM Iqbal | Singapore
Madhur Jaffrey | UK
Elmo Jayawardena | Sri Lanka
Philip Jeyaretnam | Singapore
Isa Kamari | Singapore
Richard Katrovas | UK
Keropok Man | Singapore
Koh Hock Kiat | Singapore
Lan Po-chou | Taiwan
Madeleine Lee | Singapore
Lee Tzu Pheng | Singapore
Leong Liew Geok | Singapore
Sonny Liew | Singapore
Lim Cheng Tju | Singapore
Gerrie Lim | Singapore
Rosemary Lim | Singapore
Suchen Christine Lim | Singapore
Arnošt Lustig | Czech Republic
Suratman Markasan | Singapore
Sharanya Manivannan | India
Muhammed Metha | India
Murugadiyan | Singapore
Anita Nair | India
Alvin Pang | Singapore
Phan Ming Yen | Singapore
Hadijah bte Rahmat | Singapore
Philip Holden | Singapore
Aun Koh | Singapore
Alfian Bin Sa’at | Singapore
Samad Said | Malaysia
Peter Schoppert | Singapore
Deepika Shetty | India/Singapore
Daren Shiau | Singapore
Stefan Shih | Singapore
Kenny Sia | Malaysia
Gail Simone | USA
Kirpal Singh | Singapore
Ben Slater | Singapore
Sitok Srengenge | Indonesia
Su Tong | China
Lena Tamilvanan | India
Tan Su-lyn | Singapore
Tan Twan Eng | Malaysia
Faisal Tehrani | Malaysia
Teo Hsu-Ming | Australia
Madeleine Thien | Canada
SP Thinnappan | Singapore
Alexis Tioseco | Philippines
Toh Hsien Min | Singapore
Djamal Tukimin | Singapore
Loung Ung | USA/Cambodia
Wang Anyi | China
Cyril Wong | Singapore
Eleanor Wong | Singapore
Arthur Yap | Singapore
Yap Khoon Chan | Singapore
Robert Yeo | Singapore
Anthony Yeoh | Singapore
Yeo Wei Wei | Singapore
Yeow Kai Chai | Singapore
Yeng Pway Ngon | Singapore
Yong Shu Hoong | Singapore
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SWF 2005: Text in the City
Text in the City featured a wide-ranging programme that encompassed new publishing media as well as varied literary genres. Through the different publicity avenues, the organisers attempted to make literature ‘hip’ and lifestyle-oriented. This festival brought SWF to new heights with its broad range of topics discussed and variety of authors featured.
Featured writers:
Alberto Ruy-Sanchez | Mexico
Amir Muhammad | Malaysia
Andrew Bovell | Australia
Aniruddha Bahal | India
Ayu Utami | Indonesia
Bruce Sterling | USA
Chef Wan | Malaysia
Colleen Doran | USA
Cory Doctorow | Canada
Cyril Wong | Singapore
Dave Chua | Singapore
Dominique Wolton | France
Doris Pilkington | Australia
Elangovan | Singapore
Faustina Soosairaj (Bama) | India
FH Batacan | Philippines
Felix Cheong | Singapore
Gerrie Lim | Singapore
Goenawan Mohamad | Indonesia
Ho Che Anderson | Canada
Huang Kaide | Singapore
Dr. M.S. Shri Lakshmi | Singapore
Isa Kamari | Singapore
Jasmina Tesanovic | Serbia
Jennifer Fallon | Australia
Jerome Kugan | Malaysia
Johnny Apple | USA
John Burdett | USA
Joan London | Australia
Juliet Marillier | New Zealand
Kathryn Fox | Australia
Kevin Gould | UK
Kylie Kwong | Australia
Lillian Ng | Singapore
Luo Hui | Canada
Manju Kapur | India
Meira Chand | Singapore
Michael Vatikiotis | Singapore
Miranda Eu | Singapore
Mr. Brown | Singapore
Mr. Miyagi | Singapore
Muhammad Najib Soiman (Bijan) | Singapore
Mohd Zulfadli Mohd Rashid (Big) | Singapore
Ng King Kang | Singapore
Norman Spinrad | USA
Nuri Vittachi | Hong Kong
Paul Tan | Singapore
Ouyang Yu | Australia
Peter Goldsworthy | Australia
Poomani | India
Pon Sundararaju | Singapore
Rudhramoorthy Cheran | Canada
Rattawut Lapcharoensap | Thailand
Robert J. Sawyer | Canada
Kalimuthu Sangiah | Singapore
Stephen Leather | USA
Suhayl Saadi | UK
Tarun Tejpal | India
Wei Hui | China
Xia Xue aka Wendy Cheng | Singapore
Yasmina Khadra | Algeria/France
Yeow Kai chai | Singapore
You Jin | Singapore
Yu Hua | China
Zheng Danyi | Hong Kong
AMC | Singapore
8th Wonder | USA
Ishle Yi Park | USA
SLAC | Singapore
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SWF 2003: Literal Magnetism
With three competitions held in conjunction with the festival - the NAC-SPH Golden Point Award, the SMS Haiku Hi Cool! Contest and the newly-launched Poetry Slam which was then a popular performance concept in America and Europe – Literal Magnetism aimed towards creating an impetus for new work from both aspiring and established writers in Singapore. Writers of note who graced the event include Bernadine Evaristo (UK), Ronny Someck (Isreal), Dilip Kumar (India), Dominque Sigaurd (France), Jiao Tong (Taiwan) and Marsli N.O (Malaysia). The festival attracted over 7,000 participants.
Featured writers:
Bernadine Evaristo | UK
Chairul Fahmy Hussaini | Singapore
Dilip Kumar | India
Djamal Tukimin | Singapore
Dominique Sigaud | France
Eleanor Wong | Singapore
Felix Cheong | Singapore
Gabriel Wu Yeow Cheong | Singapore
Gail Jones | Australia
Helvy Tiana Rosa | Indonesia
Hong Ying | China/UK
Jiao Tong | Taiwan
Kalapriya | India
Leong Liew Geok | Singapore
Lin Kang | Singapore
Marc Smith |USA
Marsli N. O. | Malaysia
Mawar Shafei | Malaysia
Merlinda Bobis | Australia
Nan Zi | Singapore
Piotr Sommer | Poland
P Thiruvengadam | Singapore
Ramah Raja | Singapore
Rohani Din | Singapore
Ronny Someck | Israel
Sivakami | India
Su-Chen Christine Lim | Singapore
Su Tong | China
Tan Chee Lay | Singapore
V Ikkuvanam | Singapore
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SWF 2001
This festival saw a variety of special programmes including a ghoulish guided tour through the Singapore History Museum and celebrity readings by well known Singapore actors Adrian Pang and Evelyn Tan. Literary heavyweights helmed the festival, including twice Man Booker Prize nominee David Mitchell (UK), Arnošt Lustig (Czech Republic), and Stephen Dobyns (UK). Singapore authors also made a strong presence with the participation of Tan Hwee Hwee, Zhang Xi Na, Toh Hsien Min, Kirpal Singh, Othman Puteh and Neela Padmanbhan. The festival attracted over 6,000 participants.
Featured writers:
A Shahul Hameed | Singapore
Amallathsan | Singapore
Antoni Libera | Poland
Anuar Othman | Singapore
Arnost Lustig | Czech Republic
David Mitchell | UK
Inquilab | India
Jamal Ismail | Singapore
A/P Kirpal Singh | Singapore
Lau Siew Mei | Australia
Li Zishu | Malaysia
Meira Chand | Singapore
Neela Padmanabhan | India
Nicky Moey | Singapore
Dr. Othman Puteh | Malaysia
Parvathy Poobalan | Singapore
Peter Augustine Goh | Singapore
Qing Qing Cao | Singapore
Quah Sy Ren | Singapore
Rahman Shaari | Malaysia
Rodney Hall | Australia
Stephen Dobyns | USA
Tan Hwee Hwee | Singapore
Toh Hsien Min | Singapore
Toh Lam Huat | Singapore
Yan Geiling | China
Yu Kwang-chung | Taiwan
Zhang Xi Na | Singapore
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SWF 1999
Featured writers:
Aidli Mohamed Salleh, Mosbit | Singapore
Aleksandar Obradovic | Yugoslavia
Alfian Sa’at | Singapore
Ambai | India
Atima Srivastava | UK
Christina Chelliah | Singapore
Dorothy Lim | Singapore
Damien Sin | Singapore
Emma Tom | Australia
ESPO | Australia
Goh Eck Kheng | Singapore
Ivan Heng | Singapore
Larry Beinhart | USA
Lee Eng Lock | Singapore
Mohd Khair Mohd Yasin | Singapore
Mu Zi | Singapore
Natalie Hennedige | Singapore
Ong Soh Chin | Singapore
Pai Hsien Yung | USA
Patrick Chan | Singapore
Peter Nazareth | USA
Phllip Lim | Singapore
Prapanjan | India
Russell Lee | Singapore
J.M. Sali | Singapore
James Suresh | Singapore
Jeffrey Tan | Singapore
Jorge Accame | Argentina
Suchen Christine Lim | Singapore
Sue Woolfe | Australia
Witi Ihimaera | New Zealand
Wendy Ng | Singapore
Xi Nier | Singapore
Zhao Lihong | China
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SWF 1997
Featured writers:
Abdul Samad Salimin (Asmin) | Singapore
Alfred A Yuson | Philippines
Alvin Pang | Singapore
Aw Guat Poh | Singapore
Bharati Mukherjee | USA
Catherine Lim | Singapore
Chin Woon Peng | Singapore
Chua Chee Lay | Singapore
Clark Blaise | US/Canada
Djamal Tukimin | Singapore
Edwin Thumboo | Singapore
Eleanor Wong | Singapore Gnanakoothan (Ranganathan) | India
Fred Wah | Canada
Grace Nichols | UK
Guy Masterson | UK
Hang Ying | China
Isa Kamari | Singapore
James Toh | Singapore
Jayakanthan | India
John Agard | UK
Johnny Lau | Singapore
Jufri Supaat | Singapore
K. K. Seet | Singapore
Kemala (Kahmad Kamal Abdullah) | Malaysia
Koh Hock Kiat | Singapore
Lay Hsiang | Taiwan
Li Ang (Shih Shu-Tuan) | Taiwan
Lolo Houbein | Australia
Masuri S N | Singapore
Mohd Salihin Sulaiman | Singapore
Mike Carlson | Singapore
Nor Effendi Badron | Singapore
Othman Puteh | Malaysia
Ovidia Yu | Singapore
Patheral Illamaran | Singapore
Robert Yeo | Singapore
Sakina Kagda | Singapore
Sylvia Toh Paik Choo | Singapore
Tan Mei Ching | Singapore
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SWF 1995
Featured writers:
A. A. Navis | Indonesia
A. Samad Said | Malaysia
Alex Soh | Singapore
Anwar Ridhwan | Malaysia
Aritha van Herk | Canada
Bai Hua | China
Bette Greene | USA
Chen Sihe | China
Chen Yizhi | Taiwan
Daphne Pan | Singapore
Dudley de Souza | Singapore
Frank Chin | USA
Geoff Page | Australia
Goh Sin Tub | Singapore
Gopal Baratham | Singapore
Haresh Sharma | Singapore
Heng Siok Tian | Singapore
Ho Poh Fun | Singapore
Ismail Talib | Singapore
Iswardy | Singapore
Joan London | Australia
Kaiser Haq | Bangladesh
Kirpal Singh | Singapore
Koh Tai Ann | Singapore
Lakshmi Menachisundaram | Singapore
Leong Liew Geok | Singapore
Liang Wern Fook | Singapore
Maalan | India
Masuri S.N. | Singapore
Maurice Gee | New Zealand
Michael Donaghy | USA
Mohammed Quayum | Singapore
Murugathasan | Singapore
Nalla Tan | Singapore
Oliver Seet | Singapore
Ovidia Yu | Singapore
P. Krishnan | Singapore
Pan Chen Lei | Singapore
Patricia Maria Tan | Singapore
Peter Augustine Goh | Singapore
Ramad Daud | Singapore
Rajeev Patke | Singapore
Rex Shelley | Singapore
Robert Drewe | Australia
Robert Yeo | Singapore
Robbie Goh | Singapore
S. P. Thinnappan | Singapore
Sa. Kandasamy | India
Saedah Saad | Singapore
Sakina Kagda | Singapore
Sheena McKay | UK
Simon Tay | Singapore
Stella Kon | Singapore
Sun Ai Ling | Singapore
Tian Liu | Singapore
Uthuman Ghani | Singapore
Walter Lim | Singapore
Wilfred Hamilton-Shimmen | Singapore
Wong Meng Voon | Singapore
Wong Yoon Wah | Singapore
Wong Seng Tong | Singapore
Woon Wee Lee | Singapore
Yin Di | Taiwan
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SWF 1993
Featured writers:
Ashokamitran | India
Awang Haji Hashim | Brunei Darussalam
Charlson Ong | Philippines
Chen Zu-Fen | China
Cheng Ming Li | Taiwan
Dilys Rose | Scotland
Edwin Thumboo | Singapore
Elangovan | Singapore
Goh Sin Tub | Singapore
Heng Siok Tian | Singapore
Josef Skvorecky | Czech Republic
Jun’ Ichiro Takachi | Japan
Karthigesu Sivathamby | Sri Lanka
Kee Thuan Chye | Malaysia
Kirpal Singh | Singapore
Kofi Awoonor | Ghana
K. T. M. Iqbal | Singapore
Lance Henson | USA
Lee Tzu Pheng | Singapore
Lim Hung Chang (Lin Gao)| Singapore
Loo Kee Pow (Han Chuan) | Singapore
M. G. Vassanji | Canada
Meira Chand | UK/India/Japan
Mira Lupeanu | Romania
Mohamed Latiff Mohamed | Singapore
Mohamed Salmawy | Egypt
Naowarat Pongpaiboon | Thailand
Noriko Mizuta | Japan
Mohd Affandi Hassan | Malaysia
Puthumaithasan (P. Krishnan) | Singapore
Riemke Ensing | New Zealand
Robert Yeo | Singapore
Sapardi Djoko Damono | Indonesia
Sun Yu-shi | China
S. Y. Tiang (Lin-Lu) | Malaysia
Suraidi Sipan | Singapore
Su Wei Chen | Taiwan
Valeri Povolyaev | Russia
Wong Meng Voon | Singapore
Wong Wai Leung | Hong Kong
Zdena Salivarova | Czech Republic
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