The Singapore Prize for Literature – A Celebration of Singapore’s Unique Success Story

The Singapore prize is awarded every three years and is open to works written in English about Singapore history. It was launched in 2014, as part of Singapore’s SG50 celebrations, and is administered by the National University of Singapore’s Department of History. It was established to reward publishing work on Singapore’s unique success story and to foster interest in the Republic among the general public and younger generations.

The winner receives a cash award and a commissioned trophy. This year’s shortlisted authors include veteran writers such as Myle Yan Tay for her debut novel Catskull and Cultural Medallion recipient Suchen Christine Lim for Dearest Intimate, as well as first-time nominees like Kamaladevi Aravindan, who writes about a Malaysian family dispersed across Singapore, Sydney and New York in a work titled Nine Yard Sarees.

Despite being in its third year, the prize is not an easy one to win. The prize is not awarded to the best book but to a work that has been able to “resonate” with the judges. The selection panel is composed of eminent scholars and historians from the region and abroad.

Last year’s winner was John Miksic, whose book Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300-1800 provided detailed archaeological evidence that showed how Singapore’s development story started long before it became an independent nation in 1858. Miksic was lauded for his ability to translate complex academic research into a book that can be read by the average person.

The prize has also been credited for sparking debate about the way we remember our history. For example, the prize’s website says that “remembering is an essential part of understanding,” and the organisers have been active in raising awareness of the need to keep our history alive.

In addition to books, the prize also recognises other media, such as film and comics. This year, the prize also included the inaugural category for best English language graphic novel. Shubigi Rao’s Pulp III: An Intimate Inventory of the Banished Book won this category, a third instalment of her decade-long project on banned books.

The winners of the Singapore prize were feted at a ceremony held at the Ritz Carlton Millenia, with global leaders and businesses gathering to learn about the innovative and impactful environmental solutions from the finalists. Presenters at the event, which was co-hosted by actor Sterling K. Brown and actress Mbatha Motsepe, took the sustainability message further by wearing vintage clothes for the event’s ‘green carpet’. Mr Brown wore a 10-year-old dark green blazer from Alexander McQueen, while Mbatha sported a blue dress that was made from recycled plastic bottles. The ceremony also featured performances from the bands One Republic and Bastille.