Spotlight Singapore Brings Edwin Thumboo to the Mother City
March is the month for literary exchanges in South Africa! While the Time of the Writer offers UKZN booklovers a feast of literature, the bookish folk of the Mother City are also in for a treat next week.
Four exciting literary events are on offer as Spotlight Singapore in Cape Town brings Singapore’s literary giant, Prof Edwin Thumboo, to Cape Town audiences, where he will launch his latest book, Flow Across Our Ocean. He is joined by fellow Singapoeran authors, Isa Kamari, Alvin Pang, Gwee Li Sui and Tan Mei Ching who celebrate the launch of a second poetry collection, Man/Born/Free: Writings on the Human Spirit from Singapore.
Event Details
Bridging Oceans, Crossing Distances – a Literary Exchange
This session features two generations of Singapore writers and poets who have in their own ways chartered and transformed Singapore’s literary scene and writing and the way Singaporeans look at themselves. With two of Singapore Cultural Medallion recipients, renowned poet Edwin Thumboo and writer Isa Kamari, Young Artist Award recipient for literature, poet, translator and literary entrepreneur Alvin Pang, literary critic and graphic novelist Gwee Li Sui and Young Artist Award recipient and Singapore Literary Prize Commendation and Merit Prize winner writer Tan Mei Ching, Bridging Oceans, Crossing Distances looks at the concept of bridging the distance (both metaphorically and literally) between countries and communities (in this instance Singapore and South Africa).
The writers and poets will read from their works and also share their experiences in engaging with different communities and cultures within the context of multi-racial Singapore. Copies of Edwin Thumboo’s book,
Date: Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Time: 6 p.m.
Venue: Lobby Books, IDASA
6 Spin Street, Cape Town
Map
RSVP: Andreas Spath
Email: aspath@idasa.org.za
Tel: 021 467 7606
Refreshments will be served
Dreaming of Land – a Literary Workshop
This panel discussion explores the notion and concept of “land” in all its significance. For peoples and communities who have migrated from their homeland to settle to another place, the concept of “land” also brings about the notion of “home” and “identity”. Here, building upon history and the experience from the varied communities and peoples of Singapore, this discussion hopes to share with audiences the challenges, aspirations and visions of a nation with a multi-cultural, migrant and colonial heritage. The discussion, which will be moderated by Gwee Li Sui, will feature Edwin Thumboo, Isa Kamari, Alvin Pang, writer David Leo who represents the publisher and Tan Mei Ching whose works and work have variously addressed these issues.
Date: Thursday, 17 March 2011
Time: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Venue: Lobby Books, IDASA
6 Spin Street, Cape Town
Map
RSVP: Andreas Spath
Email: aspath@idasa.org.za
Tel: 021 467 7606
My Country, My People – a Literary Workshop
Taken from the title of a poem from one of Singapore’s more well-known poets, this session looks at the notion of building communities, addressing the notion of transformation and building in nations and societies that have their historical origins as a migrant community.
Date: Friday, 18 March 2011
Time: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Venue: 6 Spin Street Restaurant, IDASA
6 Spin Street, Cape Town
Map
RSVP: Andreas Spath
Email: aspath@idasa.org.za
Tel: 021 467 7606
Refreshments will be served
Book Launch
This sparkling event celebrates launch of a poetry anthology featuring contemporary Singaporean writers: Man/Born/Free: Writings on the Human Spirit from Singapore edited by Gwee Li Sui. Luminary Singaporean poet, Edwin Thumboo, will be in attendance.
Date: Friday, 18 March 2011
Time: 6 p.m. for 6.30 p.m.
Venue: The Alphen Hotel
Alphen Drive, Constantia
Map
RSVP: Liesl
Email: liesl@book.co.za
Refreshments will be served.
Book details
- Flow Across Our Ocean: Singapore & South Africa by Edwin Thumboo
Book homepage
EAN: 9789810882907
Find this book with BOOK Finder!
This booklet commemorates the Opening Ceremony of Spotlight Singapore in Cape Town (16–19 March 2011), an international exchange programme co-organised by Asian Culture Enterprise Singapore (ACES) and The Arts House. There are two works here: a new and original poem by Edwin Thumboo and the script for Selamat, a new music-theatre work by Iskandar Ismail, directed by Jeremiah Choy and set to a text that features the poetry of Edwin Thumboo. Both these works have their inspiration and origins, either in part or fully, from Spotlight Singapore in Cape Town.
- Man/Born/Free: Writings on the Human Spirit from Singapore edited by Gwee Li Sui
Book homepage
EAN: 9789810882778
Find this book with BOOK Finder!
This literary anthology – centred on the travails of the human spirit – is like none other published in Singapore. It testifies to the social reflections of generations of Singaporean writers and their inquiries into issues of freedom, equality, humanity, and hope. The selection brings together works originally written in English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil across almost six decades of Singaporean life. They are arranged here in a compelling way that argues for the inevitable interconnections of these concerns. Man/Born/Free is an exciting initiative to commemorate the relationship between Singapore and South Africa as extended through the 2011 event, Spotlight Singapore in Cape Town.
Apr
