The Singapore Prize Literary Award Program in Singapore is one of the longest running literary prizes across four languages in Southeast Asia, dating back 30 years. This year marks its 30th anniversary, honoring writers and their works with an emphasis on resonance – how literature can trigger emotions or memories in us all.

On Monday (October 22), this year’s winners were revealed at a ceremony held at the National Museum of Singapore. A five-member jury panel led by former diplomat Kishore Mahbubani and director of NUS Asia Research Institute selected them. English fiction category winner was Darren Lee for his novel In the Days When We Were Chickens which challenged stereotypes regarding Asian American identity.

Shortlisted authors in each of the other categories were honored as finalists, receiving $1,000 cash and book vouchers as prizes. In addition, they will be invited to an event where they can network with fellow authors as well as take part in an open dialogue session with peers and judges alike.

Marylyn Tan won in poetry for her work Gaze Back, which tackles sensitive subjects from menstruation to sexuality and is described by judges as an effective “clarion call for gender and linguistic reclamation”. Meanwhile in history Khir Johari’s The Food Of Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels Through The Archipelago won first prize and earned $50,000 as top payout; an unprecedented award.

Harvard graduate James is passionate about writing and has an interest in the intersection between art and social justice. He feels it’s essential to share stories of ordinary people making an impactful contribution in society – these people provide us with invaluable lessons about human spirit in times of adversity.

Muhammad Dinie of the Institute of Technical Education College Central won a Harvard Prize Book award for his community service project to thank Town Council cleaners during the Covid-19 pandemic. Along with a group of friends he visited different Ang Mo Kio estates giving out food parcels and thank-you cards for all they had done during that period.

Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Chan Chun was the evening’s host, praising the prize as one that is “extremely diverse in terms of language and genre”. He added that this prize serves to encourage young Singaporeans to read books that explore their heritage and history more thoroughly.

Singapore Book Council hosted this year’s awards presentation ceremony and it drew an estimated crowd of 3,000 – many authors shortlisted were in attendance – President Tharman Shanmugaratnam served as guest-of-honour and presented Suratman Markasan with an achievement award, who passed away earlier in 2016. Suratman Markasan’s daughter received it on his behalf. Additionally, four finalists for Readers’ Favourite were honored, including veteran Malay-language writer Peter Augustine Goh for The Song Of The Sea Bird