16 LUMEN | PROGRAMMES
SINGA-LIT FESTIVAL 2018 : Promoting Singaporean and ASEAN Literature
SINGA-LIT Festival 2018 aims to celebrate the works of Southeast Asian writers with a focus on exploring the Singaporean identity in a region known for its linguistic and literary hybridity , and highlighting in tandem Literature from ASEAN countries written in or translated into English , allowing SJI students to appreciate , develop and sustain an outlook that positions Singapore at the crossroads of cultural Southeast Asia .
Held from 21 to 25 May , the Singa-Lit Festival was presented by the Student Committee , comprising Ho Weng Teik ( ML301 ), Calvin Kuan Jiahui ( ML303 ), Cayden Thong Kit Hoi ( LE302 ), Chue Zhi Sheng Jeffrey ( FN302 ), S Kavi Rajan ( LE302 ), Nathanael Sutjiutama ( LE302 ), Julian Teng ( MN303 ), and Yeo Jun Jie Lucius ( FN302 ).
Tari Saman The Singa-Lit Festival was launched with a dance originating from Aceh , Sumatra during morning assembly on Monday . The Year 5 studentdancers moved gracefully to the traditional Indonesian pop song sung by their friends .
Mystery Book Hunt On odd days , the hunt was on for books that were scattered around the school . Every second counted as students combed the premises frantically before their competitors located these ‘ free ’ books . It was really a case of “ Finders Keepers ”!
Book and Poster Displays in the Library Our Librarian , Mrs Boey Wah Fong , put up displays of Singapore poetry and fiction , as well as a selection of new books by writers from ASEAN countries writing in English or in their mother tongues . Posters of Singaporean and ASEAN authors created by Year 1-3 students complemented the book displays . Several teachers brought their classes to enjoy the posters and to sample the local literature throughout the week .
Author Talks Four local authors were invited to join us for Singa-Lit Festival : poet Paul Tan ( SJI Class of 1986 ), multi-talented author Felix Cheong ( SJI Class of 1981 ), Sunanda Verma , journalist and TV producer , author of the Namaste ! series of books focusing on global awareness , and Chew Yi Wei , a lecturer at SIM who just published her first collection of essays . They read excerpts from their works , shared their writing journeys , tips on writing , and many other interesting thoughts on life and writing .
Students were able to buy books after each talk . Felix Cheong ’ s books were so popular that they were all sold out !
ASEAN Diaspora Food Tasting Students enjoyed the ASEAN Diaspora food posters created by Year 3 students Lucius and Kavi for the Popular Foods of the ASEAN Diaspora Exhibition .
On the second day of the SingaLit Festival , students savoured at the ASEAN Diaspora Food Tasting session held outside the library . Lovingly made by our SJI Parent Support Group members , it was a great opportunity to taste and explore ASEAN cuisines from all over Southeast Asia . The highlight was the dish of deep-fried Myanmese crickets , which 20 bold students sampled , to the delight and awe of their friends and volunteer parents present .
O . M . G . ( One Minute of Goodness ) Readathon For a continuous 3.5 hours straight , readers shared an extract from their favourite Singaporean or South-East Asian book with the SJI community .
The aims of the O . M . G Readathon were to spread awareness and interest in our local literature and the cultural context behind these works and to help students appreciate different South East Asian cultures .
At a machine gun-like pace , readers were given only minutes to read their extract . Afterwards , the reader could share with the community more details about the book or writer and its appeal . When one finished , the next instantly started reading .
Some of the works include writings from Goh Sin Tub , Felix Cheong and Alfian Sa ' at . The event ended on an enlightened note as teachers and students shared a variety of stories , leaving the audience more enthralled than when they first began . Some members of the audience immediately borrowed books by the authors introduced during the event .