Singapore Prize – Winners of the 2024 and Earthshot Prizes
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The prize recognises a book that provides readers with new knowledge about Singapore history and society, providing fresh perspectives into a specific time period, theme or field of research while being accessible both to general readers as well as academic scholars.
Khir Johari, an educator and food historian from Singapore was presented with the 2024 NUS Singapore History Prize for his book: “The Food of the Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels through the Archipelago (Singapore: Marshall Cavendish 2021), providing new insight into their culture through cuisine as well as highlighting complex relations between Malays and British during colonialism era. Khir will receive a cash award of S$50,000.”
This year’s judges granted two books special commendations without awarding cash awards, for their innovative perspectives and “reviving Qixi: Singapore’s Forgotten Seven Sisters Festival by Lynn Wong Yuqing and Lee Kok Leong; as well as Theatres of Memory: Industrial Heritage of 20th Century Singapore by Loh Kah Seng, Alex Tan Tiong Hee, Koh Keng We, Tan Teng Phee and Juria Toramae were each honored with such distinction.
This year, The Prize introduced a brand-new category: the Earthshot Prize. Winners of this coveted honor can expect the chance to collaborate with The Planetary Society on initiatives designed to accelerate solutions and take tangible actions that help repair our planet faster. They’ll also receive a customized trophy and the ability to collaborate with a wide array of partners.
On a night of firsts, the prize nearly recognized its inaugural female English poetry winner in Marylyn Tan’s arcane and unapologetic debut collection Gaze Back. Tan tackles sensitive subjects from menstruation to sexuality with ease in this groundbreaking feminist work; its name alludes to Helene Cixous’ essay The Laugh of Medusa where her gaze transforms men into stones.
At this year’s awards ceremony, in addition to the top three prizes, other authors received several honours as well. Malaysian writer Suratman Markasan, at 91, became the oldest recipient of Malay nonfiction prize for Honing the Pen, Volume 2. Tamil novelist Rmaa cureess won not only English fiction prizes but Readers’ Favorite fiction as well!
The prize also recognized individual Singaporeans through an inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Professor Mahbubani. A widely renowned scholar specializing in Anglophone literature and culture – particularly modernism and postcolonialism – his longstanding dedication has resulted in creating several new courses and degrees that benefit students, scholars, teachers and the broader public alike. Read about all winners here.