Proudly presented by Arts House Limited (AHL) and commissioned by the National Arts Council, the 27^th edition of SWF was held from 8 to 17 November 2024. Marking Festival Director Yong Shu Hoong’s first year at the helm of the Festival, SWF 2024 concluded on a high note, captivating audiences with a diverse array of literary events that invited audiences to consider what it means to be human and reflect on our complex and intertwined relationship with the natural environment. 

The Festival offered over 220 programmes across 14 venues, bringing together more than 480 local and international voices. As part of the theme In Our Nature, the programmes explored the themes of identity, history, and the environment through a literary lens. SWF 2024 also embraced creative intersections between literature and other fields and brought writers from different cultures and backgrounds together on the same stage. This created more avenues for diverse audiences to relate to the Festival and find meaning in the power of the written and spoken word.

SWF drew a stellar line-up of literary heavyweights, from Pulitzer Prize winner Gregory Pardlo to Booker Prize-shortlisted author Esi Edugyan. In a candid conversation with Anitha Devi Pillai, Edugyan explored the delicate process of reclaiming histories of oppression through historical fiction, shedding light on themes of identity, freedom, and power.

Celebrated author Cat Bohannon also took to the stage for one of the Festival’s Keynote Talks, where she delved into her bestselling book Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution, offering brand-new perspectives on our evolutionary past through a study of the female body. Extending the focus on the female experience, Bohannon shared her perspectives in the panel discussion Ink and Equality: The Role of Female Empowerment in Modern Literature. In this panel, Bohannon, alongside fellow authors, discussed the transformative power of feminist perspectives in literature and how they continue to influence character development and storytelling across genres.

Cat Bohannon said, “The audience was receptive and had thoughtful questions, both in the venue and the signing lines. Everyone I met was graciously kind and enthusiastic. They love books here! More importantly, they love ideas. I also loved connecting with my fellow panellists and speakers here—Esi Edugyan, Loretta Chen, Sarah Malik, and Balli Kaur Jaswal. Singapore is a rich international community already, and the Singapore Writers Festival brings in even more. Among women, being able to connect with fellow artists and women writing in very different places in the world bred a deep sense of community.”

The Literary Pioneer series turned the spotlight on renowned Chinese poet and Cultural Medallion recipient Dan Ying, whose work has left a lasting impression on the international literary scene. Audiences journeyed through her poetic world with the touring exhibition A World of Words: Exploring Dan Ying’s Poetry (听雨的青涩年龄：探索淡莹的文字世界), which showcased her life and literary legacy. Meanwhile, the live performance Encountering Dan Ying’s World Through Music (邂逅淡莹的诗情画意) by Eugenia Lim, Jayne Peh, Eunice, and Lee Hock Ming translated her verses into a symphony of sound, offering a sensory experience of the emotions and themes that permeate her work. 

Poet and producer of Encountering Dan Ying’s World Through Music, Chow Teck Seng, said, “To honour the literary legacy of an author or poet, we can safeguard the authentic essence of their works while breathing new life into them through recreation. At the Singapore Writers Festival 2024, we celebrated Dan Ying and her works by collaborating with music composers and singers to transform her poems into fresh musical interpretations. Poetry and song lyrics share an intrinsic connection, like two sides of the same coin. Through this project, we have created about 15 new songs—enough to fill a full album and more. I hope that Dan Ying’s poems will continue to reach even wider audiences, as this embodies the true significance of literary circulation and the creative ecosystem.”

As one of the few multilingual literary festivals worldwide, SWF also broadened its horizons with a vibrant lineup of multilingual programmes in Chinese, Malay, and Tamil, curated in close collaboration with guest curators. These programmes featured a diverse cast of local authors, in dialogue with invited international writers, fostering rich discussions that celebrated the linguistic and cultural diversity of the region.

For instance, Nature and Tamil Literature: A Youth Symposium with Theodore Baskaran (இயற்கையும் தமிழிலக்கியமும்: தியடோர் பாஸ்கரனுடன் ஓர் இளையர் கருத்தரங்கு), featured Theodore Baskaran—a wildlife conservationist, film historian, and translator from India—in dialogue with youth speakers from the Association of Singapore Tamil Writers. Together, they explored the role of nature discourses in Tamil in advancing environmental advocacy. The lively discussion included contributions from presenters Mahalakshmi, Arthi, Dhanmathy, Ooviya, Yazhini, Saranya Mushila, Losheni, Kavin Sasikumar, Krishmita, and Vishnu Vardni.

Chitra Ramesh, guest curator for SWF’s Tamil programmes, shared, “The experience I had involved coming up with a lot of thought-provoking ideas related to the theme In Our Nature. I came across many surprising things from the multilingual programmes such as poetry readings and panel discussions like How to Tell a Million Stories Before Grandma Dies. The word nature is not only related to the nature around us, but also human nature, and it is challenging for writers to bring out both these aspects through writing. We were trying to explore such writings based on the theme and it really shaped us and our nature too!”

Yap Seow Choong, SWF’s Chinese programmes guest curator, said, “Designing programmes for different reading appetites and interests of different age groups can be challenging, but it also inspires creativity in curating a diverse Chinese programme. The events were well attended, with most feedback being positive. Many of the experiential programmes were sold out, drawing a significant number of new audiences. These programmes, such as treasure hunts in museums and explorations of Pulau Ubin, offered fresh ways to engage with literature and offered audiences a unique opportunity to discover Singapore through the lens of local writers, blending creativity with literary perspectives.

Aqmal Noor, guest curator for SWF’s Malay programmes, reflected, “It was a rewarding experience to be able to work with and gather talented writers and artists for SWF 2024. It wouldn’t be a successful Festival without their support. Networking with counterparts from the region and beyond has always been the hallmark of a festival such as this. This year, getting to know Wani Ardy and Fazleena Hishamudin was a highlight for me as it helped foster good relationships with our friends from Malaysia.”

The SEA xChange segment of the Festival connected audiences with Southeast Asian literature, culture, and myth. A standout programme, Scared Silly: Exploring Southeast Asian Horror presented by Choo Yi Feng, Rin Chupeco, and Hanna Alkaf, invited participants to dive into ghostly tales and fearsome folklore.

Furthermore, this year’s Country Focus: Korea fostered cross-cultural exchange by highlighting the intricacies of Korean literature, from webtoon comics to the art of translation. In Pitching Translations with Anton Hur, the award-winning translator unpacked the steps required to transform Korean texts into English-language literary treasures. 

A notable highlight of SWF 2024 was Write The Land, a series that focused on indigenous literatures and honoured their deep appreciation for land and nature. The Festival welcomed indigenous writers from Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore to share their unique stories and insights. In a poignant performance titled Ikut Arus (Follow the Current) by artist Zarina Muhammad and Firdaus Sani, a fourth-generation Orang Laut/Pulau descendant, audiences were captivated by a spoken word piece influenced by the ancestral mantras of the Orang Laut/Pulau.

Firdaus Sani said, “Participating in SWF has been a fulfilling experience, especially as it marked my first performance collaboration with Zarina Muhammad for Ikut Arus. Rather than relying on rehearsals, we embraced the spontaneity of the moment, allowing our energies to respond naturally to the performance as we combined her art with Orang Laut mantras. While it was a risk, the approach felt more authentic and unscripted. I also feel truly honoured to share a panel with the esteemed Isa Kamari, author of Rawa, a story about the Orang Seletar. Hearing about his research and writing process has been inspiring, especially since the book was published during a time when there wasn’t a strong advocacy for Indigenous communities. In many ways, I feel privileged to have engaged with one of the pioneers who has brought greater visibility to the Orang Laut community.”

Children and youth were seen across the Festival grounds, participating actively in SWF Playground and Youth Fringe programmes that appealed to the young and young at heart. As part of SWF Playground, Australian award-winning children’s author and illustrator Briony Stewart held live drawing battles that sparked creativity and excitement among the children.

SWF also saw exceptional demand, with several shows selling out quickly, including Discover A Thousand Wonders with Geronimo and Thea Stilton. Geronimo and Thea Stilton made a special appearance from Topazia, sharing tales from A Thousand Wonders and took photos and signed autographs for adoring ticket holders.

In addition, Youth Fringe, co-presented with Sing Lit Station, embraced youthful voices and perspectives. In Sisterhood and Female Friendship: Choosing Your Family, writers explored the complexities of female friendships, with New York Times bestselling author Krystal Sutherland reflecting on how these relationships shape coming-of-age narratives. 

Meanwhile, pov: you’re not like other girls dissected familiar Young Adult fiction (YA) tropes, with panellists discussing how they create dynamic characters that challenge stereotypes, offering fresh insights into identity and storytelling. The panel discussion was moderated by 17-year-old Norman Poon, further highlighting the ‘for youths, by youths’ spirit of the Youth Fringe festival track.

Azira Amran, General Manager of Sing Lit Station, said, “Every year, we get students passionate in the literary arts to submit proposals for SWF through our Youth Fringe Open Call. This year—like every year we’ve done the Fringe—we have found that the Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids are incredibly creative and savvy, providing us and the festival with new and fresh perspectives on timeless topics. Combining Confessional Poetry with Taylor Swift’s lyrics, or even a poetry game inspired by Among Us, are amongst some of the great examples we encountered. We were also impressed by the range of topics from migration and bilingualism to tropes in Young Adult literature. Leaving it up to the younger generation has been the most rewarding and valuable experience for the Sing Lit Station team during this year’s run of the Festival. It’s become a highlight of our year!”

Finally, the Festival concluded on a high note with the spirited and fan-favourite Festival Closing Debate: This House believes that life in plastic is fantastic. An annual perennial highlight of the Festival, the debate is eagerly awaited each year for its showcase of wit and creativity. This year’s lively session saw Team Plastic emerge victorious, swaying the audience against the opposition’s environmental stance. Adding to the excitement, Malaysian writer Melizarani T. Selva was honoured as the best speaker of the debate.

Reflecting on his first year as Festival Director, Yong Shu Hoong noted, “As a first-time Festival Director, this year has been a time of learning and unlearning for me, going behind the scenes of how the Festival is organised as opposed to appearing as a featured presenter. It turns out to be a rewarding journey, both professionally and creatively, seeing how moving parts fall in place, and, for me, reaffirming my faith and trust in the well-oiled machinery that Arts House Limited (AHL) provides to turn my vision into reality. I am especially proud of how we have deepened the dialogue around this year’s theme, In Our Nature, exploring our intrinsic connections to the world and how literature reflects and shapes these bonds. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of our Festivalgoers, partners, and stakeholders, whose belief in the power of words has made this Festival truly exceptional.”

Sharon Tan, Executive Director of Arts House Limited, shared, “The Singapore Writers Festival has firmly established itself as a premier literary event in the region, connecting the literary arts with local and international audiences. Through innovative programming and a commitment to inclusivity, the Festival fosters a supportive space for meaningful dialogues. By championing diverse perspectives, AHL is committed to making this a festival for everyone—SWF for All—one that nurtures a literary community reflecting and celebrating the full breadth of human experience.”

SWF volunteer Nicholas Narigon shared his reflections on his experience, “This is my second year volunteering for Singapore Writers Festival. Most importantly I love the people here. The volunteers, the staff, the authors, the attendees. They create such a vibrant vibe. It is so rewarding to be part of an organisation that is not only dedicated to strengthening the community here in Singapore but is also building a bridge to the international literary world. Where else in Singapore can you learn how to bind your own book, meet Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, and listen to Australian Aboriginal spoken word poetry all within the same hour?”

As the curtain falls on SWF 2024, the Festival leaves behind rich dialogues, literary connections, and moments of discovery that will continue to resonate. While it will be a year before November rolls around for another exciting literary season, Festivalgoers can mark their calendars for SWF 2025, which will take place from 7 to 16 November 2025 with the forward-looking theme of “Shape of Things to Come”. This is in line with Singapore’s celebration of SG60 – a theme that lets us embrace a future of change and uncertainty with hope and cautious optimism, while being informed by the wisdom of the past.

Image credits: Moonrise Studio, courtesy of Arts House Limited

Singapore Writers Festival 2024 ran from 8th to 17th November 2024. More information available here The 2025 edition of the festival will take place from 7th to 16th November 2025, with the theme ‘Shape of Things to Come’.

A World of Words: Exploring Dan Ying’s Poetry (听雨的青涩年龄：探索淡莹的文字世界), will run beyond the Festival period until 1 December 2024 at The Arts House, before travelling to NTU Chinese Heritage Centre from 2 to 15 December 2024; Heartbeat@Bedok from 16 December 2024 to 3 January 2025; The Arts House from 4 to 19 January 2025; and Our Tampines Hub from 20 January to 2 February 2025. The K-Comics World Tour in Singapore spotlighting the works of Webtoon authors Choi Gyu Seok and Kwang Jin—the brilliant minds behind the captivating stories of Hellbound and Itaewon Class—will also run until 30 November 2024 at Funan Mall and The Arts House, respectively.