Latest
August 2009
Om Swastiastu
The 2009 Ubud Writers & Readers Festival program is gathering momentum, and a rich array of panel sessions, readings, book launches, literary lunches, nighttime gatherings and workshops are coming together at Legong-speed to create yet another magical event.
With our theme of Suka Duka: loosely translated as ‘Compassion and Solidarity’ leading the way, some of the finest writers from 23 countries will converge to discuss the great themes of our time: religion, identity, the legacy of colonial brutality and the postcolonial voice, human rights, race and identity, exile, gender, censorship, literary expression and the state.
Our inaugural keynote address, sponsored by the Australia-Indonesia Institute, will kick off 4 days of panel sessions, debates, readings and in-conversations with the world’s greatest exponents of their craft. Hear Wole Soyinka, the first African to receive a Nobel Prize for literature, discuss his lifetime of work and humanitarianism, meet Fatima Bhutto, the outspoken poet, journalist and novelist from Pakistan, be dazzled by the brilliant women poets of Not A Muse, explore Lloyd Jones’ heart-wrenching empathy in the Bougainville-set military fable, Mr Pip, discover the unpredictable and eccentric Dany Laferriere, and solve Mohammed Hanif’s A Case of Exploding Mangoes.
Expand your horizons with our incredible group of African writers, from Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Egypt.
We pay special tribute to the Asian experience, and are gathering emerging and established writers from the region including Seno Gumira Ajidarma, Tom Cho, Ng Yi Sheng, Amir Muhammad, NH Dini, Shamini Flint, Wena Poon, Woon Tai Ho, Asitha Ameresekere and Dede Oetomo.
And of course, in the great tradition of Ubud, writers will also be at play, with a program packed full of performance, playreadings, music and song, film, humour and, of course, food.
With many of our writers harbouring a deep passion for cooking, the festival program is a moving feast of literary events set in Ubud’s most spectacular hotels, restaurants and private homes. Master Chefs of Prose and Poetry will showcase our award-winning authors, poets and playwrights and their favourite recipes including dishes from Burma to Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka to Pakistan. Family secrets and stories will be shared or rather, revealed, on the edge of the rice-fields in a three-course global extravaganza.
And stay tuned for the release of our extensive workshop program – everything from screen, food, sport and travel writing, to poetry, memoir, editing and what to do when the dreaded block hits you.
Program details, special events and workshop program will be released on 17 August
Just a sliver of the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival program that dares to differ and never fails to please……
See you there.
This year’s Festival will be graced by the presence of several of Indonesia’s most celebrated authors, including the award-winning short story writer and essayist Seno Gumira Ajidarma.
Initially he told Wayan Juniartha, the Indonesian Program Coordinator, that he would rather “be a listener than be a speaker” at the Festival. However, following an intense SMS debate on the nature of violence and compassion, Seno eventually agreed to appear and speak in the Festival.
Seno is known for being a prolific author, journalist and lecturer, holds a PhD in Literature, and has taught at some of the country’s most prominent universities.
He was the recipient of the SEA Write Award in 1987 and the Dinny O’Hearn Prize for Literary Translation in 1997. He was awarded Indonesia’s most prestigious literary prize, the Khatulistiwa Award, in two consecutive years: 2004 and 2005.
His works feature topics that encompass a broad spectrum of the country’s social, political and cultural dynamic; from the officially-condoned executions of street thugs in Penembak Misterius, through the violence in East Timor in Saksi Mata, to Wisanggeni, Sang Buronan, a contemporary take on an ancient lore.
Seno writes fiction and non-fiction works with similar fluency, candour and non-conventional approaches. His non-fiction works include Sembilan Wali dan Syekh Siti Jenar, a daring examination on the myths and facts surrounded the respected Moslem sages of Java.
Presently, he is working on Naga Bumi, a story that is published in instalments in the Suara Merdeka daily newspaper. Naga Bumi brings Seno back to the genre he has always loved, the Cerita Silat genre, which centres on the exploits of martial art masters. Each day he writes one episode of the story to be printed in the next day’s edition of the paper.
_______________________________________________________
Earlybird Tickets now on sale!
Get in quick and save! Early bird tickets for a 4 Day Pass are now available online at 10% off the normal price. This offer is open for a limited time only. Buy now and get a few massages, a facial or dine out in one of Ubud’s glorious restaurants with your savings.
Purchase Early Bird Tickets online now
________________________________________________________
Become a Festival Friend
If you’ve ever thought about becoming a Festival Friend, 2009 is the year!
Everyone needs a Friend, and this year we need you more than ever. With the global financial crisis, we are relying on our Friends to support us through these difficult times.
What are the benefits to becoming a Friend of the Festival?
You receive preferential booking treatment – find out about Special Events and workshops before everyone else. Many of these sell out – so this way you won’t be disappointed. You get 10% off Special Events and passes, invitations to exclusive Writers Dinners and VIP events that are not open to general public, at a very special rate. These dinners are wonderful, memorable affairs at idyllic venues around Ubud. You also receive a fabulous Friend’s Tshirt, a member card, some Festival merchandise AND you get invited to a one-off Friend’s Tea Party!
Why not buy a Friend membership for a loved one? We are happy to gift wrap a membership on your behalf. Email Andy for more info: andy@ubudwritersfestival.com
DOWNLOAD the Festival Friends form here.
MORE INFO: http://www.ubudwritersfestival.com/sponsors/festival-friends/
________________________________________________________
Thank you to our Sponsors
The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is supported by the Commonwealth through the Australia-Indonesia Institute of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Go to our Sponsors page to see the full list.
