This year’s Singapore Prize has been given for work that sheds light on Singapore’s past. First proposed in 2014 by NUS Asia Research Institute distinguished fellow Kishore Mahbubani, it aims to reward publications that make an exceptional contribution towards understanding our nation’s history. This year’s jury members include novelist Meira Chand, economist Lam San Ling, historian Peter Coclanis and archaeologist John Miksic and was announced at an announcement ceremony held at National Museum of Singapore this Tuesday.
Singapore Prize Prize money for 2017 is estimated to reach $10 Million, marking its highest prize money since it reached over $13 Million earlier in May when one ticket won Group 1. According to Singapore Pools app, however, no details exist as to who owned or purchased this winning ticket – either an individual or multiple winners may have won this particular Group 1 prize.
This year’s contest witnessed record entries in each category with 177 works nominated across seven subcategories, and included three new categories such as best English debut, graphic novel and translation. Jeremy Tiang was crowned as the inaugural English graphic novel winner with Cockman (2022), in which an alien chicken finds itself trapped on Earth as human form and must learn what it means to be one. Shelly Bryant of Shanghai and Singapore earned first prize for English Translation of an Ancient Text (translated from Chinese) as writer, translator, editor, poet. Her works have been published by Penguin Books, Epigram Books and Singapore National Library Board among others, while she also edited poetry anthologies with Alban Lake Books and Celestial Books.
There were also many notable figures on this year’s shortlists. Two directors of the Singapore Writers Festival – Yeow Kai Chai and Pooja Nansi – were each shortlisted in poetry alongside Daryl Lim Wei Jie and Jee Leong Koh, Daryl Lim Wei Jie himself being shortlisted himself, along with Daryl Lim Wei Jie himself, Daryl Lim Wei Jie himself being shortlisted, Daryl Lim Wei Jie himself having works translated into multiple languages by Daryl Lim Wei Jie himself! Additionally, several debut authors such as Si Min made appearances alongside well known names such as Daryl Lim Wei Jie who has since written The Orchid Folios as Daryl Lim Wei Jie have both appeared on shortlisted lists; both directors of Singapore Writers Festival events are participating.
17 books won prizes this year, with the top honour going to National University of Singapore Professor Emeritus Peter Ellinger’s memoirs Down Memory Lane: Peter Ellinger’s Memoirs (2023). Additionally, Professor Emeritus Peter Ellinger earned an honourable mention in both English creative nonfiction and English literary nonfiction categories for Pulp III: An Intimate Inventory of the Banished Book (2022). Other winners included memoirist Shubigi Rao of Chinese-Australian descent who received recognition both in debut literature as well literary nonfiction.
British Prince William, founder of the Earthshot Prize, said at its ceremony that solutions like those proposed by its 15 finalists – which include Indian manufacturers of solar dryers and groups working to restore Andean forests and prevent illegal fishing – demonstrate there remains hope despite climate change.