ABOUT THE BOOK/ BLURB

Synopsis

Fifty on 50 celebrates Singapore’s 50th year of self-government. This poetry volume reflects the rich multi-ethnic hues of our people in words, photographs and illustrations. From personal experiences to broad sweeps of history, these poems by 50 poets, in English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil and their translations make a unique contribution to the literary heritage of the nation as she embarks on the next 50 years of her journey.

This volume is published by the National Arts Council Singapore and supported by Ethos Books.

ABOUT THE EDITORS

Editor

Edwin Thumboo, Emeritus Professor and Professorial Fellow, National University of Singapore, has been involved in Singapore’s literary developments since 1951. He has published five volumes of poetry, the latest being Still Travelling (2008). Thumboo received the Singapore National Book Development Council’s Book Award for Poetry in English thrice, South-east Asia Write Award (1979), Singapore Cultural Medallion (1980), ASEAN Cultural and Communication Award in Literature (1987), and the Raja Rao Award (2002).

Associate Editors

Chia Hwee Pheng, writes under the pen name of Xi Ni Er, has won the NBDCS Book Awards and the Singapore Literature Prize. He was the recipient of the Cultural Medallion in 2008 and the Southeast Asia Write Award in 2009. He has published 8 books including Kidnapping Times and The Stretched Credulity (poetry). He is currently President of the Singapore Association of Writers.

Isa Kamari, an architect by day, works deep into the night penning poems since 1979. He has published 7 novels (3 of which were translated into English; 1 into Mandarin), 5 anthologies of poems and a collection of theatre scripts. He was conferred the S.E.A. Write Award (2006) and the Cultural Medallion (2007).

K.T.M. Iqbal has authored seven collections of poems and penned over 200 children songs for Radio Singapore’s “Let’s Sing “ programme. One of his poems “Thanneer”(water) was chosen for display on the SMRT trains and for exhibition at EXPO 2000 held in Hanover, Germany. He received the S.E.A.Write Award in 2001. His poems translated into English can be found in The Evening Number & Other Poems (2008).

Contributing Poets

Abdul Ghani Hamid - Alfian Sa’at - Amiroudine - Dan Ying - Djamal Tukimin - Elangovan - Peter Augustine Goh - Gwee Li Sui - Hadijah Rahmat - Heng Siok Tian - Isa Kamari - Johar Buang - Kanagalatha - Koh Hock Kiat - K.T.M.Iqbal - Aaron Lee - Madeleine Lee - Lee Tzu Peng - Liang Wern Fook - Liang Yue - Aaron Maniam - Mathangi - Mohamed Latiff Mohamed - Murugathasan - Nan Zi -Ng Yi-Sheng - Noor Hasnah Adam - Nurashikin Jamain - Pan Cheng Lui - Alvin Pang - Quek Yong Siu - Sathiyamurthy - Kirpal Singh Suratman Markasan - Tan Chee Lay - Colin Tan - Paul Tan - Eddie Tay - Teng Qian Xi - Edwin Thumboo - Ting Kheng Siong - Toh Hsien Min - Cyril Wong Wong Yoon Wah - J-son Wooi-chin - Yeow Kai Chai - Yong Shu Hoong - Yousuf Rowther Rajid - Zhou Can