Launch of Josephine Chia's Kampong Spirit—Gotong Royong @ The Little Nyonya (Bedok)
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Join us for the launch of the refreshed new edition of Kampong Spirit—Gotong Royong: Life in Potong Pasir, 1955 to 1965, the Singapore Literature Prize-winning memoir by Josephine Chia.
📅: 19 September 2025 (Friday)
🕒: 3.00pm – 4.30pm
📍: The Little Nyonya, 11 Bedok North Street 1, #01-11 Heartbeat@Bedok, Singapore 469662 (10-minute walk from Bedok MRT)
Come for an intimate and nostalgic afternoon of storytelling, heritage, and reflection—accompanied by a curated tea-time set of Peranakan delicacies.
Step into the world of kampong life as Peranakan author Josephine Chia sits down with moderator Adrian Phuah for a lively conversation about growing up in Potong Pasir, the memories and values of 1950s and 60s Singapore, and the legacy of Kampong Spirit. Together, they will reflect on what these stories meant then, and why they still matter today.
Kampong Spirit is a collection of delightful, real life short stories will take you through Singapore’s history and heritage at a human level. For some, it will be a journey of discovery and for others, a time of reminiscing about those nostalgic years.
🎟️Tickets:
$25 ($27.25 after GST) (inclusive of tea-time set)
$45 ($49.05 after GST) [inclusive of tea-time set + a copy of the book]
Tea-time set:
1. Drink - lemongrass2. Dry laksa3. 2 pcs Pie Tee4. 2 pcs Prawn Ball5. 1 pcs Otah bun6. Apom Bok Kwa Pisang
*non-pork menu will swap out prawn balls for additional Kueh Pie Tee
About the Book:
The most significant aspect of living in a kampong was its kampong spirit—or gotong royong. Though deprived of modern comforts like electricity or running water, multi-racial neighbours lived harmoniously with each other in their attap villages, had a wonderful zest for life and a strong sense of community.
This refreshed new edition of Kampong Spirit brings to life the colourful characters of the villagers with whom Peranakan author Josephine Chia grew up at a kampong in Potong Pasir. The period 1955 to 1965 was also a dramatic era for Singapore. As the country struggled towards nationhood, the social and political events of this time and their effects are seen through the eyes of the common folk.
This collection of delightful, real life short stories will take you through Singapore’s history and heritage at a human level. For some, it will be a journey of discovery and for others, a time of reminiscing about those nostalgic years.
Winner of the Singapore Literature Prize for English non-fiction—an essential and vibrant read on what kampong living in Singapore was like.
Also by Josephine Chia: Goodbye My Kampong! (sequel to Kampong Spirit—Gotong Royong); Growing Up in Kampong Potong Pasir (for young readers)
About the Speakers:
Josephine Chia is proud of her Peranakan heritage. She is internationally published in both adult fiction and non-fiction. She was born in Kampong Potong Pasir in colonial Singapore. Her first short stories were published in SINGA, a Singapore literary journal published in the 1980s and 1990s. She has run Creative Writing workshops for the National Book Development Council, the National Arts Council, the National Library Board and the Ministry of Education’s Creative Arts Programme, and is a mentor to aspiring writers under the National Arts Council’s Mentor Access Programme (MAP) and the Ministry of Education’s Creative Arts Programme.
Adrian Phuah is a lecturer specializing in World Issues, Cultural Intelligence, and Innovation modules. His academic interests include the history and culture of Southeast Asian nations, a passion that he brings into his teaching and research. One of his current personal projects explores the history of Kampong Potong Pasir. Beyond poring over archival sources, he takes joy in bringing together former residents to rekindle shared memories of the kampong’s past.
Launch of Josephine Chia's Kampong Spirit—Gotong Royong @ The Little Nyonya (Bedok)
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