[UPDATED] 2018’s Noteworthy Moments

To close the year of 2018, we took the initiative to reconcile hundred of noteworthy moments that took place throughout the year—we have already documented many of them, and now serve it as a “kaleidoscope” of Indonesian literature. Valent Mustamin teamed up with Ellen Kusuma to bring you this chronological list.

WRITER OF THE YEAR

Looking at these moments, this kaleidoscope gives an indirect shout out to Intan Paramaditha as (our) WRITER OF THE YEAR for her extraordinary activities throughout 2018.

Starting from signing a deal with publisher Harvill Secker to publishing her short story collection “Apple and Knife” and experimental novel “The Wandering” for the UK/Commonwealth; speaking at Sydney Writers’ Festival, Hong Kong International Literary Festival, and Singapore Writers Festival; having been selected to take part in the Cultural Programme of The London Book Fair Market Focus next year; winning the 2019 PEN American PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grant for Stephen J. Epstein’s translation of her novel; and later receiving a PEN Translates award for that translation; up to initiating “PERIOD”, a literary and film critics writing class in Jakarta, with fellow writer Lily Yulianti Farid. This is not to mention a bunch of media interviews she went on this year. This array of activities and achievements definitely confirmed this acknowledgment.

* * *

JANUARY

25

Horison was back with printed version (Horison No. 1 Th. 53 January-March 2018) but “only” as a quarter magazine. Originally run by the Indonesian Foundation (Yayasan Indonesia), the first issue of Horison magazine was officially published on July 15, 1966. Previously, at an event in Jakarta to mark the magazine’s 50th anniversary in July 26, 2016, TAUFIQ ISMAIL, one of the magazine’s co-founders, announced that Horison had stopped its printed edition and will instead produce only online content.

26

To celebrate the anniversary of LiBeratur Prize, laureates from past years including poet and journalist LAKSMI PAMUNTJAK (who won in 2016) gathered for two days in Literaturhaus Frankfurt to redefine female world literature.

29

Three years ago today, IDWRITERS was officially introduced to the public in an event at Goethe-Institut Jakarta. This Literary Day was enlivened by the appearance of Seno Gumira Ajidarma, Adimas Immanuel, Rain Chudori, Dunia Manji, and The Bandaneira.

FEBRUARY

9

Disobedient Women, a Norman Erikson Pasaribu’s brilliant review of INTAN PARAMADITHA’s latest book, Apple and Knife.

22

Asialink Arts announced DIAS NOVITA WURI as the recipient of the 2018 Tulis Varuna Australian-Indonesian Writing Exchange. She would be taking residency at Varuna National Writers House and WestWords, and participating in the Sydney Writers’ Festival.

MARCH

5

The Johannesburg Review of Books featured previously unpublished poetry by MIKAEL JOHANI: chapel hill and canto cxviii (i forget most everything).

8

The 2018 Stella Prize shortlist of six was announced. MIRANDI RIWOE (also writes under pen name M.J. Tjia), a Brisbane-based writer—who is of Chinese-Indonesian heritage—is among those shortlisted. On April 12, Tracker by Alexis Wright was announced as the winner and became the sixth recipient of the Stella Prize.

9

The Lontar Foundation was shortlisted in London Book Fair International Excellence Awards 2018 for the Literary Translation Initiative Award. Later on April 10, the award announced Serbia’s Geopoetika as the winner in this category.

15

First published in 1952, S. Rukiah Kertapati’s Tandus had been reprinted by Bandung-based indie publisher Ultimus along with novel “Kejatuhan dan Hati” (The Fall and the Heart) and a children book “Pak Supi, Kakek Pengungsi” (Mr. Supi, the Refugee Grandpa).

16

SAPARDI DJOKO DAMONO hosted another book launch at the National Library in Jakarta. This time it was for his latest novel “Yang Fana Adalah Waktu” (The Only Thing That’s Transient is Time), the last installment of his “Hujan Bulan Juni” (Rain in June) trilogy.

20

AYU UTAMI spoke about the root of intolerance in her 20th anniversary of ‘Saman’ during From Taboos to Traditional Tolerance lecture hosted by the Indonesian Heritage Society at Erasmus Huis, Jakarta.

21

GRATIAGUSTI CHANANYA ROMPAS, whose poem “one by one the bodies died”, was awarded an Honorable Mention in the inaugural edition of Hawker Prize for Southeast Asian Poetry. 

22

INTAN PARAMADITHA signed a deal with publisher Harvill Secker to publish her short story collection “Apple and Knife” in Spring 2019 and her experimental novel “The Wandering” for the UK/Commonwealth market in 2020.

‘Writing about Indonesia’ predicated a knowledge of the country, and the panel discussion hosted by Books Actually presented interesting viewpoints from Singapore-based author Shivaji Das and award-winning Indonesian author OKKY MADASARI, currently writer-in-residence at the International Writing Program, University of Iowa.

29

Universitas Negeri Semarang awarded Upakarti Parama Bhujangga to muslim cleric and poet MUSTOFA BISRI for his contribution to Indonesian literature.

The Indonesian ambassador to Nigeria, Henry Purwanto, thrilled writers and literary enthusiasts in Abuja, Nigeria in a Saturday gathering when he gave a talk of contemporary Indonesian literature and lessons for Nigerian literature.

31

Unspoken, a new poetry slam series created in Bali. Their first slam on today with the theme “Anxiety”.

APRIL

5

Following 2017’s Market Focus Poland and this year’s Market Focus Baltics, Indonesia would be the highlighted nation at London Book Fair in 2019.

10

DANARTO passed away after road side accident in Ciputat, Tangerang. During his lifetime, Danarto was known as a writer of sufism. He wrote a number of phenomenal literary books, such as Godlob, Asmaraloka, Orang Jawa Naik Haji, and Adam Ma’rifat—which won the 1982 Literature Prize from the Jakarta Art Institute.  

Some 300 Indonesian books were presented in the London Book Fair (LBF), which was held until April 12 in Olympia London. Over the last few years the books have enjoyed substantial growth in the sale of rights to many countries in the world. The themes of the books range from fashion and design to Islam and politics.

12

Indonesian authors commented on “Is Indonesian Literature Written in English Still Indonesian Literature?” question.

14

Despite its intimidating length—being almost one thousand pages—, AZHARI AIYUB’s novel, Kura-Kura Berjanggut was released. It started out in the form of short stories sent to Koran Tempo which now became a 960-page-long novel about Aceh in the 17th century. It took Azhari Aiyub 10 years to finish it. The Jakarta Post talk to the author after a discussion about the book early this month.

16

PRAMOEDYA ANANTA TOER’s life and work were on display at the gallery Dia.Lo.Gue in Jakarta, until May 20. The exhibition was titled “Namaku Pram: Catatan dan Arsip” (My Name Is Pram: Notes and Archive).

20

Festival Sastra Banggai was back for its 2nd consecutive year until 23 in Luwuk Banggai, Central Sulawesi.

Komite Buku Nasional dan Beasiswa Unggulan – Kemendikbud announced 28 selected participants of “Residensi Penulis Indonesia 2018” program.

21

With the financial assistance from Cipta Media Ekspresi, DEWI NOVIAMI—who happened to be also a program officer at Lontar Foundation—spearheaded a program titled Ruang Perempuan dan Tulisan (Women’s Space and Writings), which goal was to rekindle public interest in literary works by the “almost-forgotten” Indonesian women authors. In this innovative project, ten young women writers will research and write papers on the work of ten deceased women authors.

24

Poet KHAIRANI BAROKKA spoke with JR Ramakrishnan about her book “Indigenous Species” and the possibilities of regional literature in Southeast Asia, in the recent Electric Literature piece.

We all should be grateful for subversive writers like Intan Paramaditha. It’s a privilege to be able to talk with her, Norman Erikson Pasaribu says on his piece for The Lifted Brow.

28

Kemah Sastra Nasional was held in Banyuwangi for two days. A number of famous writers also attended to provide a series of writing workshops, poetry readings and monologues.

APRILA WAYAR launched her 374-page novel, Sentuh Papua, a novel that highlights on human rights issues in Indonesia’s Papua region, in a discussion forum organized by the Alliance of Independent Journalists’ (AJI) Yogyakarta chapter and the Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH).

30

Four Indonesian books—”Hujan Bulan Juni” and “Yang Fana Adalah Waktu” by SAPARDI DJOKO DAMONO; “Dilan, Dia Adalah Dilanku Tahun 1990” by PIDI BAIQ; and “Sang Pemimpi” by ANDREA HIRATA—received recognition for best compilation, best prolific writing, best fiction, and best adaptation category respectively at the Anugerah Buku ASEAN 2018 (ASEAN Book Awards 2018), held as part of the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2018.

Representatives from United Kingdom-based publishers were taking part in the Literature Visit program supported by the British Council held until May 6. It aimed to expand cooperation and networks in literature and creative thinking.

INTAN PARAMADITHA and DIAS NOVITA WURI,—who also enrolled on the 2018 Tulis Australia-Indonesia Writing Exchange, spoke at this year’s Sydney Writers’ Festival.

MAY

1

Ten participating writers were currently enrolled in RMIT’s Writers Immersion and Cultural Exchange Program (WrICE) collaborative residency in Yogyakarta. DICKY SENDA and GRATIAGUSTI CHANANYA ROMPAS were among of them.

2

The Makassar International Writers Festival (MIWF) officially started for its 8th consecutive year, and would be held until May 5 at Fort Rotterdam, several campuses and other locations across Makassar, South Sulawesi.

Discussion held at Jakarta’s Komunitas Salihara, titled Re-reading CHAIRIL ANWAR with Zen Hae (litterateur and literary critic) and Hasan Aspahani (poet, and writer of Chairil Anwar’s biography).

4

Renowned actress Dian Sastrowardoyo was set to star in Aruna dan Lidahnya (Aruna and Her Palate), a film based on the LAKSMI PAMUNTJAK’s book of the same name. Directed by Edwin and penned by Titien Wattimena, the movie was produced by Palari Films.

5

The annual Writers’ Series held by The Jakarta Post Writing Center returned for the third time. The event of mini conference and premium workshop ran for two days until May 6 in Jakarta.

12

The Jakarta Globe Reading Club hosted its first event, “Pram: the Man and his Legacy,” at artspace Dia.Lo.Gue in Jakarta. The event featured a talk show on the late PRAMOEDYA ANANTA TOER – one of Indonesia’s greatest novelists and a political prisoner who spent 12 hellish years on Buru Island, Indonesia’s own gulag.

JUNE

8

FITRI NGANTHI WANI—daughter of poet and activist WIJI THUKUL, released a new poetry collection titled “Kau Berhasil Jadi Peluru”. It was a tribute to her father who disappeared in the dying days of Suharto’s New Order in early 1998.

14

Rest in Peace, ARI MALIBU! He made his music comeback in 2015 with the duo Ari Reda, breathing nostalgia into the pop scene with their folk rendition of Sapardi Djoko Damono’s poetry.

19

In honor of the 20th anniversary of Disney’s Mulan, ESPNW collected series of essays and poems that celebrate the power of Asian women athletes — Mulan’s reflection! “Becoming McFierce”, a piece by CYNTHIA DEWI OKA was a compelling one.

Towards his complete self acceptance via suburban Jakarta, Christian saints, and a shopping center’s car park, NORMAN ERIKSON PASARIBU wrote his personal history: “Against the ignorant sun!” on the current issue of English PEN’s Transmissions.

26

Five emerging writers who would be participating in Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2018 was announced. Only 5 selected out of 850 applicants!

28

IDWRITERS’ four years anniversary. After years of many ups and downs, there was not much we can say, other than how grateful we are for just being here in the present moment.

Kasur Tanah by MUNA MASYARI (published in Kompas Daily, September 17, 2017) won the KOMPAS award for Best Short Story of 2017. The award was announced during “Jamuan Cerpen Kompas”, an award ceremony for KOMPAS annual literary fiction program.

In Germany, TAUFIQ ISMAIL launched his poetry collection, which contained 820 poems translated into German, at Rumah Budaya Indonesia of Indonesian Embassy, Berlin. He shared his adversity as a poet in Indonesia in 1960 by reading one of his poem, “Catatan Tahun 1965”.

29

The Summer 2018 issue of The Poetry Review was out, including an essay on translation by KHAIRANI BAROKKA!

30

Renowned cartoonist GM SUDARTA, who created the Oom Pasikom character for Kompas daily newspaper since 1967, passed away at the age of 72 today.

JULY

5

English translation of NORMAN ERIKSON PASARIBU’s poem collection “Sergius Mencari Bacchus” by TIFFANY TSAO won the 2018 PEN Translates award along with other notable works from 16 different countries! These books were selected for PEN Translates awards on the basis of outstanding literary quality, the strength of the publishing project, and its contribution to literary diversity. “Sergius Seeks Bacchus” was forthcoming with Tilted Axis Press in 2019.

Particularly, for Tiffany, this award was definitely a perfect accomplishment, since her third novel Under Your Wings was officially out early this month, published by Viking Australia.

11

Five new translation of AFRIZAL MALNA’s poems from Museum Penghancur Dokumen, translated by Daniel Owen, appeared in New York-based journal, Brooklyn Rail. This Owen’s English translation, Document Shredding Machine was forthcoming in 2019 from Reading Sideways Press.

13

Festival Sastra Bengkulu started for the first time, with over 100 writers—including from neighboring countries, hosting events for three days until 15 July. The festival was held as a way to promote Bengkulu art and cultural tourism to support Visit Bengkulu 2020 program, and also to encourage Bengkulu youngsters to play their roles on developing their own hometown.

Art-accompanied poem book, Indigenous Species by KHAIRANI BAROKKA launched its Vietnamese version in Hanoi. Local media, Urbanist Hanoi reported that during this occasion, Okka talked about connecting Vietnam readers to her beloved strange homeland, Indonesia, while raising awareness about ecological, identity, feminism, and disability issues.

16

Luukellot (The Bone Clocks) by an English novelist, David Mitchell won the Tähtifantasia (Star Fantasy) 2018, the award for the best-translated fantasy novel in Finland. EKA KURNIAWAN’s Kauneus on Kirous (Beauty is a Wound), along with works by Ursula K. Le Guin, Andri Magnason, and Brandon Sanderson were shortlisted. This year’s line-up includes five books with quite a diverse definition of fantasy genre.

17

One of NORMAN ERIKSON PASARIBU’s translated poems, A Flyer, appeared in the current issue of Modern Poetry Translation magazine, ‘The House of Thirst’, that focused on LGBTQ and poetry from all around the world. This poem was shortlisted for the Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa 2016 for Poetry, and was named one of the best poetry collections of the year by the Indonesian magazine Tempo.

In a recent review by Inside Indonesia, Giora Eliraz talked about the historic and cultural aspect on understanding EKA KURNIAWAN’s internationally acclaimed novel “Cantik Itu Luka” (Beauty is a Wound). Giora was a consulting editor of the Hebrew translation of the book, which was published in late 2017. The translation version under the title “Yofi Hu Petza” was presumably the first-ever publication of an Indonesian novel translated into Hebrew.

23

Scores of literature enthusiasts crowded the newly renovated hall of Aksara bookstore as the retailer celebrated its recent collaboration with Post Santa, to focus on alternative literature and serve as a community center. This focus was a groundbreaking starter for the revolution of indie bookstores to emphasize the emergence of alternative literature to introduce readers to a various subject, perspectives, and new authors.

27

ARMIN BELL and WILLY ANA received Anugerah Sastra Litera 2018, in recognition of each of their work: Monolog di Penjara and Petuah Kampung, in the category Prose and Poetry, respectively.

AUGUST

1

We created this dedicated page—a list of translated books by Indonesian women writers—, to celebrate August as Women in Translation Month.

The August-October 2018 issue of the regional quarterly Mekong Review magazine featured the works of two Indonesian literary figures published by the Lontar Foundation, which were a short story by AVIANTI ARMAND and two poems by ACEP ZAMZAM NOOR.

4

The fifth Taiwan Literature Awards for Migrants were announced Saturday, with eight migrant workers from the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam depicting such themes in their works as longing for family, stories of migration, and how they observe their host societies. LASO ABDI, an Indonesian caregiver in Taiwan, won the top prize for her story Tentang Cinta (About Love). The awards will be presented to him and seven other winners, including two other Indonesians.

14

In Djakarta Theater, AYU UTAMI received Penghargaan Achmad Bakrie 2018 for Literature from the Achmad Bakrie Foundation.

15

The House of the Unsilenced exhibition at the Cemara 6 Gallery — which ran until September 2 — involved a slew of artists who highlighted the issues surrounding sexual harassment and assault through various mediums of art. The project brought together artists, writers, and survivors of sexual assault to create art about the life of a survivor and the meaning of speaking up.

18

FAISAL ODDANG headed off to International Writing Program Fall Residency until November 6. For 2018, the IWP brought together 30-35 of the world’s emerging and established writers to participate in the unique inter-cultural experience.

26

Suffered from multiple health problems in the past few years, including a stroke in September of last year, HAMSAD RANGKUTI passed away at the age of 75.

28

Balai Bahasa Jawa Timur hosted Jambore Sastra 2018. The annual activity is to improve the quality of human resource development in the fields of language and literature. The Jamboree was held until August 31 at Sekolah Tinggi Agama Budha Kertarajasa, Kota Batu, Surabaya.

31

DICKY SENDA and GRATIAGUSTI CHANANYA ROMPAS participated in this year’s Melbourne Writers Festival. They performed at two key ensemble events, Writers Across Borders and WrICE Papers Salon.

SEPTEMBER

6

EKA KURNIAWAN was among winners of the 2018 Prince Claus Awards announced by The Prince Claus Fund. He received €25,000 (US$29,000) for “his profoundly imaginative storytelling, the remarkable beauty of his prose and the universal relevance of his subject matter; and for confronting violent political acts that are absent from official discourse and examining controversial issues in a way that people can really relate to, helping them to reclaim stories of their past and construct a better understanding of their country”.

As part of Jakarta Globe Reading Club’s “Reading Indonesia” event on Sept. 8, Jakarta Globe published the list of 30 books on Indonesian history, politics, economy, culture and literature that might help people gain a deeper understanding of the sprawling archipelago of more than 18,000 islands and 267 million people – and its long and complex story.

Ahead of this year’s Forward Prizes for Poetry, the Telegraph published all five nominees for the Best Single Poem prize, including poem comes from WILL HARRIS, a writer of mixed Anglo-Indonesian heritage, born and based in London.

7

The Kimberley Writers Festival returned to Kununurra from 7 to 9 September 2018. Guests at this year’s festival, including Fulbright scholar, award-winning novelist and childhood education advocate AHMAD FUADI.

10

Dressed in a traditional kebaya, LAKSMI PAMUNTJAK read a passage in her mother tongue, Bahasa Indonesia, in the premier reading of “Fall Baby” at the International Literature Festival Berlin. Fall Baby is the sequel to Amba or The Question of Red — a love story set against the backdrop of culture, political turmoil and mythology.

Literaction Festival (LitBeat) 2018, a festival for book industry players in Indonesia and Southeast Asia held for two days at Perpustakaan Nasional, Jakarta.

12

The 37th Indonesia International Book Fair, which gathered nearly 100 industry participants and 7,000 local and foreign titles, ran until Sept. 16 at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) in Senayan, South Jakarta.

13

MURTI BUNANTA was among 246 nominees (from 64 countries) for the the world’s largest award for children’s and young adult literature, Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. The 2019 laureate would be announced on April 2.

Taman Bacaan Pelangi opened its 100th library in eastern Indonesia.

14

Following the movie “Marlina The Murderer In Four Acts” which was played at Cannes Festival 201, Indonesian filmmaker Mouly Surya was planning to adapt MOCHTAR LUBIS’ novel A Road With No End (Jalan Tak Ada Ujung) into a feature film.

15

The 24th Southeast Asian Literacy Council (MASTERA) Conference ended with a joined statement to promote and monitor the development of Malay/Indonesian language and literature in the Southeast Asian region, especially in the era of Industry 4.0. Among the highlights of this two-days conference was the presentation of the Sastera Mastera Awards to GOENAWAN MOHAMAD, along with Dato Dr Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned from Brunei Darussalam; Dato Dr Ahmad Kamal Abdullah from Malaysia; and Isa Kamari from Singapore.

20

At a ceremony kindly hosted by the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Melbourne, the winners of the AALITRA Translation Prize (2018) were announced. In 2018 the focus language was Indonesian. Pamela Allen awarded for the prose text translation of “Surat” by SAPARDI DJOKO DAMONO, and James Scanlan awarded for the poem text of “Barangkali” by AMIR HAMZAH.

25

RATIH KUMALA launched her book The Potion of Twilight, the English edition of Larutan Senja which was first published in 2006 by Gramedia Pustaka Utama, at the SOAS Center of Southeast Asian Studies, University of London.

26

Seven authors of ethnic-language publications received recognitions through the annual Rancagé Literary Awards at an event held at Taman Ismail Marzuki.

JOSE RIZAL MANUA, AFRIZAL MALNA, and LILY YULIANTI FARID were among an outstanding group of people who received The National Cultural Award 2018 from the Ministry of Education and Culture.

27

After the English translation of “The Birdwoman’s Palate” came out earlier in February, LAKSMI PAMUNTJAK’s culinary novel, “Aruna & Lidahnya” became the next in line of novel-to-film adaptations to hit the big screen.

29

National Centre for Writing welcomed MIKAEL JOHANI, mentored in Indonesian by Pam Allen, to the 2018 Writers Centre Emerging Translator Mentorship Programme.

OCTOBER

1

Held at the historic Kota Tua in West Jakarta until October 7, Gramedia’s week-long Readers Fest was a showcase of all things books. Five days into the event, the number of visitors had reached around 7,000.

2

In partnership with Asymptote Journal, the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival announced the #TranslationTuesday showcase of Indonesian writers. First up was DEE LESTARI’s short story Searching for Herman, translated by TIFFANY TSAO.

9

Asian American Writers’ Workshop for a reading and movie night with AHMAD FUADI featured Firda Firdaus Abdi and Margaret Scott: “From Bestseller to Box Office Hit: Ahmad Fuadi’s The Land of Five Towers”.

10

Museum Masa Kecil by AVIANTI ARMAND, Kura-Kura Berjanggut by AZHARI AIYUB, and Ibu Susu by RIO JOHAN respectively brought home the 18th Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa in Poetry, Prose, and First/Second Book category.

11

Monsoon Books announced a deal signed with publisher Lontar Foundation at Frankfurt Book Fair for rights in NURIL BASRI’s Not a Virgin, which would be released at London Book Fair 2019.

The first Indonesian Literature Club meeting held in Sydney. Co-organized by KESTITY PRINGGOHARJONO and Toni Pollard, fourteen avid participants had much to say about the two stories discussed, written by MONA SYLVIANA.

12

In Frankfurt, LAKSMI PAMUNTJAK discussed what made a book works in translation despite leaps of language, culture, history, musicality, and even foods in her session The Intimate Act of Editing: Laksmi Pamuntjak on Working with her International Editors with Kristine Kress (Ullstein), Gabriella Page-Fort (Amazon Crossing) and Jayapriya Vasudevan (Jacaranda) and Publishing Perspectives.

17

Anugerah Sutasoma 2018 took place at Balai Budaya Jawa Timur, Cak Durasim. This year’s Sutasoma Award was the tenth time, as well as being a form of appreciation for literature in East Java.

23

The Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) was celebrating its 15th anniversary this week. The annual event, held in the hill town of Ubud on Indonesia’s most renowned tourist island, was first held in 2003 as part of an effort to help revive tourism, the island’s main economic lifeline, after terrorist bombings devastated the island’s Kuta district a year earlier.

24

SAPARDI DJOKO DAMONO, a senior poet famous for his romantic verses, was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for his creative energy, during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF). Sapardi was the third writer to receive the award after the late NH Dini and Sitor Situmorang.

At least 40 writers and poets from five allied countries attended a Banda Fiesta literary festival as members of the Serumpun State Cultural Literature (PSBNS).

25

Twelve Indonesian writers who would take part in the Cultural Programme of The London Book Fair Market Focus were announced.

28

At Kongres Bahasa Indonesia XI, Badan Bahasa gave Penghargaan Sastra Badan Bahasa to RIDA K. LIAMSI (poetry collection), EKA KURNIAWAN (short stories collection), MARTIN SURYAJAYA (novel), ZIGGY ZEZSYAZEOVIENNAZABRIEZKIE (novel), Akhudiat (playscript), and HASAN ASPAHANI (literary essay). The congress was held until October 31 in Jakarta.

31

The 37th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2018) was held until Nov 10. Author, poet, and architect AVIANTI ARMAND was among the writers taking part in this 11-day literary extravaganza.

NOVEMBER

1

A new quarterly magazine in literature and lifestyle, MAJAS officially published their inaugural issue.

2

A strong contingent of women who are leading the pack of writers was featured in the newest edition of Hong Kong International Literary Festival which opened today, including INTAN PARAMADITHA.

The 21st edition of the Singapore Writers Festival would run until Nov 11 this year with more than 310 programmes. The festival continued to highlight speculative fiction authors, including INTAN PARAMADITHA.

7

As Asymptote’s partnership with this year’s UWRF winded down, in which Editors-at-Large NORMAN ERIKSON PASARIBU and TIFFANY TSAO were invited to speak, they reflected on all that happened in Ubud.

14

Some literary figures shared views and knowledge at the Payokumbuah Literary Festival 2018, held at Payakumbuh, West Sumatra until November 16. The festival featured a number of discussions, literature appreciation and reading of literary works as well as interchanges with the local people who attended. 

15

RRI World Service VOI Indonesia announced their 2018 VOI Literature Award winners.

17

After a successful performance two years ago, the stage play Bunga Penutup Abad adapted from PRAMOEDYA ANANTA TOER’s classic four-part novel “Buru Quartet” was on stage again for the third time at Teater Jakarta in the Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta.

The second edition of the South Tangerang Literacy Festival in Banten took place for two days, bringing together around 1,500 literary enthusiasts across not only South Tangerang but also other areas, such as Depok, Bogor and Bekasi in West Java to engage with their favorite writers, veterans and beginners alike.

19

OKKY MADASARI launched a children’s series with two new novels, titled “Mata di Tanah Melus” and “Mata dan Rahasia Pulau Gapi”, marking her start in a different literary genre.

21

Lontar Foundation in collaboration with Jentayu Editions published in France an anthology of works written by twenty authors and thirteen translators of this special issue devoted to the literature of Indonesia.  Next year, the book will be published in Indonesia for the Francophile community in Indonesia. 

22

The 7th Borobudur Writers and Cultural Festival (BWCF) opened in Yogyakarta with a theme Diary & Traveling (Rereading the Books of Voyages about the Archipelago).

Lontar Foundation director of programs, JOHN MCGLYNN participated at George Town Literary Festival (Nov 22-25, 2018) in Malaysia as the main speaker at a workshop on the intricacy and artistry of translating. The theme was the book Laut Bercerita (The Sea Speaks His Name), the latest novel by LEILA S. CHUDORI, who took part in the discussions.

30

Stephen J. Epstein won the 2019 PEN American PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grant for his translation of INTAN PARAMADITHA’s novel, Gentayangan (The Wandering: Choose Your Own Red Shoes Adventure).

During ICCRF (International Children Content’s Rights Fair) 2018 event in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Rafa si Rafflesia, the latest children’s story book by DEBBY LUKITO GOEYARDI (which illustrated beautifully by Vannia Rizky Santoso) was included in one of the works launched by Provisi Education and Bestari Publisher through Room to Read project.

DECEMBER

4

One of Indonesia’s literary legends, Nurhayati Sri Hardini Siti Nukatin, renowned as NH DINI, passed away in Elisabeth Hospital in Semarang, Central Java. She was reportedly on her way home to Wisma Lansia Harapan Asri retirement home from an acupuncture treatment when her car was involved in a fatal crash.

“Orang-orang Oetimu” by FELIX K. NESI won Sayembara Novel 2018 by The Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ).

5

The Education and Culture Ministry held the Indonesian Cultural Congress in Jakarta.

6

EKA KURNIAWAN was awarded the prestigious Prince Claus prize for his writing at a ceremony presented by the Dutch royal family in Amsterdam.

INTAN PARAMADITHA’s Apple and Knife was officially out in the UK, published by Harvill Secker. Translated by Stephen J. Epstein, it was first published in Australia by Brow Books. The stories were drawn from two story collections published by Gramedia Pustaka Utama in Indonesian language.

8

Comma Books celebrated its first anniversary at an event aptly named A Little Pause. Some of its published authors attended, and they shared trade secrets through writing workshops, poetry readings, drank coffee and took Instagram pictures.

9

President Joko Widodo delivered an award to literateur PUTU WIJAYA in the 2018 Indonesian Cultural Congress (KKI). Jokowi assessed that Putu Wijaya dedicated his life to literature and culture over a long time.

17

INTAN PARAMADITHA and LILY YULIANTI FARID initiated a writing class of literary and film critics titled PERIOD, with Melani Budianta and Lisabona Rahman became their speakers. It ran for two days until December 18!

18

Hundreds of writers from all over Indonesia held the first Muktamar Sastra at the Salafiyah Syafi’iyah Sukorejo Islamic Boarding School in Situbondo, East Java. The conference brought Exploration of Nationalism, Building Nationalism, and took place until December 20, 2018.

29

A Pekanbaru’s poet, DHENI KURNIA was awarded Anugerah Hari Puisi Indonesia 2018 with his poetry collection, Bunatin at an award ceremony night in Jakarta presented by Yayasan Hari Puisi Indonesia.