In this article KOLONI Ratih Kumala
By Reza Mardian, originally published in Jakarta Post
Nov 18, 2025
Read the full article here.
By Reza Mardian, originally published in Jakarta Post
Nov 18, 2025
Inspired by national struggles and everyday exhaustion, the Cigarette Girl author writes a story about ants that feels deeply human.
In a world still run by patriarchs, the writer behind Cigarette Girl turned to a tiny, underground matriarchal society to find feminist answers. Ratih Kumala’s latest novel Koloni (Colony), freshly announced for English translation and global distribution by Penguin Random House SEA, follows the life of Darojak, a young queen ant, navigating survival after humans destroyed her colony.
In a world still run by patriarchs, the writer behind Cigarette Girl turned to a tiny, underground matriarchal society to find feminist answers. Ratih Kumala’s latest novel Koloni (Colony), freshly announced for English translation and global distribution by Penguin Random House SEA, follows the life of Darojak, a young queen ant, navigating survival after humans destroyed her colony.
Read the full article here.
Ratih Kumala / JP
