Bookshop events, readings and public lectures in the Klang Valley are off to a flying begin this yr.
This weekend is ready as much as be a bumper deal with for these into historical past, literary, feminism and cultural conversations held in unbiased library and bookstore settings.
Here’s a listing of events to take a look at:
PUBLIC LECTURE: “THE NANQIAO JIGONG SAGA”
Venue: Malaysian Public Library, Wisma HELP, Bukit Damansara, KL
Date: Jan 27, 2pm
The Malaysian Public Library will internet hosting a free admission bilingual lecture (Mandarin and English) that includes historians Dr Julitta Lim Shau Hu and Lim Kwok Yong, who will make clear the “Nanqiao Jigong Saga”.
After conflict with Japan broke out in 1937, the Chinese in South-East Asia rallied to help China by contributing funds and even enlisting in the Chinese military. Less well-known is the response of over 3,000 folks from South-East Asia, the Nanqiao Jigong, who volunteered as drivers and mechanics to ship conflict provides from Burma to Yunnan alongside the perilous Burma Road.
This lecture highlights the events and significance of this uncared for episode throughout WWII and solutions various questions: Why did so many individuals reply the name to assist? How far did their contributions assist the Chinese conflict effort? What was the destiny of the volunteers? Why is that this vital episode of the conflict uncared for in the historical past books?
More info here.
Art Fazil is ready to introduce his Nusantara-inspired poetry e book to the native plenty at Studio Ramli Hassan in Kuala Lumpur from Jan 26-28. Photo: Moro Books
POETRY-MUSIC: ‘SELFIE DARI JENDELA KERETAPI’
Venue: Studio Ramli Hassan in Taman Tunku, Kuala Lumpur
Date: Jan 26-28, 8.30pm
Singaporean singer-songwriter Art Fazil brings his poetry e book Selfie Dari Jendela Keretapi to life at this particular efficiency in KL to introduce it to the Malaysian public. This efficiency is a particular deal with for many who take pleasure in poetry, performing arts, the Nusantara id and Art’s particular mix of storytelling.
The 56-year previous artiste initially launched this e book of poetry final yr, with a sold-out dwell showcase in Singapore. The e book particulars his travels round Indonesia in the hopes of higher understanding his distinctive kinship inside the area and to attach along with his Nusantara id.
This hour-long solo efficiency – in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Bahasa Indonesia – is introduced below Masakini Theatre Company’s “The Tingkap Series”.
Art, who has an over 30-year profession spanning music (rock to folks), poetry and writing, at the moment splits his time between Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.
More info here.
Attendees will be capable to buy signed softcover copies of ‘Nationalism And Decolonisation In Singapore’ by Dr PJ Thum solely at this Saturday’s occasion in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Handout
PUBLIC LECTURE: WHEN SINGAPOREANS WERE MALAYAN: MALAYAN NATIONALISM AND THE CREATION OF MALAYSIA
Venue: KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, KL
Date: Jan 27, 3pm
Here’s a free admission occasion in conjunction with the launch of “Nationalism And Decolonisation In Singapore” by Dr PJ Thum. What does the identify “Malaya” recommend?
Rather than simply occupied with it as a historic polity that later merged with Singapore, Sarawak and North Borneo (Sabah) to kind Malaysia in 1963, we are able to unpack the layers of which means inside this time period even additional. It can recommend the socialist aspirations of the Nineteen Forties–60s, with its concepts of progress and justice.
But the eventual formation of Malaysia was additionally intertwined with developments in the colony of Singapore, particularly 4 basic schisms that proceed to resonate throughout each nations collectively: race, class, language/tradition, and the which means of self-determination. In this comparative evaluation, Thum argues how these schisms formed decolonisation in Singapore, earlier than enjoying out additional in Malaysia. Drawing on quite a few declassified official paperwork, amongst others, this examine seeks to grasp the place we stand in the present day, 60 years post-merger.
More info here.
Participants will likely be requested to learn chosen chapters in ‘Out Of The Shadows: Women In Malay Court Narratives’ at this weekend’s occasion at the Malaysian Design Archive in KL. Photo: Handout
READING SESSION: ‘PRINCESSES, CONCUBINES AND SLAVES: FEMALE VOICES AND THE MALAY COURT NARRATIVES’
Venue: Malaysia Design Archive, the Zhongshan Buiding, KL
Date: Jan 27, 3pm
Building on Professor Ruzy Suliza Hashim’s groundbreaking work, the Malaysian Design Archive is ready to discover various ladies’s tales – crammed with pleasure, heartbreak, and betrayal – in classical Malay literature from Sulalatus Salatin to Hikayat Seri Kelantan. How are ladies’s voices conveyed? Can they categorical themselves authentically by way of narratives primarily written by males? Using analytical instruments merging Western and non-Western approaches, the analysis uncovers fractures inside patriarchal texts, difficult preconceived beliefs about ladies and conventional Malay society.
Women’s presence was pivotal in the monarchical system, contributing to male status, energy era, political hierarchy, social id shaping, and legitimacy. This exploration invitations you to reassess the multifaceted roles they performed, broadening our understanding of their impression on conventional Malay society.
In this this studying session, moderated by Ruby Jusoh, individuals will likely be requested to read selected chapters in Ruzy’s Out Of The Shadows: Women In Malay Court Narratives.
More info here.
Kam Raslan’s ‘Confessions Of An Old Boy’ (initially launched in 2008) is now again in print. Photo: Handout
BOOK EVENT: ‘CONFESSIONS OF AN OLD BOY’
Venue: Lit Books, Petaling Jaya
Date: Jan 27, 8pm
You need to strive your luck with this occasion, which is at the moment booked out. There is a ready checklist possibility.
Lit Books is presenting a night of witty banter with author and broadcaster Kam Raslan, who will likely be talking with the bookshop’s co-owner Fong Min Hun about his e book Confessions Of An Old Boy, which was not too long ago reissued and redesigned. It is now prepared to fulfill a brand new viewers since making its debut in 2008.
Book description: “Dato’ Hamid, ‘Old Boy’ and retired civil servant, burst into public prominence in 2007 when his rib-tickling confessional memoirs rapidly bought out. Fifteen years on, this revamped version is again to tickle the humorous bone of readers afresh and introduce a brand new era to only how cosmopolitan but curmudgeonly, suave but self-serving, poised-for-anything but prepared-to-shirk-everything, and in the end unwittingly hilarious an Empire-educated Malaysian may be.”
If you’ll be able to’t get by way of the door for this weekend’s e book occasion, don’t be concerned. You can all the time go to Lit Books on different days to get a replica of Confessions Of An Old Boy.
More info here.
Sabahan artist and musician Eleanor Goroh (left) and Jesse Joy of Bundusan Books will likely be presenting the ‘Trees, Reeds, Seeds And Roots’ session at Sunda Shelves in Petaling Jaya this Sunday. Photo: The Star/Raja Faisal Hishan
BOOKSHOP EVENT: ‘TREES, REEDS, SEEDS AND ROOTS’
Venue: Sunda Shelves, Petaling Jaya
Date: Jan 28, 2pm-7pm
Have you all the time wished to strive your hand at making your personal jewelry? Come for the beading workshop by Bornean artist and musician Eleanor Goroh and Jesse Joy of Bundusan Books on Sunday, the place you’ll be able to discover ways to make Bornean bead earrings, bracelets and necklaces to take dwelling with you. Register here for the workshop.
Eleanor, who’s a Dusun from Sabah’s Kota Belud district, can even current a chat and musical efficiency on Borneo beads, tattoos and music at 4pm, sharing the tales behind their origins and significance to Borneo’s various indigenous tradition. For this weekend’s “Sunda Talks” session, you’ll be able to register here.
“Beads are not just a fashion accessory – it is our culture, imbued with deeper meaning,” she says.
Entry is free for the discuss, however seats are restricted, so registration is required. For the workshop, these ought to register to safe seats for his or her most popular time slot. You solely must pay in keeping with the measurement and beads you utilize, starting from RM20 to RM90.
If you’re brief on time, there are additionally completed items on show that you may buy to help Malaysian artisans, made by Eleanor and the Murut group she works with at Orou Sapulot, Nabawan in Sabah.
More info here.
