S.E.A. Write Award
The S.E.A. Write Award, or Southeast Asian Writers Award, is an award that is presented annually since 1979 to poets and writers of Southeast Asia.
The awards are given to the writers from each of the countries that comprise the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, though not all countries in ASEAN are represented every year. The award is sometimes given for a specific work by an author, or it could be awarded for lifetime achievement. The types of works that are honored vary, and have included poetry, short stories, novels, plays, folklore, and scholarly and religious works.
The ceremonies are held in Bangkok, with a member of the Thai royal family presiding. The award was conceived by the management of The Oriental hotel in Bangkok, which then sought further backing from Thai Airways International and other companies. The ceremonies have featured some notable guest speakers, including Iris Murdoch, Peter Ustinov, Jeffrey Archer, James A. Michener, Gore Vidal, William Golding, Rita Dove and Paul Theroux. The 2006 keynote speaker, Nobel Prize laureate Wole Soyinka canceled his keynote speech in protest against the Thai military's coup against the government, and was replaced at the last moment by S. P. Somtow.
The 2011 ceremony was postponed until February 2012 because of the 2011 Thailand floods. Edwin Thumboo was the keynote speaker.
List of S.E.A. Write Award winners
1979–1989
Until 1984, ASEAN comprising Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei was admitted in 1984 and its first S.E.A. Write honoree was named in 1986.Year | Brunei | Indonesia | Malaysia | Philippines | Singapore | Thailand |
1979 | - | Sutardji Calzoum Bachri | A. Samad Said | Jolico Cuadra | Edwin Thumboo | Kampoon Boonthawee |
1980 | - | Putu Wijaya | Baharuddin Zainal | Nick Joaquin | Masuri bin Salikun | Naowarat Pongpaiboon |
1981 | - | Goenawan Mohamad | Abdullah Hussain | Gregorio C. Brillantes | Wong Meng Voon 黄孟文 | Ussiri Dhammachote |
1982 | - | Marianne Katoppo | Usman Awang | Adrian Cristobal | M. Balakrishnan | Chart Korbjitti |
1983 | - | Y. B. Mangunwijaya | Adibah Amin | Edilberto K. Tiempo | Arthur Yap | Komtuan Khantanu |
1984 | - | Budi Darma | A. Latiff Mohidin | Virginia R. Moreno | Wong Yoon Wah | Wanich Jarungidanan |
1985 | - | Abdul Hadi Wiji Muthari | Arena Wati | Ricaredo Demetillo | Noor S.I. | Krisna Asokesin |
1986 | Muslim Burmat | Sapardi Djoko Damono | Kemala | Jose Maria Sison | Paranan | Angkarn Kalayanapong |
1987 | Yahya bin Haji Ibrahim | Umar Kayam | Noordin Hassan | Bienvenido N. Santos | Lee Tzu Pheng | Paitoon Thanya |
1988 | Leman Ahmad | Danarto | Azizi Haji Abdullah | Rio Alma | Leou Pei Ann | Nikom Rayawa |
1989 | Adi Kelana | Gerson Poyk | Siti Zainon Ismail | Lina Espina Moore | Suratman Markasan | Chiranan Pitpreecha |
1990–1994
1995–1999
Vietnam joined ASEAN in 1995 and named its first S.E.A. Write honoree in 1996. Laos and Myanmar were admitted in 1997 and named their first honorees in 1998. Cambodia joined ASEAN in 1999, and named its first S.E.A. Write honoree that same year.Year | Brunei | Cambodia | Indonesia | Laos | Malaysia | Myanmar | Philippines | Singapore | Thailand | Vietnam |
1995 | P.H. Muhammad Abdul Aziz | - | Ahmad Tohari | - | Suhaimi Haji Muhammad | - | Teodoro T Antonio | Dan Ying | Paiwarin Khao-Ngam | - |
1996 | Pengiran Haji Sabtu bin Pengiran Haji Mohamad Salleh | - | W.S. Rendra | - | Zaharah Nawawi | - | Mike L. Bigornia | Minfong Ho | Kanokphong Songsomphan | To Huu |
1997 | Awang Mohammad bin Haji Timbang | - | Seno Gumira Ajidarma | - | Muhammad Haji Salleh | - | Alejandro Roces | Elangovan | Win Lyovarin | - |
1998 | Badaruddin H.O. | - | N. Riantiarno | Thongkham Onemanisone | Othman Puteh | Sinbyu-Kyun Aung Thein | Marne L. Kilates | Abdul Ghani Hamid | Raekham Pradouykham | Ma Van Khang |
1999 | Norsiah M.S. | Pich Tum Kravel | Kuntowijoyo MA. | Chanthi Deuanesavanh | Khadijah Hashim | Kyaw Aung | Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta | Catherine Lim | Win Lyovarin | Huu Thinh |