Calling all writers! Get ready to enjoy some sun, sand, and books by transporting yourself on a journey into a new world at the inaugural Langkawi Writers’ Festival. From 1 to 4 September 2022, the island will be enlightened by the inquisitive thoughts of writers, poets, scientists, and public intellectuals. Together with like-minded book enthusiasts, share the universal human experience of storytelling.
“Langkawi is very popular among tourists but there aren’t many literature or cultural events here. We planned this festival to attract literature and art-loving tourists to Langkawi,” says Morne Hashim, Langkawi Writers’ Festival director and founder.
“The aim of the Langkawi Writers’ Festival is to also encourage the public to better understand the history of Bahasa Malaysia while upholding its appeal through the writing of young writers, in hope that their works will be accepted in the broader world of literature,” she adds.
The festival will be held in Auditorium Kota Mahsuri and Balai Seni Negara Langkawi. It will feature author discussions, readings, book launches/forums, storytelling, and poetry slams. The festival’s primarily bilingual programming will feature Bahasa Malaysia and English book literature.
One of this event’s many highlights is the book signing and a meeting session with Karina Bahrin. Based in Langkawi, the Langkawi-based author won the regional Epigram Books Fiction Prize 2022 for her debut book, The Accidental Malay.
The festival is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the National Art Gallery, Langkawi Development Authority, Finas, and Morne Gallery.
The Langkawi Writers’ Festival is a free event and open to the public. Those interested can register here.
