The Singapore Prize is a biennial award to recognise outstanding books in four languages: Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil. The winner is chosen by a panel of judges and public voting. The winner receives a cash prize and book-purchase vouchers.
The inaugural prize was set up in 2014 as part of Singapore’s SG50 programme to mark the nation’s five decades of independence. Administered by NUS Department of History, it is open to publication works in English (written or translated) that have had a significant impact on the understanding and appreciation of Singapore’s history, with the aim of presenting a more accessible narrative to general readers.
This year, the prize attracted a record number of submissions for consideration, with six works making it to the final shortlist. The Jury Panel selected two works to be the most compelling and relevant: Reviving Qixi: Singapore’s Forgotten Seven Sisters Festival by Lynn Wong Yuqing and Lee Kok Leong, and Theatres of Memory: Industrial Heritage in 20th Century Singapore by Loh Kah Seng, Alex Tan Tiong Hee, Koh Keng We, Juria Toramae and Timothy P Barnard.
For the second time in a row, the top-ranked book in the consumer choice category was a work of nonfiction. The book, Ning Cai: The Magic Babe of Chinatown by Alice Xiaolong, recounts the life and times of a legendary Chinese-American entrepreneur. It was voted by nearly 4,000 readers, roughly twice the 2020 cohort of voters.
The runner-up in the consumer choice category was Down Memory Lane: Peter Ellinger’s Memoirs by National University of Singapore Professor Emeritus Peter Ellinger. It won the best English debut prize in the category and is a memoir of the author’s life, which intersects with many historical events of the 20th century.
NUS has appointed Conservation International as the official Partner for this year’s Prize, to help guide the selection of the Winner and connect them with CI’s range of partners committed to scalable, innovative solutions for people and the planet. CI brings its deep expertise in biodiversity programmes and sustainability financing across Southeast Asia and beyond, to support the Prize winners on their journey towards catalytic impact.
The NUS Singapore Prize was set up in 2014 as part of the country’s SG50 programme to mark the Singapore’s 50th anniversary of independence. Administered by the NUS Department of History, it is awarded every three years and the winning publication will receive a cash award of S$50,000.
The NUS Singapore Prize is supported by the Singapore Business Federation and Singapore’s private sector. It aims to build connections for businesses to expand their networks in Asia and boost Singapore’s competitive advantage on the global stage. For details of the award criteria and terms of nomination, visit here. The deadline for nominations is November 30. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in February 2025.