INDEPENDENT

MIWF 2016

MAKASSAR INTERNATIONAL WRITERS FESTIVAL 2016

Was held on 18 – 21 May 2016 has entered its 6th years since 2011. 100 percent run by volunteers, this time around it was titled READ or BACA in Bahasa Indonesia.

"Youth who reads promised a better future," according to Riri Reza the Director of Rumata Artspace.

It was spearheaded by Lily Yulianti Farid, Riri Reza and M Aan Masyur originally natives of Makassar. It was a festival waited by many varsities student around Sulawesi.

Many writing and art issues we discussed during the 4 days festival. The focus this year was on a female leader Colli Pujie a Bugis literary figure who is the savior of the world heritage manuscript 'I lagaligo'

42 listed sessions (not including the one sponsored by Body Shop Indonesia) carried various issues aside from book launching.

Chances to meet and greet important literary figures in Indonesia was simply precious. They were there to share their experiences. Eka Kurniawan finally get to receive his Booker Readers Award during the closing ceremony while Grandmedia launched Ika Natasha latest novel 'The architecture of love' and Aan Masyur depicted sincerely how he created 'Tidak ada New York hari ini'. Each one is very humble and modest explaining how they managed to be inspired.

Malaysia was represented by Regina Ibrahim and Nadia Khan from Fixi. Talking on Gender Identity in writing at University Negri Makassar and Urban Living in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia to massive audience.

On the whole, this is an event to look forward in the future. Laden with non stop workshops and talks about books and writing. The closing ceremony was an emotional moment, each one in the audience raised a book in their hands as a symbol urging the government to stop book burning (due to stern censorship) and to keep encouraging intellectual discussion time to time.

*Mama bertolak dengan Nadia Khan penulis muda yang hebat Fixi dari Kuala Lumpur. Ngga tau samada dia kaget mendengarkan aksen Indonesia mama yang sudah sebati dalam diri. Jadi keseluruhan waktu di sana segalanya jadi mudah. Forum penting dan bersosial juga jadi seru. Ramai yang ngga tau sekiranya di Malaysia mama cuman pake dialek Kedah atau Pantai Timur. Berbicara loghat KL sedikit menggambil waktu, ya bisa pasti bisa.

Paling menarik ketemu anak anak negri lantas berbicara perihal SOGIE. Bersama Mira Lesmana, Riri dan Aan Masyur dalam kondisi yang mesra dan dekat. Mereka ini sangat menginspirasi. 4 hari yang sangat menawan hati. Buku buku, penulis hebat Eka Kurniawan yang agak recluse, Ika Natassha penulis bestseller juga dari Medan (mama dulu SD di Polonia).

Makassar sama saja kayak pekan kecil lain di Indonesia sedang membangun. Pisang Epe berjejeran di jalanan. Makanan makanan bugis yang lezat cuman dinikmati sewaktu di cafe. (kiranya lama mau saja dichoba yang di jalanan) harus ingat makanan dan akomodasi segalanya gratis ditaja Fixi. Kali ini mama bawa pulang inspirasi. 

Kisah perihal cinta orang sulawesi Papua sudah ada ditangan penerbit. (ditulis sebelum rencana MIWF 2016). Ketemu mbak Luna Gebres wanita papua yang sangat lincah itu membuatkan mama senyum sendiri. Bicara bicara lantas ditanya orang mana itu sudah biasa. Jawabnya mungkin Malindo? Di sana anak anak muda sudah berjuang mahu peluang terbuka buat bahan bacaan, apa saja diskusi intelek dimohon agar tiada pengrebekkan dari pemerintah setelah reformasi 98. Ilmu itu sebaiknya lebih terbuka.

Malam penutup yang hebat itu tidak akan dilupakan. Masing masing mengangkat buku langsung berteriak BACA BACA BACA 18 KALI!

MIWF 2016 you will definitely be missed.