The NUS Singapore Prize for Non-Fiction History
The world is fascinated by Singapore’s unique success story. But younger generations are just as curious about the country’s past, and that’s why the NUS Singapore History Prize was created. It recognises non-fiction work from around the world on Singapore’s history. Submissions can be works of fiction or non-fiction, written in English or translated, as long as they focus on Singapore’s history. The winner will be announced in 2024.
The prize was first mooted by NUS Asia Research Institute distinguished fellow Kishore Mahbubani in a 2014 column in The Straits Times. He argued that nations are “imagined communities” and a shared imagination, anchored in the nation’s history, is a crucial glue holding societies together. “We are at a time of great transition and the future seems to be up for grabs,” he said. “We have the opportunity to take a fresh look backwards and see what it can tell us about the path ahead.”
A book on Singapore’s heritage will win the prize, which is set at S$50,000. But the judges are not looking for a scholarly tome, but a work that will make Singapore’s history accessible to all. The winning book should be a “synthesis and primary source” that brings the nation’s past to life with photos, maps and sketches, judges say. “We want to give an indication that you don’t need to be a professional historian,” says NUS Professor John Miksic, the prize’s inaugural judge in 2018.
He added that the book should also show the wider implications of historical events and make it clear why certain things happened and why others did not. The winning book should have a fresh approach and bring to light “the little known stories that will make people think differently about our city-state,” he adds.
In line with the prize’s sustainability theme, the heir to the British throne wore an old dark green blazer from Alexander McQueen at the ceremony. He and other presenters walked the “green carpet,” which was made of recycled fabric. The ceremony was held at the theater of state-owned Media Corp. and featured performances by the bands One Republic and Bastille and U.S. singer Bebe Rexha. British actor Henry Holland and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern were also in attendance. They are both trustees of the Earthshot Prize, an initiative launched by William in 2020 to promote environmental solutions to global warming.
A panel of five judges will be selecting the winner for the 2024 prize. They will be a combination of specialists from the field of history and members of the public. The judges are expected to be appointed by the NUS President and announced together with a closing nomination date at least a year in advance of the prize being awarded. In case of a tie, the decision will be determined by a majority vote. NUS will publish the names of the judges and their backgrounds on its website. The NUS Singapore History Prize is supported by a grant from the Lee Kuan Yew Foundation.