Among the speakers is Kurdish-Iranian journalist Behrouz Boochani, who will join the festival via WhatsApp as he is still being held on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island, where he has been in detention since 2013. 

Other speakers are Chinese-American author Jenny Zhang, global strategy advisor and author Parag Khanna, Wiradjuri novelist Tara June Winch and Zimbabwean-American writer Novuyo Rosa Tshuma.

Read also: Ubud Writers and Readers Festival introduces 2019 theme

 

 

 

 

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From Aceh to Zimbabwe, our first round of 16 world-renowned storytellers is testament to UWRF's cultural and artistic diversity. Want to save 20% on the regular price of a 4-Day Pass? Our Early Bird tickets are available now, so don't miss your chance to save. Click link in our bio now for all the info and to snap up your Early Bird ticket!

A post shared by Ubud Writers & Readers Fest (@ubudwritersfest) on Jul 2, 2019 at 7:23pm PDT

The festival also features Australian Broadcasting Commission announcer Richard Fidler, author of The Library Book Susan Orlean, food writer Yotam Ottolenghi, novelist Laksmi Pamuntjak, Human Rights Watch researcher Andreas Harsono, artist-writer Lala Bohang and screenwriter Rayya Makarim.

“Cultural and artistic diversity has always been at the core of UWRF and this first round of international and Indonesian speakers is testament to this,” said Janet DeNeefe, UWRF founder and director, in an official statement. “From Aceh to Zimbabwe, this year’s festival will unite brave voices, creative minds and bold thinkers from across the country and the world.”

Early-bird tickets are available to purchase at the UWRF website until Aug. 2. (wir/wng)

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