T

he five-day inaugural Makassar International Writers Festival (MIWF), which will be held until Friday, has drawn 25 writers and poets, including eight foreign guests, its organizers say.

Its official opening was held on Tuesday night marked by the screening of documentary film M. Salim, translated from the sureq Galigo classical manuscript.

MIWF director Lily Yulianti Farid said the festival presented a number of activities, including reading literature works, a bookcraft workshop, workshops on literature and cinema, political debates and tours to a number of historical sites or tourist objects.

“We arrange the activities during the festival in a friendly format to enable both foreign and local writers to interact and share experiences easily,” said Lily, who is also co-founder of the event organizer, Rumata’ Arspace.

Lily also said she hoped the festival could stimulate interest in reading and writing among residents of Makassar in particular and South Sulawesi in general, and create opportunities to celebrate literature, get inspiration and expand the cultural horizon. “That is why the festival is themed ‘Celebrating the World of Words with the Locals’,” she said.

Lily said the idea to hold MIWF came from sureq Galigo, the South Sulawesi epic known as the world’s longest piece of literature. The tale, which was narrated orally from generation to generation, was later written in Lontaraq letters.

“South Sulawesi actually has a long literacy and intellectuality history. So we want to revive the interest to read and write among the city residents through MIWF,” said Lily.

The eight foreign writers and the festival include Rodaan Al Gallidi, an Iraqi writer who lives in the Netherlands; Maaza Mengiste, an Ethiopian writer living in the US; Abeer Soliman from Egypt, Gunduz Vassaf from Turky and Janet deNeefe, an Australian writer living in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.

They are grouped within the Writers Unlimited, The Hague, which sponsored their attendance at the festival.

Local guests invited to the festival include young writers whose writings have been nationally publicized, including Erni Aladjai, Shinta Febriany Sjahrir, Hendra Gunawan and Hamran Sunu.

The organizer also invited senior writer Sapardi Djoko Darmono, Trinity (the writer of Naked Traveller) and Sekar from Indonesia Membaca Forum, and several writers from Makassar.

Lily also said she together with noted film director Riri Riza, who is also Rumata’ Artspace director, hoped the festival launch could help change the image of Makassar, which is identical to brawls and violent acts, through literature and culture.

“A city that is advanced, wise and civilized is a place where the development of economy, social lives and politics grows and complements arts dynamism, literature and culture,” Lily added.