The S.E.A. Write Award, or Southeast Asian Writers Award, is an award that is presented annually since 1979 to poets and writers of Southeast Asia.
The awards are given to the writers from each of the countries that comprise the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, though not all countries in ASEAN are represented every year. The award is sometimes given for a specific work by an author, or it could be awarded for lifetime achievement. The types of works that are honored vary, and have included poetry, short stories, novels, plays, folklore, and scholarly and religious works.
The ceremonies are held in Bangkok, with a member of the Thai royal family presiding. The award was conceived by the management of The Oriental hotel in Bangkok, which then sought further backing from Thai Airways International and other companies. The ceremonies have featured some notable guest speakers, including Iris Murdoch, Peter Ustinov, Jeffrey Archer, James A. Michener, Gore Vidal, William Golding, Rita Dove and Paul Theroux. The 2006 keynote speaker, Nobel Prize laureate Wole Soyinka canceled his keynote speech in protest against the Thai military's coup against the government,[1] and was replaced at the last moment by S. P. Somtow.
The 2011 ceremony was postponed until February 2012 because of the 2011 Thailand floods. Edwin Thumboo was the keynote speaker.[2] The 2016–18 ceremonies were postponed due to the passing of the Thai king in 2016. The three Singaporean winners received their awards in November 2019.[3]
Until 1984, ASEAN comprising Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei was admitted in 1984 and its first S.E.A. Write honoree was named in 1986.
| Year | Brunei | Indonesia | Malaysia | Philippines | Singapore | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Awang Mohd Salleh bin Abd. Latif | Arifin C. Noer | S. Othman Kelantan | Carmen Guerrero Nakpil | Rama Kannabiran | Anchalee Vivatanachai | |
| 1991 | Mohammad Zain | Subagio Sastrowardoyo | Jihaty Abadi (Yahya Hussin) | Isagani R. Cruz | Gopal Baratham | Mala Kamchan (Charoen Malaroj) | |
| 1992 | Awang Haji Abdul Rahman | Ali Akbar Navis | Ismail Abbas | Alfred Yuson | Cheong Weng Yat | Saksiri Meesomsueb (Kittisak) | |
| 1993 | Pengiran Haji Mohd. Yusuf (Yura Halim) | Ramadhan K.H. | Kamaruzzaman Abdul Kadir | Linda Ty-Casper | Muhammad Ariff Ahmad | Sila Komchai (Winai Boonchuay) | |
| 1994 | Yang Mulia Awang Haji Morshidi bin Haji Marsal (Mussidi) | Taufiq Ismail | A. Wahab Ali | Buenaventura S. Medina Jr. | Naa Govindasamy | Chart Korbjitti |
Vietnam joined ASEAN in 1995 and named its first S.E.A. Write honoree in 1996. Laos and Myanmar were admitted in 1997 and named their first honorees in 1998. Cambodia joined ASEAN in 1999, and named its first S.E.A. Write honoree that same year.
| Year | Brunei | Cambodia | Indonesia | Laos | Malaysia | Myanmar | Philippines | Singapore | Thailand | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | P.H. Muhammad Abdul Aziz | - | Ahmad Tohari | - | Suhaimi Haji Muhammad | - | Teodoro T Antonio | Dan Ying (Lew Poo Chan) | Paiwarin Khao-Ngam | - | |
| 1996 | Pengiran Haji Sabtu bin Pengiran Haji Mohamad Salleh | - | W.S. Rendra | - | Zaharah Nawawi | - | Mike L. Bigornia | Minfong Ho | Kanokphong Songsomphan | To Huu | |
| 1997 | Awang Mohammad bin Haji Timbang | - | Seno Gumira Ajidarma | - | Muhammad Haji Salleh | - | Alejandro Roces | Elangovan | Win Lyovarin | - | |
| 1998 | Badaruddin H.O. | - | N. Riantiarno | Thongkham Onemanisone | Othman Puteh | Sinbyu-Kyun Aung Thein | Marne L. Kilates | Abdul Ghani Hamid | Raekham Pradouykham (Suphan Thongklouy) | Ma Van Khang | |
| 1999 | Norsiah M.S. | Pich Tum Kravel | Kuntowijoyo MA. | Chanthi Deuanesavanh | Khadijah Hashim | Kyaw Aung | Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta | Catherine Lim | Win Lyovarin | Huu Thinh |
| Year | Brunei | Cambodia | Indonesia | Laos | Malaysia | Myanmar | Philippines | Singapore | Thailand | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Pehin Dato Abdul Aziz bin Juned | Kong Bun Chhoeun | Wisran Hadi | Souvanthone Bouphanouvong | Lim Swee Tin | Daw Yin Yin (Saw Mon Nyin) | Antonio Enriquez | Teoh Hee La 张曦娜 | Wimon Sainimnuan | Nguyen Khai | |
| 2001 | Rahim M.S. (Awang Haji Ibrahin bin Haji Muhammad) | Mao Ayuth | Saini K.M. (Saini Kosim) | Somsy Dexakhamphou | Zakaria Ariffin | Htin Gyi (Tekkatho Htin Gyi) | Felice Prudente Sta. Maria | K. T. M. Iqbal(Mohamed Iqbal) | Chokchai Bundit (Chokchai Bunditsilasak) | Nguyen Duc Mau | |
| 2002 | Rosli Abidin Yahya | Seng Sam An | Darmanto Jatman | Viseth Svengsuksa | Viseth Svengsuksa | Anwar Ridhwan | - | Roberto T. Añonuevo | Mohamed Latiff bin Mohamed | Prabda Yoon | Nguyen Kien |
| 2003 | Hashim bin Haji Abdul Hamid | Kim Pinun | Nh. Dini | Theap Vongpakay | Zakaria Ali | - | Domingo G. Landicho | Philip Jeyaretnam | Duanwad Pimwana | Bang Viet | |
| 2004 | Jawawi bin Haji Ahmad | Chey Chap | Gus tf Sakai | Thongbay Phothisane | Zurinah Hassan | - | César Ruiz Aquino | Soon Ai Ling 孙爱玲 | Rewat Phanpipat | Do Chu | |
| 2005 | Rahimi A.B. | Miech Ponn | Acep Zamzam Noor | Bounseune Sengmany | Abdul Ghafar Ibrahim | - | Malou Jacob | P. Krishnan | Binlah Sonkalagiri (Wuthichat Choomsanit) | Phu Tram | |
| 2006 | Sawal Rajab | Pal Vannarirak[7] | Sitor Situmorang | Douangdeuane Bounyavong | Jong Chian Lai | - | Victor Emmanuel Carmelo D. Nadera, Jr. | Isa Kamari | Ngarmpun Vejjajiva | Le Van Thao | |
| 2007 | Haji Moksin bin Haji Abdul Kadir | Ourn Suphany | Suparto Brata | Ratanavong Houmphanh | Prof. Rahman Shaari | - | Michael M. Coroza | Rex Shelley | Montri Sriyong | Tran Van Tuan | |
| 2008[8] | Zairis M.S. | Sin Touch | Hamsad Rangkuti | Othong Khaminsou | Hatta Azad Khan | - | Elmer Alindogan Ordonez | Stella Kon[9] | Vachara Sajasarasin (Vachara Phetchphromsorn) | ||
| 2009 | Hajah Norsiah binti Haji Abdul Gapar | - | Floribertus Rahardi | Khamseng Synonthong | Azmah Nordin | - | Abdon Jr Balde | Chia Hwee Pheng | Uthis Haemamool | Cao Duy Son |
| Year | Brunei | Cambodia | Indonesia | Laos | Malaysia | Myanmar | Philippines | Singapore | Thailand | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010[10] | Wijaya (Awang Mohd Jamil) | - | Afrizal Malna | Dara Kanlaya | Zaen Kasturi | - | Marjorie Evasco | Johar Bin Buang | Zakariya Amataya | Nguyen Nhat Anh | |
| 2011 | Mohd Zefri Ariff bin Mohd Zain Ariff | - | D Zawawi Imron | Bounthanong Xomxayphol | S.M. Zakir | - | Romulo P. Baquiran Jr. | Robert Yeo Cheng Chuan | Jadet Kamjorndej[11] | Nguyen Chi Trung | |
| 2012[12] | Pengiran Haji Mahmud bin Pengiran Damit (Mahmudamit) | - | Oka Rusmini | Duangxay Luangphasy | Ismail Kassan | - | Charlson Ong Ong | Suchen Christine Lim | Wipas Srithong | Trung Trung Dinh | |
| 2013[13] | Haji Masri Haji Idris | Sok Chanphal | Linda Christanty | Soukhee Norasilp | Mohamed Ghozali Abdul Rashid | Maung Sein Win | Rebecca T Anonuevo-Cunada | Yeng Pway Ngon | Angkarn Chanthathip | ||
| 2014 | Haji Mohd Yusuf bin Haji Mohd Daud | Var Sam Ath | Somsouk Souksavath | Md. Ismail Zamzam | Daw Khin Than | Jun Cruz Reyes | Haresh Parmanand Sharma | Saneh Sangsuk (Dan-arun Saengthong)[14] | Thanh Thảo(Ho Thanh Cong) | ||
| 2015 | Haji Abdul Aziz bin Tuah | Kho Tararith | Phonesavanh Phanthavichith | Jasni Matlani | Ledwinthar Saw Chit | Jerry B. Gracio | Jamaludeen Mohamed Sali | Veeraporn Nitiprapha, Saiduean Ta Bod Nai Khaowongkot ("Blind Earthworms in a Labyrinth")[15] | Tran Mai Hanh | ||
| 2016[16] | Haji Jamaluddin bin Aspar | Proeng Pranit | Soubanh Luangrath | Rejab bin Ismail | Aung Cheimt | Bienveindo Lumbera | Ovidia Yu | Phalang Phiangphirun (Kirksit Palamart), Nakhorn Kon Nork ("The City of Outsiders")[17] | Nguyen The Quang | ||
| 2017 | Haji Mahadi Bin Haji Matarsat (Mahadi R.S.) | Lek Chumnor | Somchay Chanthavong | Zainal Abidin Suhaili | Kristian Sendon Cordero | Chia Joo Ming | Jidanun Lueangpiansamut, Singto Nork Khok ("The Unorthodox Lion")[18] | Tran Hung | |||
| 2018 | Tarif bin Haji Abdul Hamid | Pol Pisey | Phiulavanh Luangvanna | Mawar Safei | Ricardo Monreal de Ungria | Goh Mey Teck | Veeraporn Nitiprapha, Phutthasakkarat Asadong Kub Song Jam Khong Song Jam Khong Maew Kularb Dam ("Memories of the Memories of the Black Rose Cat")[19] | Le Minh Khue | |||
| 2019 | Haji Abdul Hamid bin Haji Tamat (Salmi Mesra) | Maung Thway Thit | Simon Tay | Angkarn Chanthathip, Rawang Tang Klub Ban ("On The Way Back Home")[20] | |||||||
| 2020 | Haji Bujang bin Haji Matnor (Bujang M.N.) | Pech Sangwawan | Pyait Hlaing Oo (Pandora) | Nadiputra | Jadet Kamjorndej, Kuen Pee Suea Lae Ruang Lao Khong Sat Uen Uen ("That Night of the Year of the Tiger and Other Animal Stories")[21] | ||||||
| 2021 | Dr. Haji Morsidi bin Haji Muhamad (Morsidi M.H) | Nat Mout Ah Ni Cho | Siriworn Kaewkan, Defun ("The Story of Defun")[22] | ||||||||
| 2022 | Pengiran Haji Shamsu bin Pengiran Haji Kadar | Palita Phonpradapphet, Jon Kwa Lok Ja Ob Kod Rao Wai ("Until We Lie The World's Embrace")[23] | |||||||||
| 2023 | Narisapongse Rakwattananont, Duai Rak Lae Phuphang ("Family Comes First")[24] |