The high number of Covid-19 cases in Indonesia is not a barrier for art workers to keep up their creativity. Just like what Rumata' Artspace comunity do to held their annual event Makassar International Writters Festival virtually.
With the theme Anthropause, this 10th edition event of MIWF has taken place since Wednesday, 23rd of June and will be ended at Saturday 26th of June. Last year, MIWF 2020 was awarded in The International Excellence Award from London Book Fair as The Best Literary Festival of 2020. While this year, even though this event was held within virtual limitations, it was no less lively.
In the opening ceremony of the event which took place at Wednesday, June 23rd, MIWF 2021 presented well-known speakers such as Nicholas Saputra, a top Indonesian actor, Malaysian writer and activist Marina Mahathir, Japanese writer Sayaka Murata whose novels have been translated into more than 30 languages, and other Indonesian writers.
With the support of the Japan Foundation, British Council, The Body Shop Indonesia, as well as dozens of publishers, communities, media, and independent bookstores, this event will present many interesting events with international speakers. All of the events are free for public which can be accessed through their YouTube channel Rumata' Artspace or by registering through www.makassarwriters.com
Another unique thing that was highlighted by the organizing committee of this event was the injustice and gaps between some groups in society that were increasingly visible during the pandemic.
Founder and Director of the Makassar International Writers Festival (MIWF), Lily Yulianti Farid in her speech in the ceremonial opening of MIWF 2021 explained that the main stage performers for this year's festival are Indonesian female migrant workers in Asian countries, the refugees, and people with disabilities who spend their day and express their worries through writing.
“The pandemic has opened our eyes, so that injustice and inequality that used to be vague and dimly heard are now becoming clearer. The narratives surrounding the pandemic that fill our consciousness are middle-class narratives. Stories from underprivileged groups or people with special needs or those who are in a vulnerable condition need to get a wider place," Lily said.