Singapore, October 24, 2024 – Acclaimed food historian and friend of the University of Greifswald’s Regional Study Centre IFZO, Khir Johari, has been awarded the prestigious Singapore History Prize, a triennial honour recognizing significant contributions to Singapore’s history. The prize includes a S$50,000 cash award (approximately €35,000). Khir’s book, The Food of the Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels Through the Archipelago, which also won the Gourmand Awards’ “Best of the Best Book in the World”—often called the Oscars of food culture—secured him this most recent recognition.
Khir’s book, celebrated for its deep dive into the rich culinary traditions of the Nusantara, or Malay Archipelagic region, has now inspired a larger cultural interest. He recently launched Dialogues by Khir, a cultural initiative to expand on the themes explored in his book and foster insightful conversations around them. The initiative aims to unite practitioners and scholars in celebrating the region’s diverse culinary heritage through panel discussions, public talks, and collaborations with the food industry.
Khir’s work culminated on 19 October with the groundbreaking symposium Serumpun: Tasting Tradition, Telling Tales at Singapore’s Asian Civilisations Museum. The event brought together the public, academics, and practitioners, who eagerly shared their expertise and perspectives. This symposium marks the start of an ongoing dialogue on the region’s culinary heritage and its significance in both historical and contemporary contexts, highlighting the region’s shared identity and cultural unity.
Khir plans to use the prize money to reinforce his mission to promote Nusantara cuisine on a global stage. “Food is a great way to find unity and build on our communalities. There is more that binds us than divides us,” Khir said. “I hope to see Nusantara cuisine become the next big thing in global culinary enjoyment.”
Reflecting on his book and approach, Khir noted, “I am deeply honoured by IFZO’s sustained interest in my work. In fact, the very first review was published online by IFZO. It makes me wonder—could examining shared cultural heritage through culinary traditions also be a helpful approach for studying the Baltic Sea region? ”