Layl Ash-Shayr Open Mic 4 (2025)

About the Programme

Layl Ash-Shayr, which loosely translates from Arabic to “Poetry Night”, is an open-mic and spoken word event for Muslim writers in Singapore to share their work and engage with fellow creatives.

For our fourth open mic of 2025, we’re excited to have Annaliza Bakri and Khidir Surattee. We will also open up the stage for 5 open-mic slots for emerging voices in the SG Muslim literary and arts scene to perform, gain experience and network with other fellow writers. Ultimately, we hope to build a network of Muslim writers who can support one another in their literary journeys.

Event Details

In-person Only
Day/Date: Thursday, 17th April 2025
Time: 8.15pm - 9.35pm
Venue: Wardah Books, Reading Loft (Level 2)

Ticketed event, registration is compulsory.
General Ticket: $10
LAS Supporter Ticket: $15
Purchase tickets here: tinyurl.com/LASAPR25

 

About the Open-Mic

We are welcoming Muslim poets of any experience level, whether you’ve attended classes, published poems or have never let your poetry leave your notebook/smart phone, we want you!Here are some guidelines for you to follow:

1. You will have 5 mins to perform any number of pieces.
2. There theme is Eid. Do ensure you have at least 1 poem related to the theme.
3. Please ensure religious sensitivity and tactfulness when addressing sensitive topics, and generally avoid using crude language in your poems. We may request poems to be swapped or partially edited to ensure they are suitable for our audience.
4. Your poems can take any shape and form - be experimental about it! Just let us know in advance should you need tech/equipment support.
5. Non-English poems or poems with snippets of other languages can be performed, but we do request you provide an English translation.
6. ⁠Your poems can be previously published, living rent-free in your head, or written mere minutes prior!

About the Speakers

Annaliza Bakri holds a Master of Arts from the Department of Malay Studies at the National University of Singapore. Her research interests include the interplay of ideology and ethnicity in shaping the dominant narratives in literature, language education and the intersection between translation, history and humanity. Her writings, interviews and literary translations have been published by Prairie Schooner, Brooklyn Rail, Transnational Literature, s/pores, Budi Kritik (2019), Asymptote and Centre for Stories. She edited and translated a poetry anthology featuring places in Singapore and her surrounding islands titled Sikit-Sikit Lama-lama Jadi Bukit (2017). She co-translated award-winning poet Alvin Pang’s What Gives Us Our Names (2011) into Malay - Yang Menamakan Kita (2019).

Khidir Suratte is a 27-year-old singer-songwriter from Singapore. His debut EP, Nostalgia Colour, blends pop and R&B to create a timeless sound, featuring heartfelt storytelling and soulful melodies. A compilation of songs written over the years, the EP includes singles Perfect Two and All Night Long, reflecting Khidir’s journey as an artist.