Zine Club #1: Malay Reading Identities

Primarily selling Islamic books in English, Wardah Books is a bookstore run by Mr Ibrahim Tahir, who recognises that Bussorah Street is a place steeped in the history of Kampong Gelam as a Malay literary hub. Various Malay publishers had settled in the area to set up bookstores, creating a vibrant centre of Malay reading resources where the closest bookshop was always just around the corner. However, these bookshops have since closed or moved away, making Wardah Books one of the few bookstores in Kampong Gelam today, alongside others such as Nurul Anwar Bookstore, Salaam Media, and Qissoh Books.

(Credit: https://www.roots.gov.sg/places/places-landing/Places/landmarks/Kampong-Gelam-Citizen-Engagement/Wardah-Books)

What happened to the culture of Malay readership and thinkers? What have we lost along with it?

Together with Ibrahim and Yulianna, Lepak Conversations founder, uncover the past, present and future of Malay readers and thinkers in this zine club (yknow, like a book club, but this is for our zine).

You are highly encouraged to read our 'The Inquisitive Future of Malayness' zine, where Ibrahim contributed an essay titled 'Malay Reading Identities'. The zine is available at Wardah Books: https://wardahbooks.com/products/lepak-conversations-zine-1

Host or Publisher Lepak Conversations