Major Kalam Pie, co-founder of The Jungle School Gombak, a social enterprise empowering the Orang Asli to earn a living by sharing their culture. Photo: The Star/Filepic
Within every individual lies a rich tapestry of lived experiences, waiting for someone curious enough to ask the right questions.
The Human Library of KL Voices, happening at LOKL Coffee Co on Jalan Tun HS Lee, Kuala Lumpur Nov 2 and 3, offers a unique opportunity for community connection and engagement. The event is part of the Kreatif KL Festival's public programming.
Here, instead of borrowing books, you borrow human "books" – real people, each with a unique story to share, offering their insights over a simple conversation. It’s a chance to connect deeply, to listen, and to see the world through someone else's eyes.
Visitors can choose from an interesting selection of 24 "human books", who were chosen to represent the breadth of KL communities – from politicians, refugees, students, immigrant workers and activists to corporate leaders, religious leaders, artists, and homemakers.
Though the event is free, due to limited slots, those interested will need to register (via cloudjoi.com) to book a one-hour session.
Hartini, child activist and co-founder of Yayasan Chow Kit, is participating in the Human Library of KL Voices event. Photo: The Star/Faihan Ghani
Each session allows participants to engage with three of the available "human books" in 20-minute dialogues each.
The sessions are separated into two daily time slots: noon to 2.15pm and 2.45 to 5pm.
For project director and writer Shireen Zainudin, this initiative is more than just a resource – it’s a living, breathing testament to the city’s vibrant spirit.
“These KL voices may be voices that participants do not often hear, sometimes dismiss, occasionally disagree with, frequently misunderstand or may want to hear more from. So our hope is that these conversations will give rise to greater curiosity or a deeper understanding of our fellow city-dwellers,” said Shireen, who previously collaborated with anthropologist Alasdair Clayre on tribal oral storytelling at the 2019 Kuching Rainforest Fringe Festival through the platform, "In Voices". She was also co-editor of the anthology The Lockdown Chronicles in 2020.
Football fans can book a chat with Santokh about the art of defending at the Human Library of KL Voices event. Photo: The Star/Azman Ghani
Among the "human books" you can choose from are familiar names, such as retired Malaysian footballer Datuk Santokh Singh, corporate leader Tan Sri Nazir Razak, co-founder of Yayasan Chow Kit/child advocate Datuk Dr Hartini Zainudin, actor-scriptwriter Redza Minhat, founder of Pusaka/cultural activist Eddin Khoo, wildlife photographer Peter Ong and publisher/indie filmmaker Amir Muhammad, as well as those from niche backgrounds or marginalised communities, like Ameera Mohd Ramli, a visually-impaired theatre practitioner; Major Kalam Pie, a representative of the Semelai Orang Asli tribe; and Murthi Sellapa, a tea and curry puff bicycle-stall seller.
“What makes KLites who we think we are, are the communities we identify with. Our library will be stocked with 'human books' that represent the diversity within these communities. By fostering introductory conversations, we hope that visitors to our Human Library will discover that we have more in common with our KL tribes than merely co-existing in this city,” said Shireen.
The Kreatif KL Festival, organised by Think City, will run through Nov 30, with arts, creativity, culture and heritage events happening across downtown KL.
