Ahmadun Yosi Herfanda

Ahmadun Yosi Herfanda (born 17 January 1958, in Kaliwungu, Kendal, Central Java, Indonesia), is an Indonesian journalist and poet. His name is also written as Ahmadun YH, Ahmadun Y. Herfanda, Ahmadun Herfanda, or AYH (ayeha). Ahmadun's poetry focuses on social and religious themes and is informed by Sufism. He is a reporter and arts editor at the daily newspaper Republika. Now, he is known as a famous Indonesian poet and writer.

Education Ahmadun received a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Literary from Yogyakarta National University in 1986. He studied information technology at Paramadina Mulia University, Jakarta from 2002 to 2005 and obtained a master's degree from Muhammadiyah University of Jakarta.

Career Ahmadun was a journalist and arts editor at the daily newspaper, Republika from 1993 to 2010. He also taught creative writing at Nusantara Multimedia University until his retirement in January 2024.

Literature Ahmadun has written poems, short stories, essays, and a novel. He has been published in newspapers, magazines and journals, and his work has been read on radio, television, and websites like Horison, Kompas, Republika, Sinar Harapan, Suara Pembaruan, Basis, Ulumul Qur'an, Bahana (Brunei), Indosiar (television, Indonesia), Deutsche Welle (radio, Germany), the journal Indonesia and the Malay World (London), Mastera, Poetry.com (USA), and Cybersastra.com.

He often reads his poetry at many art events in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Egypt, South Korea, United States of America, Singapore, and Indonesia. He has also often been invited to be speaker at national and international art forums (art events) in Indonesia, Malaysia, the United States and Egypt. Ahmadun has also been invited to be a juror at numerous literary arts contests and festivals.

Ahmadun has been active in many arts organizations, including:

Komunitas Sastra Indonesia (KSI—The Indonesia Literary Community, founder and chairman, 1999–2002, 2008–2010). Masyarakat Sastra Jakarta (MSJ—The Jakarta Literary Society, founder and consultant for some years). Himpunan Sarjana Kesastraan Indonesia (HISKI—The Indonesia Literary Academician Association, chairman, 1992–1994). Forum Lingkar Pena (FLP—Pen Circle Forum, consultant, 1997–2005). Komunitas Cerpen Indonesia (KCI—The Indonesia Short Story Community, founder and chairman, 2007–2010). Lembaga Literasi Indonesia (Indonesian Literacy Institute, editor-in-chief, since 2012)

Awards and honours Ahmadun has received a number of local and international awards for his contribution in literature. Among them are: Sanggar Bambu Award (national short story contest, Jakarta, Indonesia, 1992) Iqra Award (national poetry contest, Iqra Foundation, Jakarta, Indonesia, 1992) Suara Merdeka Award (national short story contest, Semarang, Indonesia, 1992) MABIMS Award (ASEAN poetry contest, MABIMS, Brunei, 1997) Editor Choice Award (international poetry contest, The International Library of Poetry, USA, 2002) Grand Prize of K. Bali Poetry Prize (international poetry contest, Ikatan Penulis Sabah, Malaysia, 2024)