Individual and State Narratives of Lee Kuan Yew as Ancestor and Founding Father

Rituals are not merely symbolic; they are also ‘powerful moments of change’ in which narratives are created. They sometimes fall within the purview of the state and sometimes are carried out by individuals. Based on this understanding of narrative creation to examine Singapore’s week-long period of mourning for its first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, I argue that two distinct narratives were generated, one of Lee as ancestor and another of Lee as founding father. The state and individuals were both involved in these creations, which had ramifications for the 2015 general election in Singapore.