TIL Singa (Born This Day, 1982) Had A Wife And Cubs, And ‘Quit’ His Job In 2013

“Courtesy is for free~! Courtesy is for you and me~! 🎶” 

If you, like me, still remember that jingle clear as day, congratulations – you’re officially part of the “boomer” vintage (don’t worry, we say it with love 😅).

It was on this very day 43 years ago (14 May 1982), that we were introduced to Singa the Courtesy Lion, who reminded us that being courteous wasn’t just about saying “please” and “thank you”. It was about being kind, gracious, and thoughtful in everyday life.

With his signature orange mane and friendly smile, Singa quickly became a household name – not just a mascot, but a symbol of a nationwide movement to make Singapore a more gracious place.

From smiley face to furry face

Before Singa came on the scene, the National Courtesy Campaign (NCC) was repped by a simple smiley face logo. Ministry of Culture officials felt it was giving off the wrong vibe – like being courteous was just about smiling and nothing else. They went back to the drawing board and decided Singapore needed a mascot that could better capture the true spirit of kindness.

After tossing around a few ideas (including a human character and even the Merlion!), they landed on a lion. But not the fierce, king-of-the-jungle type. They wanted a lion that was warm, cuddly, and totally huggable.

Singa's original design in 1982. | IMAGE: SINGAPORE KINDNESS MOVEMENT

Meet Singa

Singa was created by a team of artists in the ministry (Joseph Teo Teck Seng, Ahmad Asran and Eileen Wat) after weeks of doodling and brainstorming. The result was a cheerful lion cub decked out in warm shades of orange, red and yellow. Friendly, approachable, and full of heart – just like the nation Singa was born to represent. Eileen drew up the final version of Singa for the campaign.

Singa officially made his debut during the 1982 edition of the NCC. He starred in posters, appeared at live events, and was printed on souvenirs ranging from badges to iron-on patches. He was so popular that kids started calling the NCC hotline just to talk to him (yes, really).

Singa popped up on everything from T-shirts to a courtesy-themed snakes-and-ladders board game. In this game, good manners sent you climbing the ranks, while rude behaviour knocked you back down.

By 1984, a whopping 81% of Singaporeans could recognise Singa. He was a national icon. And in 1987, we even got to meet his lion family when Singa’s wife and cubs made their debut to promote family values.

The Friend of Singa award came along in 1991 to recognise students who showed exemplary kindness, proving that the lion’s legacy was about real change.

Singa's resignation letter. | IMAGE: SINGAPORE KINDNESS MOVEMENT

Singa’s surprise exit (wait, he resigned?)

After decades of spreading good vibes, Singa shocked us all in 2013 by resigning. The Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) posted a resignation letter from Singa himself, saying he was “just too tired to continue facing an increasingly angry and disagreeable society”.

Cue the public reactions. Some were heartbroken. Others didn’t care. But everyone was talking about it. And that was kind of the point. Turns out, the dramatic exit was part of a SKM media campaign to spark conversation around kindness and whether mascots like Singa still had a role to play in modern-day Singapore.

Singa's current design, as of 2014. | IMAGE: SINGAPORE KINDNESS MOVEMENT

3SG Arnaav Karan Chabira steps into the shoes (literally) of Singa the Kindness Lion Mascot during NDP 2023. | IMAGES: SIM DING EN

He would return in 2014 as “Singa the Kindness Lion” with a whole new look, holding a yellow gerbera flower that symbolised appreciation. Today, Singa continues to remind us that a little kindness goes a long way - whether it’s giving up your seat, holding the lift door, or just saying “thank you” with a smile.

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