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- BABA HISTORY & NYONYA
HERITAGE
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- The Baba Culture is one that is
unique to the early settlers along the Straits of Malacca.
- Since the 17th Century, Chinese
traders arrived and lived along these coastal lands bringing with them
- their wealth of wares, customs,
traditions and religions from the south of China.
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- These Chinese men, also known as
'singkeh' decided to remain here, marrying the local womenfolk and
started families.
- The off-springs of these 'locally
born Straits Chinese' were called Peranakan Baba.
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- As these Peranakan Babas
practiced Chinese customs and traditions, they also emulated into the
local culture,
- fashion, language and lifestyle,
which was generally more Malay in nature.
- This created a wonderful hybrid
of cultures that brought out our fusion of tasty spicy food, catchy
music, colourful fashion,
- splendid architecture and a
unique patois language.
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- With the arrival of the Europeans
in the 18th Century to this part of the world, the Babas were quick to
adapt to the changing environment.
- They became the compradors or
'go-betweens' for the Europeans and the locals.
- Many Baba men held office and
important positions in the Portuguese, Dutch & British governments and
they rose
- in status & stature to become
successful businessmen who even took on leadership roles in society.
- Many schools, roads and important
institutions were named after these outstanding Peranakans and exists
even today.
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- From as far north as Yangon
(Myanmar), Phuket (Thailand), Penang, Malacca (Malaysia), Singapore,
- as far south as the Riau Islands,
Java and Borneo (Indonesia), the Baba communities prospered in trade
- and were once even known as the
‘Queen’s Chinese’ during the British colonial rule.
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- The matriarchal womenfolk, better
referred to as Nyonyas, ruled from their domestic households and ran all
family matters.
- They were instrumental in keeping
our Nyonya wear & handicrafts and our Nyonya cuisine to what it is
today.
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- As World War II dawned in the
region, it saw the decline of the culture as many Baba men were executed
- by the Japanese soldiers as they
were suspected of being British spies as they could speak English well.
- Many single Nyonyas were hastily
married off to any Chinese single men to avoid harassment by the
Japanese invaders.
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- More recently in the past few
decades, with industrialisation and modernsiation, many modern Babas and
Nyonyas
- did not see the relevance of
practising and continuing the traditions of old, opting for a more 'westernised'
style of living
- thus losing their identity with
the Peranakan culture.
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- However, in the past few years,
there has been a renaissance of interest and excitement in the Peranakan
culture.
- Peranakan fashion, jewellery,
food, furniture, music and entertainment have been very much in demand
especially in Singapore.
- Many Peranakan families are now
making a conscious effort to rediscover their 'lost' heritage.
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- Since 2004, The Main Wayang
Company has been very active in promoting the culture and has been
recognised
- as one of the catalysts in
generating interest and excitement in the Baba Nyonya culture in
Singapore and the region.
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- The Main
Wayang Company 2004