Sustaining Peranakan heritage through literary arts

1. A very good afternoon to all of you.

2. We are all delighted to be here to welcome you all to the fourth Baba Nyonya Literary Festival. It is really heartening to see so many people gathered here for a shared love for Peranakan culture and heritage.

3. On behalf of MCCY and on behalf of NHB, allow me to begin by thanking The Peranakan Association Singapore and the Organising Committee for bringing this Festival together. We want to especially thank Genevieve, and also May Ling - who is the Festival’s founder and Chairwoman of the Organising Committee, for her steadfast leadership and dedication in leading this initiative since its first edition in 2019. This is important because this Festival not only helps preserve the Peranakan culture, but also makes it accessible to many.

4. I would also like to thank the writers and panellists for generously lending your time, your knowledge, your talent and your support.

5. We also want to extend a very warm welcome to our friends from Malaysia who have travelled to be here, to join us over these few days. Thank you again.

6. This is important as the Peranakan heritage connects us beyond borders. Its unique legacy is really rooted in family histories and shared experiences that connect communities across the region. Your presence here today really reminds us that culture remains one of the most natural and enduring bridges between people.

A culture that reflects our history

7. The Peranakan community occupies a special place in Singapore's story. Baba Nyonya culture shows us what can emerge when different traditions, languages, and customs come together and evolve over years, decades and generations.

   1. In fact, I think you will know, its roots can be traced to early Chinese settlers who made their homes along the Straits of Malacca, intermarried with local Malay communities and absorbed influences from the many cultures that passed through the region.

   2. So then, what emerged was a very distinctive and richly layered culture, expressed through its unique patois or language, intricate beadwork and embroidery, elaborate culinary traditions, and a rich body of stories and customs passed down through generations.

8. In many ways, the Peranakan story reflects Singapore's own. We are a nation shaped by the dynamic convergence of different people, different ideas, and traditions.

   1. Our strength lies in our ability to find common ground across differences, and to build a shared identity enriched by diversity. Because when we come together and celebrate the Peranakan heritage, we also affirm the unique qualities that’s central to Singapore’s story.

Heritage lives through stories

9. To keep our Peranakan heritage alive, the first question perhaps may be “How do we ensure that the Peranakan heritage endures?” And number two, “How do we pass on this lovely living legacy?”

10. This is where the literary arts play an important role. Through writing and storytelling, we pass down more than just facts and customs. In fact, we can preserve the voices, memories and everyday experiences that give culture its meaning.

    1. This plays to the strength of Peranakan heritage because literature gives us insights into the inner lives of people, literature gives us the rhythm of their speech and the warmth of their homes.

    2. Stories also close distances. Through storytelling we realise we have so much in common because stories allow voices from across generations to be heard, giving Singaporeans a way to discover and to connect with our roots and heritage.

Everyone has a role to play

11. The Government is committed to supporting our communities in preserving and celebrating our cultures. As part of Our SG Heritage Plan 2.0, the National Heritage Board work with our partners to provide communities with the resources and opportunities to flourish and thrive. For example, a key part of this effort is empowering fellow Singaporeans, and also the younger generation, to take an active role in shaping our shared heritage. One example is what we call HAN, or the Heritage Activation Nodes. It is through the HAN programme that communities come together to identify what is special about their neighbourhood, create meaningful heritage experiences and shared stories. There is a lot of Peranakan heritage in Joo Chiat, in Katong which NHB has also worked with the community to curate.

12. And this spirit of shared stewardship keeps our heritage vibrant and relevant. We are all very heartened to see how this festival has grown into a shared effort. Over the four editions, it has grown from strength to strength because of the collective efforts. I am very happy to see that the festival brings together established authors and emerging voices, heritage enthusiasts and newcomers, as well as fellow Singaporeans and friends from across the region. Cultural practitioners, community organisations, writers, and Singaporeans from all walks of life are contributing to the preservation and the growth of our traditions and our heritage.

13. We want to use this occasion of the fourth edition of the festival to encourage all fellow Singaporeans to come together to appreciate and actively participate in shaping and supporting our Peranakan heritage and culture. Let’s continue to come together and celebrate this living legacy. Whether it’s through literature, language, food, craftsmanship, customs, or even culture, we can foster and nurture a flourishing Peranakan heritage.

Conclusion

14. We look forward to the rich stories and engaging conversations at this festival. We know that all of us will gain a deeper appreciation of the Peranakan heritage. Now, as we come together to celebrate the convergence of Peranakan art and culture, the community’s captivating stories and memoirs, and unique Baba Nyonya cuisine, let us work together and keep this distinctive legacy flourishing for many generations to come.

15. I wish you all a beautiful weekend ahead. Thank you.