Diversity in Peranakan culture with IKAT

 

When I received the invite to the Media Preview for IKAT 2.0 headlined with a question, “Do we really know what Peranakan means?” I recalled a recent encounter with college student who blinked in ignorance when I mentioned the same word, Peranakan.

 

Batik artists, Darus Idris [Right] and Tipah Jusoh

Needless to say, I was shocked and disappointed that a Malaysian college student in the 21^st Century was so oblivious to such a prevalent culture in our community.

 

Eager to find out what more IKAT 2.0 will reveal, I did not hesitate to accept their invitation to preview, Echoes of C0lour, held in Johor Bahru from October 17 to 20.

 

I also shared info on Echoes of Colour with college lecturers so that they may encourage their students to visit this pop-up cultural hub to enjoy interactive installations, meet the artisans, observe live demonstrations and join the talks and workshops for a hands-on experience.

 

Batik Painting using hot wax
flowing from a canting

At the word Peranakan, our thoughts may instantly go to the Baba Nyonya, a Straits-Born culture which started in the former Straits Settlements of Melaka, Penang and Singapore. We may be familiar with the Baba Nyonya Peranakan, a community where the men are referred to as Baba while the women are called, Nyonya.

 

While we are not wrong, the term Peranakan simply means, “locally born” and refers to the descendants of immigrants who arrived at the Malay Archipelago and were assimilated into the local culture while they still honour their ancestral traditions.

 

While the Baba Nyonya community may be the most recognized among the Peranakan in Malaysia, the Chetti Peranakan and Jawi Peranakan communities are also very much part of our intricate and harmonious, multi-cultural identity.

 

A visitor interacting with the motifs inside
the Immersive Pavilion

The Chetti Peranakan originated from Indian traders who married local women and created a community with a unique fusion of Hindu and local traditions.

 

Meanwhile, the Jawi Peranakan is a community where Indian Muslim traders married local women and still maintains a distinct Islamic cultural identity.

 

While a great deal of well-researched publications is available on the Baba Nyonya Peranakan – and are often considered as the only Peranakan community here – the Chetti Peranakan and Jawi Peranakan communities form an important and integral part of our rich Malaysian Peranakan heritage.

 

Joshua D. Louis demonstrating the
art of Mirror Embroidery

Each of these communities have their own proud Peranakan heritage in their unique languages, food, tableware, architecture, customs and traditions and even costumes, colours and accessories.

 

This Immersive Knowledge and Textile or IKAT event, seeks to reinvigorate public engagement and deepen Malaysians’ appreciation for heritage textiles.

 

The IKAT 2.0 is a series of pop-up experiential hubs that kicked off in January 2024 in Kuala Lumpur and travelled to Penang in April 2024.

 

Its final instalment held in Johor Bahru in October featured the Peranakan theme with immersive experiences in collaboration with textile artisans, curators and experts.

 

Echoes of Colours was curated by Baba Kenny Loh, an award-winning fashion designer and prominent figure in the preservation and innovation of Peranakan Baba Nyonya culture.

 

Demo on the art of transferring a template
design onto fabric using Clay Batik techniques

This event brought together vibrant Peranakan crafts, jewellery and textile arts, that visitors may not only appreciate the beauty of the Peranakan communities but also understand how diverse cultures can coexist and complement each another while retaining their unique identities.

 

Spearheaded by creative technology studio Experiential Design Team (EDT) and presented by Yayasan Hasanah, the IKAT 2.0 Johor Edition allowed visitors to embark on an immersive journey through curated textile-related activities.

 

The experiential hub celebrated the rich heritage and vibrant aesthetics of Peranakan communities, directing our attention to the unique yet harmonious fusion of ethnic identities that reflect Malaysia’s rich history of trade, migration and cultural integration.

 

Baba Kenny Loh demonstrating the intricate
art of sewing beads into meticulous designs 
for the Beaded Shoes or Kasut Manik

At the Echoes of Colours preview, we were invited to step into the Immersive Pavilion, a gallery that blends tradition and modernity by using interactive tile-like formations, symbols and colours on its walls, floor and ceiling.

 

As we engaged with this space, this experience highlighted the rich diversity of Baba Nyonya, Chetti Peranakan and Jawi Peranakan cultures for a deeper understanding of our nation’s shared heritage.

 

We were introduced to the esteemed artisans who demonstrated their skills and provided valuable insights into traditional crafts. After their demonstration, we were invited to participate in a hands-on experience to create our own pieces of art.

 

A pair of Beaded Shoes by
Kenny Loh Couture 

Meeting these artisans at this event sent me on a flashback to 2008 when I went on an exciting two-day Southern craft trail organized by Kraftangan Malaysia under the Ministry of Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage.

 

This Southern craft trail experience reminded me that our heritage has a blend of rich traditions with Middle-Eastern, Javanese, Malay and Chinese influences.

 

What was more delightful for me on this craft trail was meeting with a Baba craftsman skilled in making Malay wooden tops and a Malay woman skilled in sewing beaded shoes, a tradition typical of the Nyonya.

 

So at IKAT, it was refreshing to meet with Songket weaver, Hasmah Yasmin, the husband and wife team of Batik artists, Darus Idris and Tipah Jusoh, who are skilled in canting and block printing on fabrics, as well as Khatijah Muhamad, whose fabric designs are made using Clay Batik techniques.

 

It was a pleasure to see the award-winning designs by Baba Kenny Loh and admire his skills and commitment in preserving the Baba Nyonya culture through his designs in fabrics for kebaya and on beaded shoes and slippers.

 

Songket weaver, Hasmah Yasmin, in action

When we were introduced to Joshua D. Louis, he demonstrated his techniques in mirror embroidery, an embroidery skill that he acquired from master craftsmen in Chennai, India.

 

A collection of unique designs in Peranakan jewellery are in the HARTA Heritage Jewellery Museum, Kuala Lumpur, which IKAT brought to visitors in this event through a Virtual Reality (VR) experience.

 

We were then invited to virtually step into this Museum for a visit to admire the jewellery designs that were inspired by flora like peonies and roses, fauna like butterflies and dragonflies and mythological creatures like phoenix and dragons.

 

Curators and artisans at
IKAT 2.0 Echoes of Colours in Johor Bahru

Our time together at IKAT continued with engaging discussions with prominent figures in the Peranakan community like Baba Kenny Loh and Baba Cedric Tan, who shared their experience and expertise in the Nyonya Kebaya and Kasut Manik or beaded shoes.

 

The IKAT 2.0 Johor Edition was made possible in partnership with Yayasan Warisan Johor, Kenny Loh Couture, Filamen, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, HARTA, Lunartic and RUBIX Communications.

 

For further information about IKAT 2.0, visit https://ikatmalaysia.com/ or follow their social platforms on Instagram, @IKATMalaysia.

Note: Photos are my own while others are used courtesy of IKATMalaysia.

Wonderful weekend with Drum Up JB 2.0

 

On the first weekend of October, drumming fans kept their date with Drum Up JB 2.0 as they made a beeline to the Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House in Johor Bahru for matinee and evening shows planned from October 4 to 6.

 

A dramatic scene from Drum Up JB 2.0

After the first season of Drum Up JB in 2023, fans eagerly anticipated the next season of the drum shows and when tickets went on sale for Drum Up JB 2.0, they did not hesitate to snap up the group deals.

 

This season’s shows not only pleased drumming fans but was also an eye-opening experience for first-timers who had never ventured to watch such a presentation on the stage of the prestigious Opera House.

 

While many know that Chinese drums were used to perform the art of the 24 Festive Drums – and erroneously thought that this art of drumming was from China – they were not aware that this performing art was founded in Johor Bahru in 1988 by two Tans, namely the late Tan Hooi Song and Tan Chai Puan.

 

Tan Chai Puan [Center] with the Lim family
at the Drum Up JB 2.0 show

Among the first-timers at the recent show, were members of the Lim family who operate Hiap Joo, the traditional woodfire bakery* at Jalan Tan Hiok Nee.

 

Members of this family are still doing the business started by their forefathers and from the long queues outside their bakery, patiently waiting to buy freshly baked pastries, we know that they have been very busy keeping their customers happy.

 

Even though the location of their bakery in the city’s heritage quarter is not far from the Opera House, it was their first time at the Opera House for their first experience of the dramatic drum show.

 

Another scene from Drum Up JB 2.0

Since its inception, the art of the 24 Festive Drums has been widely accepted among people of all races and performed for private or public events for its auspiciousness.

 

Many may have watched a live performance by the 24 Festive Drums at such events but a stage presentation of the dramatic drum show was an entirely different experience.

 

After the show, the Lim family met Tan Chai Puan, who was proud to learn that they and others in the audience, were simply wowed by the dramatic performance.

 

With Eric Lee [Right] and friends
from Hong Kong, Thomas and
Suzanna, holding My Johor Stories

Over the years, the art of the 24 Festive Drums have transformed from a high school activity to an impressive, internationally accepted art of drumming that not only preserves traditional heritage but also develops a high level of discipline among drummers.

 

I am familiar with the 24 Festive Drums as I had the privilege to document an exclusive story on co-founder, Tan Chai Puan, under Portraits in my 2017 MPH Non-Fiction Bestseller, My Johor Stories: True Tales, Real People, Rich Heritage.

 

When young drummers at Johor Bahru’s Foon Yew High School went abroad to further their studies, they started drum troops in their colleges and universities and brought this art of drumming to various nations.

 

The art of the 24 Festive Drums was thus exported abroad with drum troops now established in Singapore, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Cambodia, Brunei, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and even in Africa.

 

Mr Tham is familiar with our 
family's badminton glory days

In Malaysia, this performing art continues to be actively promoted and developed by younger generation drummers and professional drum troops like HANDS Percussion, Orang Orang Drum Theatre and the JB Drums Troop.

 

I also documented the story on the Art of the 24 Festive Drums among proudly Johor brands in, My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, the third and final instalment launched in 2022, that completed the trilogy of My Johor Stories books.

 

Unlike other drum performances that may be accompanied by cymbals, the 24 Festive Drums is a flexible and dynamic artform that really has no limit to creativity.

 

The Drum Up JB 2.0 project involved some 50 people, with a management team skilled in stage design, lighting and choreography, in support of the drummers on stage, who performed a dramatic 70-minute non-stop drum show.

 

Stacey and the Chey family with
My Johor Stories books

This creative and theatrical production, dubbed ‘The Drum Book’ presented in various chapters, portrayed the identity of the drums, the harmony of percussion instruments used by main ethnic groups here, along with the development of the 24 Festive Drums to its current status as a popular performing art form.

 

At the successful conclusion of Drum Up JB 2.0, the organisers expressed their desire to create a permanent cultural attraction that features the art of the 24 Festive Drums as a must-see show for visitors to Johor Bahru.

 

To meet this commitment, they need the support of sponsors, both individual and corporate, to provide the funds to help turn their dream projects into reality.

 

Taking a bow at the close of the
Drum Up JB 2.0 show

In addition to fund contributions banked into the JBDrums Centre bank account, support may also be through the purchase of Drum Up JB merchandise.

 

Visit the JB Drums Facebook page for more details on sponsorship and merchandise.

 

* Hiap Joo, the traditional woodfire bakery, is featured under Heritage Trades in My Johor Stories 2: Interesting Places and Inspirational People.

 

Note: My Johor Stories books are available from MPH bookstores nationwide and online from mphonline. In Johor Bahru, books are available from Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation (JARO) and from my pop-up store at the drum shows.

Photos at Drum Up JB 2.0 show are used courtesy of JB Drums and Tan Chai Puan.

BCSG JB celebrates milestone 20th Anniversary

 

This October, the Johor Bahru Breast Cancer Support Group (BCSG JB) marked its milestone 20^th anniversary with a fund-raising dinner in the theme, Let’s Celebrate, Let’s shine in Pink.

 

A meaningful and beautiful Candle Walk
marked the start of the Anniversary celebration

Over the years, I had the privilege to work closely with BCSG Advisor and past President, Mrs Doris Wee-Boo, so recently when she extended an invitation to join their anniversary celebration, I did not hesitate to accept.

 

I was familiar with the work of BCSG JB even before they moved into their current center at No. 12 Jalan Ru, Melodies Garden, Johor Bahru in 2014, and had the pleasure of joining them and sharing many encouraging stories about their outreach projects, roadshows and celebrations.

 

While this 20^th anniversary celebration will feature a programme with live entertainment like drama and dance as well as song and music presentations, I learnt that the funds raised would go specifically to BCSG members who were going through recurrence.

 

Music by violin soloist, Tan Guang Mei,
accompanied the Candle Walk

It was good to know that these funds would be channeled towards the transportation needs for members to go for treatments and to paying for screenings like Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Computed Tomography (CT) scans.

 

Witnessed by Guest-of-Honour, Johor Jaya assemblyman, YB Liow Cai Tung, who is also Executive Committee member for the Women, Family & Community Development portfolio, the celebration kicked off with a Candle Walk.

 

Led by BCSG JB President, Datin Ang Chin Fan and Doris Wee-Boo, followed by members of the BCSG Executive Committee, the symbolic Candle Walk into the event hall was to honour and remember loved ones who had lost the battle to cancer and as a sign of hope for those who were still living with cancer.

 

Lit candles were raised throughout the hall

It was both meaningful and beautiful as the Candle Walk was accompanied by live music played by talented violin soloist, Tan Guang Mei.

 

When the Chinese banquet dinner was served, the event continued with a Ribbon-Cutting and Gong-Sounding Ceremony by the Guest-of-Honour and other VIPs.

 

As guests enjoyed the sumptuous meal, they were entertained by a musical drama presented by a cast and choir that showcased the journey of three breast cancer survivors who met at the hospital and decided to visit the BCSG JB center.

 

Guest-of-Honour and VIPs in the
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

The drama depicted how they were introduced to the support system that was available at the center, which included counselling, make-overs, the Prosthetics and Brassieres Shop as well as various activities like handicrafts and a range of physical exercises.

 

This range of exercises was demonstrated by groups on stage to create awareness of how the center was helping members to be physically active in either or all of the dance and exercise activities.

 

Directed by Dr J P Lim, this musical drama combined acting with singing and dancing. With photos and videos screened on the LED screen as the backdrop, this little drama turned out to be both interesting and informative.

 

The BCSG JB Choir conducted by 
Music Teacher Wai Yin Ching
 

One of the scenes on the screen featured the Wellness Garden where the members worked with Yaw Yin Kin, a BCSG volunteer and keen gardener, who came to BCSG as a handy-man to help around the center.

 

While Yaw’s wife is a volunteer at the Prosthetics and Brassiere Shop in BCSG JB, Yaw eventually became the Captain of the Wellness Garden.

 

For the past three years, BCSG celebrated Pink October in partnership with Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast to raise funds for their Prosthetics and Brassiere project.

 

BCSG members working in the 
Wellness Garden at their center

When General Manager, Murray Aitken, learnt about the work in their Wellness Garden, he suggested that BCSG should come up with a recipe book that made use of the produce from their own garden.

 

Supported by GM Aitken, the hotel’s Executive Chef Halim Chek Lah generously contributed eight recipes to add into BCSG’s first recipe book titled, Flavours Of Our Garden.

 

The BCSG Choir who supported the drama in song, was conducted by Music Teacher, Wai Yin Ching of Southfront Music School while the Southfront Ensemble led by her daughter, Tan Guang Mei, brought the event’s performances to a whole new level.

 

We met again the next evening
at the Drums 2.0 show!

I happened to be seated next to Teacher Wai at the event and when she left the table (several times!) to conduct the choir, I could not help feeling amused at how we are connected in unexpected ways.

 

You see, Teacher Wai’s late husband, Tan Hooi Song, was a co-founder of the art of the 24 Festive Drums. Tan was then a Music Teacher with Johor Bahru’s Foon Yew High School when he and Tan Chai Puan, co-founded the 24 Festive Drums’ art of drumming in 1988.

 

Teacher Wai and Guang Mei are familiar me as I have documented the art of the 24 Festive Drums as a proudly Johor brand in My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, and had presented a copy of this book to them.

 

We talked about the Drum Up JB! shows that happened in 2023 and were delighted to learn that we will also be going for the Drums 2.0 show in the evening of the next day. And that we should meet again there. [And we did!]

 

Chinese ink painting, Peace and Harmony, by
Belinda Ho-Foo raised more funds for BCSG JB

I liked that the musical drama showcased a very inclusive story because cancer can happen to people of every race and religion, both male and female. To illustrate this, the songs presented included familiar tunes easily identified as festive songs for Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Christmas.

 

To raise more funds for the work of BCSG JB, Belinda Ho-Foo donated her Chinese ink painting titled, Peace and Harmony, for sale in a Blind Auction. After an exciting bidding session, the sum of RM27,000 was raised from the sale of this painting.

 

Music and dancing were very much part
of celebrations for BCSG members

For BCSG wellness warriors who are fighting the battle in their journey to wellness with the support of fellow members, there was indeed much to celebrate at this anniversary event with music and dancing.

 

It was truly a celebration that continued with spontaneous dancing to favourite tunes, not only on stage or in front of the stage but also on the aisles and beside the tables.

 

One of the BCSG JB Vice-Presidents, Salwana Mohd Dadiri, herself a survivor, succinctly summed up these sentiments in a poem she wrote in Malay titled, Kisah Kita.

 

“Berjuang melawan kanser

Bukan satu cerita yang direka

Bukan sudah direncana.

 

Namun kita percaya

Apa berlaku ada hikmatnya

Ada duka, ada indahnya

Ada tangisan, ada tertawanya.

 

Begitulah kami di BCSG JB

Tak kira bangsa, bersatu hati

Punya kasih sayang yang murni

Punya rasa cinta yang sejati

Saling membantu, saling memahami.

 

Kami berhimpun meraikan anniversary

Tanda kenangan pada yang telah pergi

Tanda sokongan pada yang masih disini

Teruslah berjuang, janganlah menyendiri

Marilah bersama kami di BCSG JB.”

 

A simple translation in English: Our Story

 

“Am fighting with cancer

Not a fabricated story

Not as planned.

 

Yet we believe

What happens has a lesson

There is sadness, there is beauty

There are tears, there is laughter.

 

That’s how we are at BCSG JB

Doesn’t matter what race, we’re united

Have a pure affection

Have a feeling of true love

Helping us to understand each other.

 

We gather to celebrate this anniversary

In memory of the dearly departed

In support to those who are still here

So keep on fighting, you are never alone

Come join us at BCSG JB.”

 

The center for the Johor Bahru, Breast Cancer Support Group is at No. 12 Jalan Ru, Taman Kebun Teh, 80250 Johor Baru, Johor.

 

For more info and updates, visit Facebook page for BCSG JB or Breast Cancer Support Group Johor Bahru.

Note: Photos are used courtesy of BCSG Johor Bahru

Message from BCSG JB President, Datin Ang Chin Fan, quoted below:

"I wanted to personally thank you for the beautifully written report on our Fund-Raising 20th Anniversary Dinner. Your detailed coverage captured the heart of the event perfectly, and the emotional, touching descriptions truly brought the evening to life. Your words highlighted the significance of the night and deeply resonated with everyone who attended. We are grateful for your thoughtful storytelling and the impact it will surely have on those who read it. 

Warm regards,

Chin Fan"