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OLD STORIES RETOLD, AND LESSER KNOWN HISTORIES REVEALED Enter the Malay World and uncover ’s history across 700 years through Malay Heritage Centre’s special exhibition and Malay CultureFest 2019

Singapore, 9 October 2019 – “There they saw an animal extremely swift and beautiful. Its body of a red colour, its head black and its breast white, extremely agile, and of great strength, and its size, a little larger than a he-goat.” This was the description of the beast, which Sang Nila Utama allegedly sighted when he landed on as recorded in ‘Sejarah Melayu’ (as translated by John Leyden, 1821).

2 Ask any Singaporean and they will tell you that one of the best-known origin stories behind the founding of Singapore is Sang Nila Utama’s sighting of a lion when he first landed on our island. The tale surrounding Sang Nila Utama is one of many enduring myths passed down through generations. From magnificent beasts to princes, princesses, and sultans – these fairytale-like characters headline intriguing stories, which reveal more about Singapore’s history more than 700 years ago.

3 Through maps, artefacts and historical accounts – including many from Malay and other indigenous sources, the Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) shines a spotlight on these legends in its latest special exhibition, Seekor Singa, Seorang Putera & Sebingkai Cermin: Reflecting & Refracting Singapura, and presents multiple perspectives and fresh insights into the all the way back in the 15th century. The exhibition, which runs from 12 October 2019 to 21 June 2020, brings together more than 120 exhibits, tracing Singapore’s maritime and cultural significance prior to the British and Dutch occupation in the . Visitors can expect to unearth the deep historical and cultural connections that Singapore has had with the different communities in the region, such as the Javanese and Bugis, and from farther lands, including the Indians, Arabs and Europeans, across 700 years.

4 Asmah Alias, General Manager of MHC, said, “Understanding history is often about the presentation of different perspectives. MHC would like, with this exhibition, to challenge visitors to revisit the inherited narratives that we are familiar with. This is done through a diverse showcase of Malay narratives and indigenous sources, which add on interesting layers

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to the accounts of the European settlers. We hope the exhibition will jolt visitors out of their comfort zones, and encourage them to reconsider their understanding of history so as to piece together a more holistic world history of Singapore and the Malay Archipelago.”

5 Spread across two special exhibition galleries as well as the Anjung Gallery, a permanent gallery of MHC, the exhibition takes visitors on a three-part journey into the Malay World of the 15th to 19th centuries. The exhibition’s collection will contextualise Singapore’s role as a trade hub in the Malay Archipelago at different points in the 14th, 16th and 19th centuries; highlight the local political and social structures present then; and offer a look into the interactions between the indigenous and European communities.

6 Highlights of the artefacts on display include a Bugis Iontara textile – on which Bugis origin myths and events during the Dutch colonial rule are embroidered; the Maleische Sprakakkunst dictionary – one of the first Dutch-Malay dictionaries which contains an index of Malay literary manuscripts that were found by its author, thus indicating the vibrant intellectual network already in place before the arrival of the Dutch; and materials from Malay manuscripts such as the Sejerah Melayu, Hikayat , Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa, Tuhfat al- Nafis and Hikayat Pelanduk Jenaka – which recorded historical events and myths of the Malay Archipelago. The list of highlight artefacts can be found in Annex A.

Children’s Multisensory Space and Installations

7 How would you protect your island from an attack by the garfish? Children will be encouraged to role-play as lesser-known young historical characters at MHC’s first multisensory children’s space, Adventures in . Presented in collaboration with The Ground Co Limited, a registered arts charity that manages The Artground, Adventures in Nusantara will bring characters and stories featured in the exhibition to life! Based on three young characters, Hang Nadim, Ali Wallace and Wah Hakim, Adventures in Nusantara will allow children aged 3 to 6 years old to learn more about Singapore’s history in a fun and relatable manner. Apart from the children’s space, MHC has also developed a series of educational resources, in a storybook format, to accompany the special exhibition.

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8 To further enrich the exhibition, the centre also worked with several regional Malay artists and local students to reinterpret selected myths and present historical facts through installations within MHC, and in the larger neighbouring precinct:

 Todak Attack Singapura! | Nanyang Polytechnic students and Speak Cryptic – a multimedia retelling of the legend of from the Sejarah Melayu, with – imagine this – the Sultan having a WhatsApp conversation with his advisors (Presented at Malay Heritage Centre)  Of Monsoons & Movement | Nanyang Polytechnic students – a multimedia and interactive mapping of the maritime routes of the Malay World (Presented at Malay Heritage Centre)  Ke-Datanganku, Dari Laut ke Tanahmu (My Arrival, From the Sea to Your Land) | Nhawfal Juma’at – an installation inspired by the full of a jong boat – a traditional Malay vessel once used through the archipelago – which references the history of migration and exploration into Singapore (Presented at Kallang Riverside Park)  Kami Berlabuh ke Garis Magenta (We Docked by the Magenta Line) | Fyerool Darma – a reimagination of a shophouse display in the heart of Kampong Gelam that reflects upon these place histories, in light of the district’s evolving identity as a site for tourism and heritage (Presented at Gedung Kuning)  Kancil Menghadap Beringin (The Mousedeer comes before the Banyan Tree) | Shooshie Sulaiman – a mixed media depiction of two narratives from Malay folklore surrounding the dexterous mousedeer Sang Kancil and the tree of life (pohon beringin) (Presented at Malay Heritage Centre, from November 20191)

Malay CultureFest 2019

9 From 11 October to 2 November 2019, the three-week Malay CultureFest 2019 will showcase a myriad of hybridised Malay cultural art forms such as (opera or theatre), ronggeng (dance) and keroncong (music). Through more than 18 programmes and performances, the Malay CultureFest traces the cross-community developments and draws attention to the cultural significance behind these various artforms – for instance, how bangsawan was not just an opera or theatre performance but was once used as a political tool, and how keroncong is actually a marriage of music from the Portuguese and Nusantara.

1 Installation date to be confirmed

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10 MHC’s General Manager Asmah Alias added, “Our focus for MHC’s Malay CultureFest this year is to open up a conversation on the significance of the various Malay art forms, beyond the purpose of entertainment. We hope to highlight how many of the art forms still have social or political significance; and showcase the cross-cultural linkages and influences that have shaped our intangible cultural heritage. We hope that this will encourage visitors to widen their appreciation and understanding of the shared history across the Malay Archipelago.”

11 Highlights of the Malay CultureFest include:

 The festival’s opening piece, a special one-night-only theatrical performance which depicts key moments in Singapore’s history in a bangsawan or Malay operatic theatre style, and narrates the story of Singapore from the arrival of Sang Nila Utama to the British.  Balada Tumasik (Ballad of Tumasik), a video mapping show on MHC’s façade, that retells the history of Singapore from its founding by Sang Nila Utama to the arrival of Raffles. Spanning some 700 years of Singapore’s history, audiences will be introduced to key moments from the island’s past.  Lintas Nusantara, an annual collaborative dance festival featuring dancers and musicians from Singapore, Indonesia, and for the first time, the Philippines. The festival will showcase dance forms such as joget, ronggeng and sagayan that were inspired by colonial contact, and which highlight the often-turbulent relationship between coloniser and colonised.  Keroncong Syurga Neraka, a musical showcase which pays tribute to the early forefathers and pioneers who have overcome great odds, by telling their stories through the various keroncong styles from throughout the Nusantara. This showcase also features rising star Jamilah Abu Bakar.  7etangga-A musical voyage (pronounced Tujuh Tetangga), a musical showcase which traces the history of communities that came and made Singapore their home. Featuring seven distinct ensembles including NADI Singapura, Sri Setia Pulau Singa, SG Oudist, Orkestar Trio, Sa The Collective with Cheryl Ong, Tamarind Sound Project with Govin Tan, Alfalah (Indonesia) and Nii Tagoe (UK) which collectively represent

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the multicultural microcosm of Singapore, the showcase will see the groups performing and merging their distinct musical styles.

12 MHC has also worked closely with students from River Valley High School for Youth Invasion, a series which sees students take over the running of museum programmes for a day. The students have crafted an interactive and exciting programme for visitors to learn more about the history and heritage of the Malay community. Visitors can discover Malay fashion, create their own kulit puppets and even try their hands at a barter trading card game designed by the students. A full list of the various programmes for Malay CultureFest 2019 can be found in Annex B.

13 Seekor Singa, Seorang Putera & Sebingkai Cermin: Reflecting & Refracting Singapura and Malay CultureFest 2019 follow MHC’s theme for 2019 of Bangsa (nation or people), and focuses on the movement of peoples and ideas from the 15th to 19th centuries, and how these have shaped our collective identities. Both are also in alignment with the Singapore Bicentennial. For more information about the festival programmes and the exhibition, please visit www.malayheritage.org.sg

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About the Malay Heritage Centre

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The Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) is housed in the former Istana Kampong Gelam, which was gazetted as a National Monument in 2015. The centre showcases the history, culture and contributions of the Malay community within the context of Singapore’s history and multi- cultural society. MHC’s permanent galleries focus on the history of Kampong Gelam and feature an array of artefacts from the National Collection and the Malay community. Through its exhibitions and programmes, the Centre aspires to be a vibrant destination of historical and cultural significance for both and international visitors. The Malay Heritage Centre is a heritage institution managed by the National Heritage Board. More information on MHC may be found at this website www.malayheritage.org.sg

About the Malay Heritage Foundation

The Malay Heritage Foundation was established on 28 July 1999 to promote the study, research, and the public’s understanding and knowledge of the historical and socio-cultural development of the Malay community in Singapore, through the Malay Heritage Centre and other relevant means. Since its inception, it has worked with various segments of the Malay and Singapore community, government agencies, philanthropists and entrepreneurs to further its cause.

About the National Heritage Board

The National Heritage Board (NHB) was formed on 1 August 1993. As the custodian of Singapore’s heritage, NHB is responsible for telling the Singapore story, sharing the Singaporean experience and imparting our Singapore spirit.

NHB’s mission is to preserve and celebrate the shared heritage of our diverse communities, for the purpose of education, nation-building and cultural understanding. It manages the national museums and heritage institutions, and sets policies relating to heritage sites, monuments and the national collection. Through the national collection, NHB curates heritage programmes and presents exhibitions to connect the past, present and future generations of Singaporeans. NHB is a statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. Please visit www.nhb.gov.sg for more information.

About the Singapore Bicentennial

The Singapore Bicentennial marks the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the British in Singapore, a key turning point in our history. But our story didn’t start in 1819 – it started 700 years ago. The Singapore Bicentennial is an occasion for us to reflect on this history, before and after 1819; to understand our journey from a place with a geographically strategic location, to a people with a unique Singaporean DNA. The commemoration seeks to feature the huge cast of contributors who’ve led to our evolution, look at the regional and global developments that have influenced our place in the world, and more.

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ANNEX A

Seekor Singa, Seorang Putera & Sebingkai Cermin: Reflecting & Refracting Singapura

Date: 12 October 2019 – 21 June 2020 Time: 10am – 6pm (last admission at 5.30pm, and closed on Mondays)

This special exhibition discusses Singapore’s maritime and cultural significance prior to British and Dutch occupation in the Malay Archipelago. Employing the modes of reflection and refraction as lenses through which visitors can view and compare various Malay world perspectives, indigenous material culture, and European colonial sources, the exhibition aims to present multiple contexts and fresh insights into the history of Singapore and its deeper links to the region and beyond.

ARTEFACT HIGHLIGHTS Bugis lontara story embroidered on textile

Undated | | Collection of Malay Heritage Centre, National Heritage Board

Due to conflict in Celebes (South Sulawesi) in the late 17th century, displaced groups of Bugis led by local princes travelled to other parts of the Malay Archipelago. These early Bugis settled amongst local communities, and by the early 18th century, sizeable Bugis communities were established in Linggi, Kelang and .

This textile features embroidered lontara script depicting the genealogies of divine beings and heroes of Bugis origins, and includes events from the period of Dutch colonial rule. The textile appears to be inspired by ‘Tuhfat Al-Nafis’ and an earlier Bugis epic ‘I ’ which tells the origin story of the Bugis in twelve volumes.

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Tengku Hussain Shah of Singapore’s seal c. 1810 | Singapore | On loan from Tengku Sri Indra bin Tengku Ismail

Tengku Hussain Shah (1776 – 1835 CE) was the son of Sultan Mahmud Shah III of . Hussain was installed by the British in Singapore as the rightful king of Johor by virtue of him being the eldest son, despite the fact that his younger brother, Abdul Rahman, had already been installed as Sultan by the (Dutch-backed) Bugis faction in -Lingga.

This silver seal bears an inscription in Arabic script which reads “Tengku Hussain ibn al-Sultan Mahmud bi-tarikh hijrat sanat 1225” (Tengku Hussain, son of the Sultan Mahmud, dated the year of Hijrah (migration) 1225 [1810 CE]). This is not the seal which was used to formalise the agreement between Raffles and the British East Company in 1819. Rather, its impression was inked onto a letter that was sent to Colonel William Farquhar on 2 March 1812 CE (17 Safar 1227 Hijrah).

Dictionary entitled ‘Maleische Spraakkunst’ (‘Standard Malay Grammar’) by Georg Henrik Werndly

1736 | Singapore | Collection of Malay Heritage Centre, Naitonal Heritage Board

The ‘Maleische Sprakkunst’ is one of the first Dutch-Malay dictionaries to have been produced. It was printed by the Dutch East Indies Company to serve as a linguistic and cultural guide to the native tongue of the Malay Archipelago. The dictionary also contains an index of Malay literary manuscripts that were found by its author, thereby indicating that a vibrant intellectual network was already in place before the arrival of the Dutch.

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Print of the British entering Singapore in 1824

1902 | Singapore | Collection of the National Museum of Singapore, National Heritage Board

78 years after the signing of the 1824 Anglo Dutch Treaty, illustrator R. Canto Woodville produced this imagined scene of a British official and a Malay ruler travelling on the back of an elephant into Singapore after the signing. Seated next to one another, both the British official and Malay ruler are depicted as co-presiding over the elaborate ceremony. In reality, the terms of the treaty were anything but equal: the British were accorded increased political and economic control over the territory, at the expense of Malay rule. Hornbill totem

Undated | Borneo | Collection of Asian Civilisations Museum, National Heritage Board

Sightings of hornbills are considered fortuitous in parts of Asia and especially amongst the Dayak communities in Borneo. For this reason, totems such as these were produced as a mark of respect and to endow its owner with good luck. The stylised form of the totem offers a stark contrast to the illustrations from Alfred Russel Wallace’s publication ‘The Malay Archipelago’ in which a variety of hornbills are rendered for the purpose of scientific study.

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Pages from a handwritten copy of ‘Sulalatus Al- Salatin’ (or ‘Sejarah Melayu’) describing Sang Nila Utama’s founding of Singapura

Malay Peninsula | Collection of National Museum of Singapore, National Heritage Board

Historians have ascertained that Sang Nila Utama was an actual historical figure known as Sri Tri Buana, who lived during the 14th century. He was a prince from Srivijayan who is credited in ‘Sulalatus Al-Salatin’ (‘Genealogy of Kings’) as the founder of a new settlement on the island known as Temasek, which he then re-named Singapura.

It was Raffles who first referred to ‘Sejarah Melayu’ when arguing for the establishment of British presence in Singapore. The manuscript details the lineage of the rulers of Melaka, the rise and fall of the great port city and the relationship between rulers and the people they rule. It also contains a number of legendary Malay episodes such Hang Tuah, , the garfish attack on Singapura, the fall of Singapura to (or Siamese) forces and the founding of Melaka.

Wooden sculpture of a hantu hisap darah (blood- sucking spirit)

1966 | | Collection of Asian Civilisations Museum, National Heritage Board

These wooden sculptures resemble totems made by communities in Pahang of various spirits. Each sculpture is unique to a particular site and community, and serves less to invoke fear than to express their community’s cosmological beliefs and the environment they live in.

A section from Thomas Bowrey’s ‘A Dictionary English to Malayo, Malayo to English’ on basadagang (language of trade)

1701 | | Collection of Malay Heritage Centre, National Heritage Board

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Keris with sheath and hilt of silver repoussé bearing an inlayed inscription of Sultan Abdul Jalil’s name c. 17th - 19th century | Johor-Riau | Collection of Asian Civilisations Museum, National Heritage Board

Sultan Abdul Jalil Riayat Shah reigned over Johor and Riau from 1699 until his death in 1719. The title of Sultan reflected the Muslim nature of the kingdom at the same time it extended the Malay king’s daulat farther beyond the Malay Archipelago by connecting him to both the geography and the ancient history of the Islamicate world.

These royal connections manifested themselves in classical Malay texts where genealogies which could stretch all the way back to the great warrior-king , 356-323 BCE (often romanticised as Iskandar Zulkarnain despite contentions about his Muslim status), and included narratives of travels to Makkah to perform the Hajj pilgrimage which further strengthened the connections between the local and foreign kingdoms.

Specimen of Malayan

Undated | Malay Peninsula | Collection of Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Pedestal bowl with wayang figures and abstract hearts or betel leaves c. Early 20th century | Riau | Collection of Malay Heritage Centre, National Heritage Board

This pedestal bowl was hammered onto a silver alloy and decorated with foliate scrolls. Interspersed amongst the foliage on both the domed foot and the bowl are cartouches filled with wayang figures based on the characters from the Malay version of the Indian epic ‘’, thereby reflecting the influence of the early Hindu period on Malay material culture.

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Gold currency from the Majapahit period c. 9th - 10th centuries | Central | Collection of National Museum of Singapore, National Heritage Board

The earliest coins found on Java appear to have been minted in Mataram in central Java at the end of the 8th or early 9th centuries. These three pieces of gold coin are called massa and would have been circulated in Java during the 10th – 11th centuries during the Javanese Daha and Djenggala period.

The standard weight of each coin is 20 ratti, a traditional Indian unit of measurement for mass based on the nominal weight of a ratti seed or rosary pea (Abrus precatorius). Today, each unit has been standardised in goldsmithing to 121.5 milligrams.

Handwritten Quran from the Qadariyah Kraton

Early 19th century | Pontianak | Gift from Habib Syed Hassan Al-Attas. Collection of Malay Heritage Centre, National Heritage Board

The arrival of and its spread across the Malay Archipelago from the 12th century onwards brought about a new monotheistic system of a belief in one god rather than a pantheon of divine beings. The devotional practice in Islam highlights the importance of literacy in understanding God’s will and plan for humankind and implies that the nature of one all-powerful God is revealed through God’s ‘divine word’ in the form of holy scripture such as the Quran.

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ANNEX B

Malay CultureFest 2019

Date: 11 October 2019 – 2 November 2019 Time: Various Timings

The Malay Heritage Centre welcomes everyone to this year’s Malay CultureFest, a 3-week long festival that showcases a varied array of cultural activities, performances, talks, workshops and trails. It aims to cultivate an appreciation for the traditions and culture of the wider Malay Nusantara, and Singapore’s place in it.

In conjunction with MHC’s theme of ‘Bangsa’ (nation or people), the 2019 festival will focus on the movement of peoples and ideas from the 15th to 19th centuries, and how these have shaped our collective identities.

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS | PERFORMANCES

DANCE

Lintas Nusantara Saturday & Sunday, 12 & 13 October 2019 8.30pm MHC Fountain Free

Join us for Lintas Nusanatara, our annual dance festival in collaboration with Guntur Mataram Dance Company, and be entertained by enthralling dance performances from the Malay Nusantara such as Indonesia, Singapore, and for the very first time, the Philippines!

DANCE

Lintas Nusantara Mini Showcase Saturday & Sunday, 12 & 13 October 2019 5.00pm MHC Fountain Free

Performers from Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Padangpanjang and Singapore’s Nobat Kota Singa will take the audience to West where the entrance of the Portuguese in this region during the 16th century birthed a dance called Balanse Madam. Like other similarly Portuguese-influenced dances in the Malay world such as the beloved joget, the

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Balanse Madam is reflective of the social ties that existed at the time between the local community and the European newcomers.

THEATRE

Tanah•Air 水•土：A Play In Two Parts Thursday to Sunday, 16 – 20 October 2019 8.15pm – 11.15pm MHC Auditorium Ticket: $68 (excl. booking fee) tanah-air.eventbrite.sg

This play from Drama Box looks at the dispossession and loss of the indigenous and Orang of Singapore. ‘Tanah’ (land) and ‘Air’ (water) were their homes (Tanah Air) until the arrival of foreign interventions, displacing them from both. The deep sense of loss continues to be felt today.

“Tanah” is inspired by Isa Kamari’s “Duka Tuan Bertakhta”. Set in 1819 Singapore, a young girl loses her home on the sea and is forced to come ashore. As she navigates around the various parties who stake their claims to this land, she questions her identity, and struggles to find her footing on this land she calls home.

“Air” is a verbatim performance that looks at the displacement of the Orang Seletar, an indigenous community of Singapore, and how as Singapore evolved, they had to resettle in Johor, only to face the threat of being displaced again with the impending development of their customary territories.

What happens when a community’s ties to their land are severed? How do we know when to fight, negotiate, or simply succumb to agents of power?

Performed in Malay and Chinese, with Malay, Chinese and English surtitles.

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THEATRE

Dedap Friday & Saturday, 25 & 26 October 2019 8.00pm MHC Auditorium $20 (adults) $15 (students) Purchase your tickets via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com

Dedap is a writer’s adaption on the life of a revered artist who has been an inspiration to him since young. It tells the story of his last days; his hardship in remaining relevant and the aching melancholy of his beloved wife after his departure.

THEATRE

Rumah Hantu Friday & Saturday, 1 & 2 November 2019 3.00pm & 7.30pm MHC Auditorium $15 (adults) $10 (students) Register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com

In an old and decrepit house, two individuals whose lives are intertwined by a mysterious incident, find themselves trapped in a house full of stories and memories. The only way they know how to deal with this situation is to keep searching and to keep repeating narratives that serve as a way of escape.

What are the memories we hold on to? What stories are places or possessions tied to? What do we dream about when we sleep to escape? What appears to release you may be the exact thing that keeps you trapped.

MUSIC

Keroncong Syurga Neraka Friday & Saturday, 18 & 19 October 2019 8.30pm Sultan Gate Green Free

Enjoy a keroncong performance that brings together music groups from Singapore, and Indonesia, to the streets of Kampong Gelam!

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MUSIC

7etangga (Tujuh Tetangga) Friday, 1 November 2019 8.00pm MHC Fountain Free

This musical performance by NADI Singapura will treat you to a coalition of instruments, sounds, and styles that depicts the harmony and the discourse amongst the people of the land. Witness the interaction between the varied practices and practitioners of Singapore and beyond.

MUSIC

SINGA DRUM GAIA Saturday, 2 November 2019 8.00pm MHC Fountain Free

SINGA DRUM GAIA is the first of its kind in the lion city. A gathering that is set to be the biggest bi-annual drumming fiesta celebrating the vibrancy and the eclectic drumming traditions of the world that is present in Singapore.

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS | TRAILS, TALKS, WORKSHOPS, CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMES

WORKSHOP

Lintas Nusantara Workshop Workshop 1: Ronggeng Tuesday, 8 October 2019 2.00pm – 6.00pm Aliwal Multi-Purpose Studio A & B Register via malayheritagecentre.petix.com

The ronggeng is a dance with roots in fertility rituals of Java’s agrarian past. The dance has gone through a number of evolution during the colonial period where it is seen negatively by local communities. In recent years, efforts have been made to return it to a respected Javanese art form. Come and learn the various manifestations of ronggeng and discover its colourful and somewhat tragic history.

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Workshop 2: Sagayan Wednesday, 9 October 2019 2.00pm – 6.00pm Aliwal Multi-Purpose Studio A & B Register via malayheritagecentre.petix.com

Sagayan is a Filipino war dance performed by the Maguidanao and Maranao people of Southern Philippines. In the dance, performers would dance with shields and swords as they depict warriors who fought against the Spanish during the colonial period. Don’t miss this chance to learn this dynamic dance presented by the instructors from La Salle University Guindegan and Danen-ao Dance Company.

TALKS

Public Lecture Series Indigenous Perspectives from the Malay Archipelago: Malay Descriptions of the West before 1876 Saturday, 12 October 2019 2.00pm - 4.00pm MHC Auditorium Free Register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com

Speaker: Datuk Ahmad Murad Merican (International Islamic University Malaysia)

This talk is derived from Datuk Ahmad Merican’s book titled ‘Revisiting Atas Angin’ which reflects how the West was imagined, constructed, described, projected and represented by the Malays in Malay texts.

Public Lecture Series Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa(wan): A forum on Bangsawan Saturday, 26 October 2019 2.00pm – 4.00pm MHC Auditorium Free Register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com

Speakers: Atin Amat, Cultural Medallion & Artistic Director of Teater Kami; M Saffri A Manaf, Veteran Bangsawan Practitioner; Noor Azhar Mohamed, Producer, Anggerik Temasek Bangsawan

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Moderated by: Saiful Amri Ahmad Elahi, Malay Theatre Practitioner

Bangsawan was introduced to the Malays during the colonial period. Find out how an eclectic art form evolved to become one of the most celebrated Malay performing arts, how it declined and how artists are trying to revive it again.

Public Lecture Series Orang Seletar: An indigenous sea people of Singapore Saturday, 5 October 2019 2.00 - 4.00pm MHC Auditorium

The Orang Seletar are possibly the last “living” community of (Sea People) from Singapore. The reclusive group once roamed the northern shores of Singapore and southern coast of Johor. Seletar Island was a key anchor spot for the nomadic boat peoples, so much so that they were either named after the island or gave the island its name. Yet Singapore’s independence and rapid urbanisation forced them to leave Seletar and settle on land in Johor, limiting their access to their homeland in the sea.

We invite you to join us as we meet Eddy and Jefree Salim from the Orang Seletar village of Kampong Sungai Temon. Find out more about the lives and culture of this indigenous community of Singapore and the challenges they face in preserving their land, their way of life and identity today. Hear stories of old Singapore, legends and history through their eyes.

Panel Speakers Eddy Salim and Jefree Salim are brothers from the Orang Seletar community residing at Kampong Sungai Temon in Johor. Eddy was instrumental in leading the court case for customary rights over ancestral land and water in the Danga Bay area.

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Jefree is an avid photographer and has recently published a photo book on the lives of the Orang Seletar community as they fish, swim and play in the sea and mangroves surrounding his village.

This lecture is jointly organised with Drama Box, as well as Chan Kah Mei, Ruslina Affandi and Ilya Katrinnada, in conjunction with Tanah•Air: A Play In Two Parts, a play that looks at the dispossession and loss of the indigenous Malays and Orang Seletar of Singapore.

CHILDREN

Adventures in Nusantara From 12 October 2019 onwards

Explore our new Children’s Space specially designed for young children aged 3 to 6 years. Located within the Permanent Gallery, the Children’s Space is a collaboration between the Malay Heritage Centre and The Artground – A Curious Place To Be. It is designed based on the story of Hang Nadim, Ali Wallace and Wah Hakim.

Youth Invasion Saturday, 26 October 2019 10.00am – 1.00pm MHC Free

Learn how to make your own wayang kulit puppets, and musical instruments or have fun with your family playing a card game! These exciting activities are brought to you by the students of River Valley High School.

Dramatised Storytelling: Attack of the Swordfish Saturday, 2 November 2019 10.00am – 11.00am MHC Auditorium Free Register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com

Be entertained by a team of 9 to 11 year olds from NLB’s Junior Reading Ambassadors programme in a

dramatised storytelling of a local folklore. You can also look forward to a craft activity after the storytelling!

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TRAIL/TOUR

Pulau Ubin Cooking Class Saturday, 19 October 2019 9.00am – 4.00pm $50 per pax (Pick up at MHC) Purchase your tickets via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com

Come and discover some of the common flora that goes into Malay cooking. Learn how they are used and even forage for ingredients in this one of a kind cooking class held at Pulau Ubin.

Curator’s Tour Saturday, 19 October 2019 4.00pm – 6.00pm Special Exhibition Free Register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com

Discover deeper insights into the artefacts and get a sneak peek into the production of the special exhibition with our curator.

Guided Tour by MHC Student Guides Saturday, 2 November 2019 Session 1: 10.00am – 11.00am Session 2: 12.00pm – 1.00pm MHC Permanent Galleries

Come along on a tour of the permanent galleries with our student guides and discover more about the history and culture of the Malay community in Singapore.

Balada Tumasik (Ballad of Tumasik) 11 October – 2 November 2019 8.00pm MHC

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Watch MHC come alive with an illumination of Singapore’s history featuring various folk stories, legends and historical moments!