(This is a monthly letter from Baba Colin Chee to members and friends of the Association.)


Dear Babas and Nyonyas,

A HUNGER

There must be a deep hunger for Peranakan culture. I draw this conclusion from the more than enthusiastic responses I see on social media to things Peranakan.

Here are some examples.

Baba Alvin Oon’s audacious and edutaining two-day Virtually Peranakan Fest of 10 livestreaming sessions a week ago attracted nearly 40,000 views from around the world.

When The Peranakan Association Singapore together with GenerAsia, streamed in August a recording of its raucous 2015 musical, Bibik Behind Bars, Kena Again!, it garnered nearly 8,000 views worldwide.

A week ago, when TPAS announced its online talk: Christianised Peranakan Communities in Early Singapore, 1830-1900, its limited capacity of 100 pax rapidly maxed out within four hours of release, regrettably disappointing many who were late to register.

The stay-at-home convenience of Zoom and similar online meeting apps has led to a sudden blossoming of shared virtual experiences through webinars and meetings.

Other social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Tik Tok, and Snapchat are probably also stirring up interest among millennials.

Facebook alone has Peranakan-themed groups catering to fans of Peranakan culture – food and recipes, batik, jewellery, ceramics, furniture and other aspects of material culture, Baba Malay language and pantons, and genealogy amongst others.

We are very fortunate to have members of our community taking ownership of their culture and propelling it forward. They are also our flag-bearers!

And the Association’s FB page and Website have been attracting a quarter of a million views annually, a reflection of public interest in the culture.

A RETHINKING

This has led the General Committee (GC) to rethink how it can better harness technology to more effectively be a beacon for Peranakan culture, especially among the young.

The Association has for a long time pursued the following:
1. Presenting and propagating factual knowledge about the culture through its magazine, The Peranakan, talks and events.
2. Keeping its members and the public connected with what’s happening within the community.
3. Encouraging members to learn more about their family and community heritage.
4. Encouraging all who are passionate about things Peranakan to fully live our culture, make it relevant, and shape it to our lives and times. Only in this way can our living culture evolve, stay vibrant and be sustainable.

In relation to (2) and (4) above, the Association can build greater public awareness of our culture through our digital platforms – cultural initiatives and developments, talks, books, events, even experimentations within and around our community.

The challenge for us is this: How do we go about doing this without pretending to be arbiters for the culture, or being accused of conflict of interest, or worse, favouritism, and at the same time NOT be completely paralysed into inaction by an overarching concern for what people might think or say?

By using modern day communications tools, the Association, as a steward of the culture, can be a strong and positive champion.

Not necessarily alone, but always, as far and as much as possible, working with partners with a shared passion, or alongside them.

This is because we believe that no single organisation has a monopoly on good ideas, creativity, comprehensive skill sets, manning, material and funding resources. One association alone will never be able to organise everything for everyone.

But, at the very least, we can start by building greater awareness of interesting cultural initiatives that are happening around us.

THE PERANAKAN MAGAZINE, ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

I would like to apologise, on behalf of GC, for the delay in the publication of our 120th anniversary magazine The Peranakan. Due out in October, it has become a reluctant victim of COVID-19 and unplanned circumstances.

It should be out by this December, and we wish you happy reading when you have the bumper magazine in your hands! Much love and thought have gone into it.

Please take care and keep safe. Have a wonderful holiday season, a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

God bless you all and your loved ones.

 



Colin Chee
Keeping the Culture Alive
30 November 2020

Click here to send Colin a note