What is a sarong kebaya?

The above colourful sarong kebaya is one of my favourite attire. I have kept it properly in my wardrobe.

This traditional costume is the Nyonya's first modern dress back in the 1920s. It was first worn by the Chinese women who lives in Indonesia and Malaysia.

The top of this two-piece outfit is the kebaya while the sarong is the accompanying wraparound skirt. What makes the sarong kebaya unique is its floral patterns and embroidery. Embroidery refers to the patterns that are sewn onto cloth using threads of various colours. It usually takes around two years to master the art of the embroidery. On average, a skilled tailor requires at least two weeks to think of a pattern for the sarong kebaya.

Here are some tips for buying a sarong kebaya:
- Choose one that is ideal for your body shape, height and age.
(If you are a young Nyonya, then you should try sarong kebayas that have pastel shades.


Reference:
Khoo, J. E. (1996). The straits chinese: A cultural chinese. Singapore: The Pepin Press.

Being Peranakan

A Peranakan, a word derived from the Malay root word anak which means child, is a descendant of early Chinese migrants who settled historically in the Straits Settlements of colonial Malaya. The Straits Settlements consisted of the territories of Malacca, Penang and Singapore.

It is popularly accepted that a Peranakan, whether a Baba (male) or a Nyonya (female) is distinguished by four features:
- Descent from the marriage of a Baba to a Nyonya
- Ability to speak the Baba Malay language
- Preference of the Nyonya cuisine
- A liking for the sarong kebaya and kasut manek (beaded slippers)
Photo credits: http://www.challenge.gov.sg/2011/03/coming-up-march-2011/, http://www.haiwaiyou.com/haiwaiyoublog/?p=2589

As for ancestors, I can go as far back as my paternal grandparents. Both of them came from Fujian province in southern China, and the later generations were all born in what is today modern Malaysia, Singapore and even Indonesia.

As a Peranakan, I speak the Baba Malay language that contains borrowings from the languages or dialects of Chinese, Malay, Portuguese and English. Sadly, most of my family and friends lost the ability to speak the original Chinese dialects.

Spending a day with a Peranakan family is perhaps the best way to learn about the culture. However, chances are that it will take much more than 24 hours to fully appreciate the richness and diversity of the Peranakan culture. For instances, the daily life of the Peranakans, leisure activities of the Peranakans, Peranakan food, wedding, special occasions, the Peranakans today, as well as the Do's and Don'ts in Peranakan culture.

I hope this website will help you appreciate the beauty of the Peranakan culture. Whatever your interests, you are bound to find something that fascinates you.