Dear Nyonyas and Babas,
In this month’s video, I am joined by Baba Low Sze Wee, Group Director (Museums) at the National Heritage Board (NHB) Singapore.
Baba Sze Wee shared exciting news about NHB’s upcoming celebrations of intangible cultural heritage during the Singapore Heritage Festival in May. While kebayas will certainly take the spotlight, intangible heritage also encompasses crafts, performing arts, and many other traditions.
To complement this, TPAS has planned a series of special events, including a walking tour of Joo Chiat, a kebaya talk, and a Mother’s Day tok panjang lunch—a wonderful way to immerse ourselves in Peranakan culture.
As part of SG60 celebrations, NHB will launch a major exhibition in May at the National Museum of Singapore (NMS), exploring Singapore’s history through the lens of its role as a port. Later in the year, the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) will unveil an exhibition on traditional Asian board games, showcasing games with Asian origins like chess, snakes and ladders, weiqi, and backgammon—shared across many cultures. Meanwhile, the Peranakan Museum will present an exhibition on the peacock, highlighting its significance not just in Peranakan culture but also in Chinese, Indian, and Western traditions. Be sure to also check out the exciting programs happening at the Indian Heritage Centre and Malay Heritage Centre throughout the year.
Beyond Singapore, NHB is expanding its reach globally. The Peranakan exhibition is currently touring China (Hainan, Luoyang, and Tianjin), while other exhibitions will be making international stops:
- “Manila Galleon: From Asia to the Americas” (ACM) – heading to Mexico
- “Andrew Gn: Fashioning Singapore and the World” – traveling to the U.S.
- The William Farquhar Collection (NMS) – showcased in Australia
There is much to look forward to, and I hope you will join us in celebrating our rich heritage both at home and abroad!
We hope you enjoy watching our video clips as much as we enjoy putting them together.
Warm wishes,
Nyonya Genevieve Peggy Jeffs
President, 2024 – 2026
The Peranakan Association Singapore
Click here to send Genevieve a note
Venue credits to Peranakan Museum
Production credits to https://www.instagram.com/thefashionandbeyond