Baba-Nyonyas :Truly Malaysian

Baba and Nyonya culture (or Peranakan) is one of the cultures that Malaysia is famous for and I might add that they are truly Malaysian as they contain both Malay and Chinese cultures.

Most of them are saturated in Malacca but further reading indicates that there are significant numbers in Indonesia and Singapore (wiki).

Some notable people who are Baba Nyonya in Malaysia:

• Tun Dato Sri Tan Cheng Lock - Founder and first President of Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)
• Tun Tan Siew Sin - Third President of Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)

There are also other notable Baba Nyonya in Singapore but I was a bit shocked when I saw Piere Png (aka Phua Chu Beng from Phua Chu Kang) .

Pierre Png - Mediacorp artiste

If you want to experience the true colours of Baba Nyonya, you could either visit them or if you are too lazy you can watch The Little Nyonya, a drama made by Mediacorp.

Not an accurate potryal but intriging nonetheless.

On anothe note:

Heng: Accord Baba-Nyonya culture heritage status

KUALA LUMPUR: The Information, Communication and Culture Ministry is pushing for the Baba-Nyonya culture to be recognised as a national heritage.

Its deputy minister Senator Heng Seai Kie said the recognition should be accorded as the culture had long existed in the country - from the time of the Malay sultanate in Malacca.

“The Baba-Nyonya culture is still strong to this day especially in terms of traditions and dressing,” she said after launching the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Baba-Nyonya Association at the National Museum here on Saturday.

time: Heng (second from right) and Lee (left) dancing the ‘joget lambak’ after launching the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Baba-Nyonya Association at the National Museum in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.— Bernama

Heng said, prior to the setting up of the association, various efforts had been undertaken to promote the culture like publishing catalogues and reference books on it besides organising exhibitions in 1985 and 2005.

Association president Prof Dr Lee Su Kim said the association - which was formed on July 28, 2008, with 60 members - had carried out various activities to en-sure the culture lived on. — Bernama

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/11/2/nation/5020970&sec=nation