Theme:Singapore Traditions

Playlist: Traditional Costumes

Singapore’s traditional costumes reflect our multi-ethnic culture, as we may wear the traditional costumes particularly during festivals or special occasions. This playlist has videos on the maker, seller, and collector of traditional clothing in Singapore.

Check out these resources to help you gain some understanding of traditional costumes in Singapore.

Leaning Package: Traditional Costumes

Singapore’s traditional costumes reflect our multi-ethnic culture, as we may wear the traditional costumes particularly during festive times, or special occasions. Racial Harmony Day, which is celebrated on 21 July, will have students dressing up in various ethnic costumes, sample ethnic food, and play traditional games in schools in order to foster community bonding and social cohesion.

Some patterns and types of traditional clothing may also be a marker of social identity, associating someone as part of certain group, or a certain social status, while others may have to conform to religious preferences with regards to the length of a skirt or sleeve. Colours may also have religious and social significance.

Did you know...

The baju kurong telok belanga, one of the earlier versions of the baju kurong, drew its name from the Telok Blangah area in Singapore, and may have been designed by Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor in 1866?

These curated set of articles and books will help you understand more about traditional costumes in Singapore.

Articles

Baju kurong by Jamie Koh

The baju kurong is a distinctive Malay dress worn by both men and women. Generally, men wear the baju kurong as a shirt top with pants while women pair it with a sarong. It is thought to have originated in Indonesia.

Source: Koh, Jamie. (2013)."Baju Kurong."Singapore Infopedia.Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2024, January 11.

Cheongsam by Stephanie Ho

This article describes the cheongsam and how it became popular in Singapore and the region.

Source: Ho, Stephanie. (2013)."Cheongsam"Singapore Infopedia.Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2024, January 11.

Nyonya Kebaya by Stephanie Ho

The nyonya kebaya is an outfit mostly associated with women of the Chinese Peranakan community. It may have developed from the Malay long dress and usually consists of an embroidered blouse paired with a batik sarong.

Source: Ho, Stephanie. (2013). “Nyonya Kebaya"Singapore Infopedia.Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2024, January 11.

Sari by Stephanie Ho

The sari is a traditional attire for women of South Asian descent and consists of a long fabric that is draped around the body and is worn together with a short fitted blouse, known as a choli, and a long petticoat.

Source: Ho, Stephanie. (2013). “Sari"Singapore Infopedia.Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2024, January 11.

Tudung by Stephanie Ho

The tudung is a Malay term for a headscarf or veil worn over the head to cover the hair, neck and chest areas, and is considered an important part of the Islamic dress code for Muslim women.

Source: Ho, Stephanie. (2013). “Tudung"Singapore Infopedia.Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2024, January 11.

Books

Costumes through time, Singapore

Khoo, Betty L. (ed.). (1993). Costumes through time, Singapore.Singapore: National Heritage Board and Fashion Designers Society. (Call no.: RCLOS q391.0095957 COS -[CUS])

This well-illustrated book covers various costumes through time, dressed for special occasions or events. It showcases items from the Chinese, the Peranakan, Indian, Malay, the Europeans and Eurasians communities.

Costumes in ASEAN

Khunying Maenmas Chavalit and Maneepin Phromsuthirak (editors). (2000).Costumes in ASEAN.Bangkok: The National ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information of Thailand. (Call no.: RCLOS 391.00959 COS)

This book has essays on the costumes of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Ang Meow Wah’s contribution on Singapore (pages 190-240) gives a vast overview of Singapore’s costume wear from the colonial period to the 21st century.

The Nyonya Kebaya: A Century of Straits Chinese Costume

Datin Seri Endon Mahmood. (2004).The Nyonya Kebaya: A Century of Straits Chinese Costume.Singapore: Periplus Editions. (Call no.: RSING 725.21095957 FUN)

This is an introductory book on the nyonya kebaya with chapters describing the history of the kebaya, as well as the types and silhouettes. It also has detailed images and descriptions of various kebaya in the author’s own collection; the making of the kebaya; various accessories that match the kebaya; and kebaya-inspired designs.

Playlist: Traditional Folk Songs

Singapore’s traditional folk songs are a reflection of our multi-ethnic population. This playlist has videos on folk songs by certain cultural groups as well as folk songs often played in Singapore’s national day events.

Check out these resources to help you gain some understanding of traditional folk songs in Singapore.

Leaning Package: Traditional Folk Songs

Singapore’s traditional folk songs are a reflection of our multi-ethnic population. We often learn them from our parents or peers; from sing along events during national day; and from our schools. Considered a sub-category of traditional music, traditional folk songs are often anonymous, initially transmitted and performed by amateurs, and have the ability to transcend national boundaries.

Traditional folk songs are thought to unify those who are able to connect and identify with the song. As a kind of intangible cultural heritage, the songs will need to change in order to appeal to the next generation. Only those that are considered popular and/or important would survive the test of time, as the communities decide whether to pass these traditions on.

Did you know...

Several of Dick Lee's songs were inspired by traditional folk songs?

These curated set of articles and books will help you understand more about traditional folk songs in Singapore.

Articles

Popular music and a sense of place in Singapore by Lily Kong

This article illustrates how popular music in Singapore can be a lens through which the culture and society of Singapore might be understood. The article also mentions how traditional folk songs and cultural music traditions were incorporated by some of Singapore’s most celebrated musicians such as Dick Lee. This article is retrievable through JSTOR via NLB’s eResources (a myLibrary username is required to access this resource).

Source: Kong, Lily. (1995). “Popular music and a sense of place in Singapore.” Crossroads: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Southeast Asian Studies 9(2): 51-77. Retrieved 2024, February 5.

Manufacturing and Consuming Culture: Fakesong in Singapore by Shzr Ee Tan

This article describes how certain traditional folk songs in Singapore were introduced to the national consciousness through national events and national song competitions, and gives a critical analysis of the phenomenon. This article is retrievable through JSTOR via NLB’s eResources (a myLibrary username is required to access this resource).

Source: Tan, Shzr Ee. (2005). “Manufacturing and Consuming Culture: Fakesong in Singapore.” Ethnomusicology Forum 14(1) (Jun.): 83-106. Retrieved 2024, February 5.

Dikir Barat by Stephanie Ho

Dikir Barat is a style of Malay choral singing popular in Singapore and Malaysia. A type of traditional folk music genre, it was traditionally performed during the harvest season. In Singapore it started gaining popularity in the 1980s and continues to be performed at events at community and national events.

Source: Ho, Stephanie. (2015, February 11). "Dikir Barat"Infopedia. Singapore: National Heritage Board. Retrieved 2024, February 5.

Dondang sayang by Stephanie Ho

Dondang sayang is a traditional poetic art form mainly associated with the Malay and Peranakan (Straits Chinese) communities in Singapore and Malaysia. Although dondang sayang has declined in popularity since the mid-20th century, the art form is still loved and performed by many.

Source: Ho, Stephanie. (2015). "Xinyao."Singapore Infopedia. Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2024, February 5.

Books

Like Tigers around a piece of meat: the Baba style of dondang sayang

Thomas, Phillip Lee. (ed.). (1993). Like tigers around a piece of meat: the Baba style of Dondang Sayang. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. (Call no.: RSING 780.89 THO)

This well-illustrated book covers various costumes through time, dressed for special occasions or events. It showcases items from the Chinese, the Peranakan, Indian, Malay, the Europeans and Eurasians communities.

Musika: Malaya’s Early Music Scene 1900-1965 = Arena Muzik Silam di Malaya

Azlan Mohamad Said. (2013). Musika: Malaya’s Early Music Scene 1900-1965 = Arena Muzik Silam di Malaya (ed. Juffri Supa’at). Singapore: Azlan Mohamad Said. (Call no.: RSING 780.899928 AZL)

This introductory book on early music in Malaya is filled with lively images and has biographies on many early musicians in Malaya (which Singapore was once a part of), including that of Ahmad Patek, the composer of the Singapore famous folk song “Di Tanjong Katong” on pages 64-67. The song later gained national recognition and was often played during national day.

Sing Singapore: A Celebration in Song, National Day 1988

n.a. (1988). Sing Singapore: A Celebration in Song, National Day 1988. Singapore: F&N Sarsi and Psychological Defence Division, Ministry of Communications & Information. (Call no.: RCLOS 782.42095957 SIN)

Sing Singapore was a state-organized singing competition which was first held in 1988 to bring Singaporeans together. This booklet contains lyrics to many nationalist songs as well as folk songs such as “Di Tanjung Katong” and “Munneru Valiba.” These series of competitions gave rise to a common repertoire of songs that many Singaporeans know today.

Playlist: Traditional Performing Arts

Singapore's traditional performing arts showcase our multi-ethnic society's rich cultural heritage. These displays of tradition and history, often featuring intricate movements and melodious music, offer a glimpse into the customs and beliefs of the diverse communities in Singapore.

Check out these resources to find out more about traditional performing arts in Singapore.

Leaning Package: Traditional Performing Arts

Singapore's traditional performing arts encompass a wide array of art forms, including the vibrant art of Chinese opera, the rhythmic movements of Malay dance, and the captivating storytelling of Indian classical music. These art forms have been passed down through generations and are performed at cultural and/or religious events such as festivals, celebrations, and weddings.

Did you know...

In Singapore, five traditional Malay folk dances—namely, asli, inang, joget, masri, and zapin—are actively practised. These dances have a rich history, having been featured in bangsawan performances during the early 1900s and showcased in Malay films of the 1950s and 1960s.

This set of articles and books will help you understand more about traditional performing arts in Singapore.

Articles

Dikir barat by Stephanie Ho

Dikir barat, a versatile form of Malay choral singing, has gained popularity in Singapore and Malaysia. Traditionally associated with rural festivities and competitions, it has now expanded to urban areas and television screens. Beyond entertainment, it serves as a platform for social commentary and education. The art form gained traction in Singapore in the 1980s, with the inaugural dikir barat competition for schools organized by the Malay Literary, Debating and Cultural Society of Nanyang Junior College in 1984.

Source: Ho, Stephanie. (2015). "Dikir barat." Singapore Infopedia. Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2024, March 15.

Dondang sayang by Stephanie Ho

Dondang sayang is a traditional poetic art form mainly associated with the Malay and Straits Chinese communities in Singapore and Malaysia. The term is derived from the Malay words dondang or dendang, meaning “to sing”, and sayang, which encompasses a range of meanings that include “love”, “longing” and “dejection”.

Source: Ho, Stephanie. (2015). "Dondang sayang." Singapore Infopedia. Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2024, March 15.

Thau Yong Amateur Musical Association by Alvin Chua

Established in 1931 and registered as a society in 1962, the Thau Yong Amateur Musical Association continues to present Waijiang and Teochew music and opera concerts. It also played a role in popularising Chinese orchestral music in the 1950s, known as huayue in Singapore.

Source: Chua, Alvin. (2016). "Thau Yong Amateur Musical Association."Singapore Infopedia. Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2024, March 15.

Wayang kulit by Endon Salleh

Wayang kulit is a traditional shadow puppet theatre art form originating in Southeast Asia, possibly influenced by Indian shadow play. These performances often draw inspiration from the renowned Hindu epics, the Mahabharata, and the Ramayana, which are widely celebrated across Java, Bali, the Malay Peninsula, and mainland Southeast Asia.

Source: Endon Salleh. (2018). “Wayang kulit.”Singapore Infopedia.Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2024, March 15.

Books

Malay Dance in Singapore: the Som Said Journey

Som Said. (2017). Malay Dance in Singapore: the Som Said Journey. Singapore: Sri Warisan Som Said Performing Arts Ltd. (Available via PublicationSG)

This book chronicles the history, evolution, and future of Malay Dance in Singapore, as observed through the perspective of Singapore's cultural figure, Som Said. It also serves as an educational tool on Malay dance for the community, arts activists, and stakeholders in the arts and culture sector.

A Malay-language version of this book is available too: Som Said. (2017). Seni Tari Melayu di Singapura: Perjalanan Som Said. Singapore: Sri Warisan Som Said Performing Arts Ltd. (Call no. RSING 793.3195957 SOM)

Kala Manjari: Fifty Years of Indian Classical Music and Dance in Singapore

Seshan Ramaswami (ed). (2015). Kala Manjari: Fifty Years of Indian Classical Music and Dance in Singapore. Singapore: Sun Media Pte Ltd for the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society. (Call no. RSING 780.899141105957 KAL)

This book features the memories of pioneering, established, and emerging artistes and arts administrators. It covers the development of North and South Indian classical music, various classical dance styles, and the roles played by temples, the government, and the media.

Traditional Chinese Music in Contemporary Singapore

Michelle Loh and Lum Yan Sing (eds). (2020). Traditional Chinese Music in Contemporary Singapore. Singapore: Pagesetters Services Pte Ltd. (Call no. RSING 781.62951 TRA)

This book is a collection of essays by 12 esteemed contributors deeply involved in the development of traditional Chinese music in Singapore. These essays, authored by musicians, lecturers, and conductors, offer diverse perspectives and insightful observations, serving as an informative introduction for curious readers and valuable companions for experienced enthusiasts.