S’porean man creates Peranakan Rhapsody music video, viral parody of Bohemian Rhapsody
A local Peranakan named Alvin Oon, has produced a parody of the song called Peranakan Rhapsody.
Oon set up Peranakan Sayang as a platform for him to showcase the Peranakan culture, and this video was created for the same purpose. According to Oon, the idea for the parody had been sitting in his head for “quite some time” and the recent release of the Queen biopic pushed him to produce it.
He also said that the toughest part of the parody were the vocals, for which he enlisted the help of his friends.
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Peranakan Sayang 7 November 2016
Hello! Hello! Welcome to the FB Page of the Peranakan Sayang, celebrating the Peranakan culture we love and home to Singapore's premier Peranakan performing singing group. We are all excited with a fresh start to bring you news, information, shows, events, merchandise and all things wonderfully Baba Nyonya! Kamsiah for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you at our next event!
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The Peranakan
The Peranakan traditional dress for women known as the Nonya Kebaya features beautifully embroidered details. The spicy Malay influenced taste of Peranakan food is probably the most commonly encountered aspect of this ethnic group. The Peranakans, are a fascinating blend of cultures from the region. The term Peranakan refers to people descended from marriages between Chinese or Indian men and local Malay or Indonesian women who can be found throughout Southeast Asia.
The Peranakan Chinese, or Straits Chinese, in Singapore can trace their origins to 15th-century Malacca, where their ancestors were Chinese traders who married local Malay women. There are also Chitty Melaka, or Peranakan Indians, descendants of marriages between South Indian Hindu merchants and local women, and Jawi Peranakans, who trace their ancestry to intermarriage between South Indian-Muslim traders and women of the local community. Many of the early Peranakans were traders and shopkeepers, while others were involved in the real estate, shipping and banking sectors. While many of the Straits Chinese have assimilated into the broader Chinese community, they still retain distinctive cultural traits – most notably in their food and traditional dress. Nonya food, named after the ladies who cook it, features strong Malay and Indonesian influences with its uses of spices and coconut milk.
At formal events, Peranakan women are also likely to be seen in their traditional dress known as the Nonya Kebaya, which is influenced by the Malay Sarong Kebaya. This intricate outfit features a sheer fabric blouse that is often decorated with embroidered motifs such as roses, orchids or butterflies.
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Peranakan Dressings
