BABA AND NYONYA

Baba Nyonya is a term used to describe Straits Chinese, that is to say, Chinese people born and/or
living in the Straits Settlements of Malacca, Penang and Singapore. The degree by which they are
practicing or have partially or fully adopted Malay culture into their way of life is a matter that has
to be studied region by region, and in some cases, household by household.
While the term "Baba Nyonya" is used exclusively to describe the Chinese, the term "Peranakan" may
denote other groups of Straits-born people including the Hindu Peranakans who are also called Chitty,
the Indian Muslim Peranakans called Jawi Pekan or Jawi Peranakan or Peranakan Kling, and the
Eurasian Peranakans, called Kristang. The word Baba Nyonya is a compound of two words, "Baba"
referring to the Straits-born male, and "Nyonya" referring to the Straits-born female. The word
Baba itself is said to have originated from Hindustani speakers whereas Nyonya has its origin in
Javanese to mean Madam. In both the case with Baba and Nyonya, they were words used to call these
Straits Chinese, until eventually it became common vernacular.
The majority of the Baba Nyonyas are of Hokkien ancestry. In Malacca, they speak Baba Malay,
which is the Malay language with Hokkien loan words. In Penang, the reverse is observed, where the
Straits Chinese speak Hokkien, with Malay loan words. In either case, it reflects the degree of
evolution of the early Hokkien immigrants in Malaysia. Those in Malacca, having arrived earlier - say
from the 15th century - shows a higher degree of integration than those in Penang, who arrived in the
late 18th century.
Why did they adopt local culture and language at all? It is said that many of the Peranakans are the
product of Chinese men who took local brides. They were Chinese men from the working class, who
did not have the means to get a Chinese wife from their homeland. The brides may be Malay women
of the peninsula or those from Sumatra - it is also said that the British helped in importing Batak
women to be brides for the single Chinese men. As a result, their offsprings display a mix of Chinese
and Malay cultural traits.
There is also the Peranakan who did not intermarry with the local Malay population. Rather they
imported brides from China, and sent their daughters back to China to find husbands. These are
likely to be traders who were well off and had the means to execute such arrangements. Nonetheless
they still adopted local cultural and way of life.
While the Baba Nyonyas adopted the Malay language, whether in syntax (in the case of Malacca) or in
loan words (in the case of Penang and Singapore), they retain their religious beliefs. The majority are
Taoist with a small minority professing to be Christians. The Taoists subscribe to ancestral worship
as well as the worship of Taoist deities. However, in terms of clothing, and particularly among the
Nyonyas, there is a strong Malay influence. The attire of the Nyonya includes the baju panjang (long
dress), batik sarung (wrap-around batik sarong), baju pendek (short dress), kasut manik (beaded
slippers) and kerongsang (brooch).
The Baba Nyonya form the moneyed, upper-middle class in 19th century Malaya. They occupy a
position between the British administrators and the Chinese newcomers. The Baba males are often
given English education, enabling them to speak impeccable English. They are also likely to be dressed
in Western suits. The Babas are free to engage in commerce while their womenfolk remained
cloistered at home.
(Retrieved from http://www.asiaexplorers.com/malaysia/baba-nyonya.htm)

SAPE
The sape (sampet, sampeh, sapeh) is a traditional lute of many of the Orang Ulu or "upriver people",
who live in the longhouses that line the rivers of Central Borneo. Sapes are carved from a single bole
of wood, with many modern instruments reaching over a metre in length.
Initially the sape was a fairly limited instrument with two strings and only three frets. Its use was
restricted to a form of ritualistic music to induce trance. In the last century, the sape gradually
became a social instrument to accompany dances or as a form of entertainment. Today, three, four or
five-string instruments are used, with a range of more than three octaves.
Technically, the sape is a relatively simple instrument, with one string carrying the melody and the
accompanying strings as rhythmic drones. In practice, the music is quite complex, with much
ornamentation and thematic variations. There are two common modes, one for the men's longhouse
dance and the other for the woman's longhouse dance. There also is a third rarely used mode. Sape
music is usually inspired by dreams and there are over 35 traditional pieces with many variations. The
overall repertoire is slowly increasing.
The ideas came through a dream of a farmer who fell asleep in the hut of his padi field after
returning from seeking a witch doctor to cure the sickness of his wife. In his dream, he was directed
to look for Adau wood, which were the trees that the birds Hill Myna (Burung Tiong) used to
perch. The shape of sape appeared in his dream and if it was played, he dreamt the spirit would come
and cure his wifes sickness.
There are two types of sape Sape Bali and Sape Kanjet (Dance). Sape Bali is used to cure sickness
by the Bali Dayong (witch doctor) who calls the spirit. It is only two feet in length with two strings.
The strings are called Laba Iman. While curing sickness, the player sat on the floor and then stood
up to drive away the evil spirits (Udo). Sape Kanjet is used to accompany dances. It is double the size
of the sape Bali. Steel wires are used for the strings. These sape were produced during the year the
British first came to Sarawakand brought along the Selek (dawai/telephone cables).
Sapes are still being made in Borneo, and modern innovations like electric sapes are common.
(Adapted from http://melodyofborneo.blog.com/2012/the-borneo-guitar/)

NASI LEMAK
Nasi lemak is a fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf commonly found in Malaysia,
where it is considered the national dish. It is also popular in neighboring countries such as Brunei;
Singapore; Indonesia especially in Sumatra; and Southern Thailand. Nasi Lemak can be found in the
Southern Philippines prepared by Filipino Muslims, it is considered one of the most famous dishes for
Malay-type breakfast. It is not to be confused with nasi dagang sold in the Malaysian east coast
states of Terengganu and Kelantan although both dishes can usually be found sold side by side for
breakfast. However, because of nasi lemak's versatility in being able to be served in a variety of
manners, it is now served and eaten any time of the day.
Nasi lemak was mentioned in a book "The Circumstances of Malay Life", written Sir Richard Olof
Winstedt in 1909. With roots in Malay culture and Malay cuisine, its name in Malay literally means
"oily or fatty rice", but is taken in this context to mean "rich" or "creamy". The name is derived from
the cooking process whereby rice is soaked in coconut cream and then the mixture steamed. The rice
is normally cooked with pandan leaves that gives it a distinctive flavor.
Traditionally, nasi lemak is served with a hot spicy sauce (sambal), and usually include various
garnishes, including fresh cucumber slices, small fried anchovies (ikan bilis), roasted peanuts, and
hard-boiled or fried egg. As a more substantial meal, nasi lemak may also be served with an additional
protein dish such as ayam goreng (fried chicken), sambal sotong (cuttlefish in chili), small fried fish,
cockles, and on special occasions rendang daging (beef) stewed in coconut milk and spices). Other
accompaniments include stir fried water convolvulus (kangkong) and spicy pickled vegetables salad
acar. Traditionally most of these accompaniments are spicy in nature.
Nasi lemak is widely eaten in Malaysia and Singapore. More commonly consumed as breakfast in both
countries, it is commonly sold at hawker food centers and roadside stalls in Malaysia and Singapore.
This unique dish often comes wrapped in banana leaves, newspaper or brown paper, or it in some shops
served on a plate. However, owing to its popularity there are restaurants which serve it as a noon or
evening meal, making it possible for the dish to be eaten all day. Nasi lemak kukus which means
"steamed nasi lemak" is another name given to nasi lemak served with steamed rice. In Malaysia, nasi
lemak also can be found in a pasar malam (night market) with a variety of dishes.
(Adapted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasi_lemak)

RAFFLESIA FLOWER
The Rafflesia is the largest flower in the World with recent flowers found measuring up to 95cm (3
feet) across. There are 55 species of Rafflesia, of which 9 are found in Borneo.
Alongside their rarity, size and unusual appearance, it is the strange lifestyle of Rafflesias that make
them so fascinating. The Rafflesia is a totally parasitic flower. The only visible part of the plant is a
single flower that has no leaves, stems or roots.
The cabbage like bud of the Rafflesia lies apparently 'dormant' for up to 16 months before blooming.
Once a bud reaches maturity, it begins to uncurl at night, although the process may take between 12
to 48 hours to complete. From this point the clock is ticking for the next generation of Rafflesias to
be conceived, as after just 8 to 10 days the bloom of the Rafflesia begins to show significant signs of
deterioration.
During this short blooming period, the flowers are assumed to be pollinated by blue bottles and
carrion flies. These are attracted by the sight of the bloom and its smell, which resembles rotting
flesh. Pollination has to take place very quickly, as the blooms do not last very long. For pollination to
occur successfully, both male and female flowers must be in bloom simultaneously in the same area, so
that flies can pass between them.
Rafflesia can be seen at private plots near Poring Hot Springs (on the lower slopes of Mount
Kinabalu). Sighting of blooming rafflesia needs luck. To avoid disappointment, before you visit
Tambunan Rafflesia Centre, you can check for blooming information with Sabah Forestry
Department:
Facebook: sabahforestrydepartment (they will update their Facebook if there is blooming)
Contact no.: +60 19-5383992 (mobile), +60 88-899589 (office)
Email : rafflesia.info@gmail.com
(Adapted from http://www.mysabah.com/wordpress/biggest-flower-in-sabah/)

CONGKAK
Congkak (pronounced CHONG-kak) is a game played on a wooden boat-shaped block with two rows of
seven circular holes and two large holes at both ends called "home".
The game begins with seven game pieces (shells, marbles, pebbles or seeds) in each hole except
"homes" which remain empty. Congkak requires two players. Each player controls the seven holes on
his side of the board and owns the "home" to his left. The goal is to accumulate as many pieces in
your own "home".
On a turn, a player removes all pieces from one of the seven holes on his side. He then distributes
them clockwise --- one in each hole to the left of this hole --- in a process called sowing. Sowing skips
an opponent's "home" but not a player's own "home".
If the last piece falls into an occupied hole then all the pieces are removed from that hole, and are
sown in the same way (clockwise from that hole) in another round. This player's (current) turn ends
when the last piece falls into an empty hole on the opponent's side.
If the last piece sown falls into a player's own "home" then the player earns another turn, which can
begin at any of the seven holes on his side. If the last piece sown falls into an empty hole on his side
then the player captures all the pieces in the hole directly across from this one, on the opponent's
side and put them (plus the last piece sown) in his own "home". If the opposing hole is empty, no
pieces are captured.
The other player chooses which hole he wishes to start from, removes the pieces and sows them one in each hole, clockwise from that chosen hole. If a player has no pieces on his side of the board
when it is his turn, then he must pass.
The game ends when no pieces are left in any hole on both sides of the board. The players now count
the number of pieces in their own "home" and see who has won.
This game is also played in other Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines
where it is known as "Sungka".
(Adapted from http://www.vtaide.com/ASEAN/Malaysia/congkak.html)

SUMAZAU
Sumazau is the most popular traditional dance from Sabah. This dance comes from the KadazanDusun ethic group, particularly the Dusun Lotud group from Tuaran district, where it was a traditional
dance called Madsayau. Madsayau is part of Mengahau, a special chanting ceremony of the Dusun
people. The Mengahau, usually held over 5 days is intended to appease the spirits of the ancient pots
called gusi-gusi. It is conducted to honour the departed members of the family, similar to kenduri
arwah celebrated by Malays.
This dance is performed by the peasants made up of men and women to wear their traditional dress.
The dance is played with accompaniment gongs, gong usually 6 pieces of various sizes and a drum with
a specific rhythm. Duration and pace of shot is elegantly gong vary by region and country.
The dance is danced with both hands raised to shoulder level and holding hands like bird wings, as the
tempo tunes played slowly and gently. The dancers, male and female, and their front face moving his
legs with small steps, heels up and down to the beat of the music. While dancing hand in shake and
move it down just like a bird flying. Sumazau is usually performed during festive occasions and
gatherings, but the original purpose of this dance is to welcome "Bambaazon" (rice spirit) is commonly
done in after harvest.
Nowadays Sumazau is performed for entertainment, and is usually performed during the Kaamatan
harvest festival as thanksgiving to the rice spirit for good harvest, and also to ward away evil. The
dance is performed by the peasants in their traditional costumes, accompanied by the beating of
gongs. Usually six different gongs and one gendang are used to produce the melody. The rhythm and
tempo of Sumazau differs from one village to another.
The dance is also elegantly held in many gatherings such as wedding receptions and entertainment
occasions, where it was also performed by all attendees regardless of race and age to enliven the
occasion without wearing black traditional clothes.
(Adapted from http://tariansumazau.blogspot.com/2012/08/sumazau-dance.html)