Singapore’s Baba Nyonya Literary Festival Aims To Preserve Peranakan Heritage Through Literature

Over centuries, the Peranakans have developed a distinct hybrid culture that blends Chinese, Malay, and other regional influences, expressed through their language, cuisine, architecture, fashion, and customs. The biennial Baba Nyonya Literary Festival, presented by The Peranakan Association Singapore, aims to promote Peranakan culture through the written word and to highlight literature as an integral expression of Peranakan identity. It showcases works by both Peranakan and non-Peranakan writers, with recurring themes exploring cultural identity and the evolving Peranakan voice. On 25 and 26 July 2026, the festival will return for its fourth edition at the Gallery Theatre of the National Museum of Singapore.

For the first time in the Festival’s history, book launches will be hosted, providing both Singaporean and Malaysian authors with a platform to debut their works. As Singapore‘s only literary festival dedicated to Peranakan culture, heritage and literature, the festival provides a unique platform for writers, scholars, artists, and cultural practitioners from across the region to engage with the public and celebrate their shared heritage.

Ngiam May Ling, Founder & Chairman of the Organising Committee, Baba Nyonya Literary Festival, shared how the festival came into being. “Founding the Baba Nyonya Literary Festival enabled me to combine my lifelong love of the written word with a cause that is deeply personal to me: preserving and celebrating Peranakan heritage through literature.”

She adds, “The Festival’s tagline, “Preserving Heritage Through Literature,” encapsulates that vision. Literature has a unique ability to preserve not only facts, but also memories, identities, beliefs and lived experiences. Every edition of the Festival explores themes of cultural identity and what it means to be Peranakan today. While our customs and traditions may differ from family to family and evolve, books provide a lasting record of who we are and where we come from. By showcasing works by both Peranakan and non-Peranakan authors, we hope to demonstrate that Peranakan culture is not only something to be inherited, but also something to be studied, appreciated and shared with everyone, not just our community.”

Panel Discussions During The Baba Nyonya Literary Festival 2024

“I also believe literature deserves to be recognised as an integral part of Peranakan intangible cultural heritage. The community has long been associated with creativity and excellence in both the performing and literary arts. Although much contemporary Peranakan writing is in English rather than Baba Malay—which today survives most visibly in traditional wayang kulit performances—it nevertheless continues to express the values, humour and worldview of the community. Through the Festival, we hope to encourage more people to read, write and document Peranakan stories so that our heritage continues to evolve rather than fade,” Ngiam reflects.

“My aspiration is for it to continue growing, to welcome more international voices, and one day to travel to cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Melaka, where vibrant Peranakan communities can join us in ensuring that our stories continue to be told for generations to come,” she ended.

Additionally, Malaysia’s own Chris Ong will be launching his new book, My Heritage Rituals, which showcases the traditional Chinese rituals he continues to practise with great pomp and pageantry, many of them at his hotels. He shared, “My hope is that my book will serve as a living record of Peranakan and Chinese cultural traditions for future generations. The book documents the cycle of rituals and festivals that shape our calendar year, from Chinese New Year and Ching Ming to the Hungry Ghost Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and Winter Solstice. It also captures how these traditions continue to evolve, such as the inclusion of beloved pets in Buddhist merit-transfer ceremonies.”

He adds, “I began the book because I was constantly asked why my family still observes these rituals, who they are meant for, and why they remain relevant today. Those are important questions, and I wanted to answer them from my own perspective, explaining the meaning and significance of these practices in simple, contemporary language that younger readers can relate to. Traditions can only survive if people understand them and see their relevance in their own lives.”

Highlights of the Baba Nyonya Literary Festival

Day 1 (25 July)

•  Datin Paduka Tan Siok Choo, daughter of Tun Tan Siew Sin and granddaughter of Tun Tan Cheng Lock, will be discussing her book, Ancestral Home of Tun Tan Siew Sin.
• Chris Ong, founder-owner of George Town Heritage Hotels, will discuss his book, The Chris Ong Collection, which features his unrivalled collection of Peranakan antiques. In addition, he
• Lee Su Yin will discuss her book, British Policy and the Chinese in Singapore, 1939 to 1955 – The Public Service Career of Tan Chin Tuan, which chronicles the career of the prominent Peranakan leader and economic powerhouse, Tan Chin Tuan.
• Lim Yu Lin will discuss her book, The Journey of Ang Eng Nyonya Kebaya Makers Since 1955, which traces the journey of three generations of kebaya makers in her family.

Day 2 (26 July)

• Josephine Chia will discuss her book, Ayam Buah Keluak and the Art of Writing, a work that is part memoir and part self-help guide.
• Wee Wei Ling will discuss her book, Food for Thought: My Personal Journey, which reflects on the wholesome values espoused by her late father, Wee Cho Yaw, founder of UOB.
• Terry Tan, one of Singapore’s pioneering culinary figures, marks his return to the culinary scene with his latest cookbook, Terry Tan’s Peranakan Classics.
• Peter Yeoh of Penang, contributor to the Michelin Guide for Penang and Kuala Lumpur will helm a panel titled ‘Peranakan Culinary Heritage: A Journey Through Taste and Tradition’ featuring Terry Tan, Gerard Chai, who will present Mum’s Favourite Recipes Presented Through a Journey in Time; and the illustrious Malaysian, Tan Sri Dr Datuk Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, who will speak on The Smell of Home.

Tickets are priced at S$40 per day and are available for purchase here. For enquiries, please email [email protected].