Originally posted by Arapahoe:
it is interesting to know that the term "Baba" was not of Malay
origin but from Indian traders.
saw this message from one forum.
Chinese marry Malay before world war 2 know as Peranakan .
Chinese marry Malay after world war 2 know as Malay .
The word ''Baba'' is a word used by different
nationalities or ethnicities in their languages, and each will have
different meaning.
Googling
the word ''Baba'' to find its origin will reveal quite a
surprising outcome, and much will depend on which site the word
will land on.
In the context of this Southeast Asian Region, it will seem to be
that the word ''Baba''
is referring to the males in the 'Peranakan' community, and the
females are known as ''Nonyas''.
The word
''Peranakan'' in the Indian language refers to
''speakers of a foreign
tongue''
Before WW2, the Malay Community was not as political as it is
today, and seem to be more political after the revival of Islam
that is seen to have occurred during the Oil Crisis of the 1970s -
(after the 6-day Israeli War), when the Middle-east Arab Nations
found their pride boosted with the political clout in their near
monopoly in crude oil production.
It was during this period of self-discovery amongst the Middle-east
Arab-Muslims, that the Malay communities in Southeast Asia awoke to
identify their seemingly ''underclassed'' position with that of
the Arabs through their mutual faith in Islam.
Since this discovery of a common thread, and finding their position
to be strengthened with a ''Rich
Cousin'' holding an 'Ace
Card' in the crude oil, the Malay Community began their
''Islamic Revival'' -
becoming more Islamic than the Arabs.
It was about this period - in the late 1970s and 1980s - that the
Malay communities in this region began to introduce and inject
Arabic cultures, diet, dressing, and values into their own local
habits.
The ''Baba Peranakan''
culture - even in its diluted adopted forms of each culture - can
be said to provide an accurate snapshot of the original Malay
culture in the old days before this Islamic fervor drove the Malay
community from their original form. (This statement will be
controversial to some. )
Amongst the diminishing older generation of ''Peranakan''
communities in Singapore, traditions remained the same. While those
in their late 50s are somewhat modernised.
Recent trips to Malacca and Penang, seems to reveal the same trend
of cultural deterioration, in which modern life has taken a toll on
the preferred mode of dressing amongst the ''Peranakan" women.
Fortunately, the ''Peranankan'' interest in good
cooking and tradional fares have never diminished; and fortunately
- (or unfortunately, for some) - there is a revival in ''Peranakanism'' and in a
strenghtening of 'Peranakan' bonds.
