Title
Nana Jual Minyak/Lagu Nasib (Exile Prince)
Year/Period
early 20th century
Region
Found in Singapore
Object Type
Material
Technique
Dimension
Object size: 25.0 x 25.0 x 0.2 cm
Accession No.
2014-01105
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Harry Ho Tiang Kee & Lily Wee Peng Neo in memory of Mr Wee Whatt Beng
The song “Nana Jual Minyak” was recorded by Cheong Hock Chye, Wee Tiang Wah and Ong Guan Bork, all members of the “Straits Chinese Amateur Dramatic and Musical Society”. Ong and Wee were female impersonators in the 1930s and also members of the “Oleh Oleh Party”, a Straits Chinese group that performed frequently at charity events at Happy World. The songs here were recorded by Pagoda, a local record label for Malay records.Songs in Malay were popular among Peranakan Chinese who primarily spoke Baba Malay, a dialect of the Malay language which incorporates Hokkien terms and phrases. They are indicative of the assimilation of Peranakan Chinese to the indigenous population of the region by adapting their language.
