Two planners with handwritten song lyrics belonging to Nona Asiah

Collections
1607200
Title
Two planners with handwritten song lyrics belonging to Nona Asiah
Year/Period
1970s
Region
Singapore
Object Type
Dimension
Object size: Refer to parts
Accession No.
2025-00932
Credit Line
Gift of the family of the late Nona Asiah

Nona Asiah (born Asiah Bte Aman, 1931–2024) was a pioneering figure in the development of the Malay music and film industry from the 1950s to the 1970s. Her career as a playback singer for Shaw Brothers and Cathay-Keris studios helped define Malay cinema during this period, working with key figures like composer Zubir Said and actor P. Ramlee. Nona Asiah’s contributions extended beyond performance, as she later mentored younger artists and continued to shape the cultural landscape in Singapore.These planners, from the 1970s, contain handwritten lyrics for songs like Cempaka Biru, Ulang Tahun Negara Singapura, and Orang Singapura. These songs reflect Nona Asiah’s contributions to the Malay music scene and her role in shaping Singapore's cultural identity during the post-independence years.