Infusion of the Malay culture into the Baweanese lives

(The family of my paternal Aunt Jamaliah. A Studio Photo taken in the late 1950s. Notice my older cousin was wearing the Malay traditional baju kurong.)

My father's photo album had helped me to recall my childhood life living in Pondok Kelompang Gubuk. It was during the period in which the Baweanese language was widely used among the Singaporean Baweanese. My grandparents spoke to me in this language with mixture of Malay. Back then, most Baweanese spoke in Malay with the Baweanese accent.

When the Baweanese from the Bawean Island came to live in Singapore, they were unable to speak the Malay language. Since this language was widely spoken by the indigenous people of Singapore, i.e. the Malays, it was necessary for these Baweanese to learn the language. It became even more prominent after the independence of Singapore as it became the National Language of the country.

Other than the above factors, the Baweanese living in Singapore speak the Malay language due to the fact that they shared the same religion as the Singaporean Malays. They mingled with the Malays and gradually like the other Indonesian ethnic groups living in Singapore such as the Javanese and Bugis, they were recognised by the Malays as part of their Community.

(During Eid-ul-Fitr,my cousins wearing Baju Kurong, the traditional costume of the Malays. Photo taken in the late 90s.)

Gradually, the Baweanese living in Singapore began to dress like the Malays. They wore Baju Kurong, the Malay traditional costume. Soon the younger generations Baweanese ladies replaced the Kebaya and Sarong Batik with the two pieces Malay Baju Kurong. On the other hand, the men started to put on the Songket Kain Samping.

(My cousin -daughter of my mother's cousin, with her son and daughter. She was wearing a Kebarong while her daughter was wearing Kebaya -late 1990s)

However, today there are some Baweanese who continue to put on the Kebaya but with some 'adjustments' and 'innovations'. Such Kebaya are called Kebarong. It is actually the infusion of the Baju Kurong into the Kebaya with the elimination of the Sarong Batik. However, there are those who continue to put on the Kebaya without any changes.

(The Baweanese lady in the photo continues to put on Kebaya while her aunt sitting next to her wore Baju Kurong -2003)

Through the years, the Singaporean Baweanese and the other Singaporean Muslims of Indonesian ethnic descent were very much infused and blended into the Malay Community that other races such as the Chinese, Indians and Eurasians acknowledged them as Malays. It became even more confusing when inter-marriage between these ethnic groups occurred. Today, there are many marriages between the Baweanese and Malays or Baweanese and Javanese or Baweanese and other races that make the younger generations of Singaporean Baweanese confused about their race.

(Nowadays, it is difficult to identify the Baweanese living among the Malays. Look at the above photo taken few years back. Do you think that this is a Baweanese family?)

Fortunately, the Singapore Government always reminds young Singaporeans not to forget their roots and heritage. This is also reflected in the Singapore Identity Card (NRIC) that shows the race of an individual Singaporean. Hence, one who is of a Baweanese descent, his/her race will be shown as Boyanese ('Boyanese' is the spelling in Singapore for 'Baweanese') in his/her NRIC. Clearly the Baweanese are not Malays.