Meeting Point: The Pod @ National Library,100 Victoria St, level 16 Singapore 188064
Singapura Stories Seminar 2025 no.3
Malay Maritime Heritage and Identity in a Changing Singapore: Continuity, Evolution
Sun, 18 May, 2pm - 4pm
Singapore’s heritage is often viewed through the lens of rapid modernization and global connectivity. Yet, its cultural and historical identity remains deeply rooted in centuries of trade, migration, and shared traditions. This Seminar explores memory, identity, continuity and evolution, and the documentation and revival of aspects of Malay maritime heritage in Singapore. Four panellists discuss place histories and architecture, maritime-oriented culinary traditions and knowledges, sea sports and boat building, and social memory. How do these aspects of heritage interact with an evolving identity to reflect both continuity and change in a globalized world? What does it mean to preserve heritage in a city that is constantly reinventing itself? How do we balance modernization with cultural memory? And how does Singapore’s unique position shape its identity on the world stage?
Programme:
- Session Intro - 10mins, on key themes: memory | identity | continuity & evolution
- Overall Introduction to Place and Identities: "Place heritage, maritime architecture, and port city memory - Imran Tajudeen (20mins)
- Seas, Harvesting, Cuisines: "Culinary traditions, intangible heritage, and Malay identity in Singapore- Khir Johari (20mins)
- Seas, Sports, Boatbuilding: "Jong, Malay vessels, research and documentation, reviving and organising," - Fawzi Nasir 20mins
- Documenting Legacies, Designing Heritage Futures: "Singapore’s evolving identity in the context of global connectivity, digital trade, and modernization" - Amira Karim 20mins
- Q&A 20mins – end
Panellists:
- Dr. Imran Tajudeen (Architectural historian and heritage scholar)
- Khir Johari (Cultural historian, culinary heritage expert)
- Mr Fawzi Nasir (Jong sportsman and former islander, St John’s Island)
- Ms Amira Karim (Global technology and economic exec)
