This record of Baba Malay music was played at two very different occasions. The title of the song, “Soja Abu” (Honouring Ancestors), suggests that it was played during death anniversaries or ceremonies involving the remembrance of the family’s ancestors. Conversely, the song on the other side of the record entitled “Kahwin Saya Mak Bapak” (My Parent’s Wedding) suggests that it was played on the occasion of matrimony. This record was used by the donor’s father during the traditional Peranakan Chinese weddings of his extended family.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.
