BiblioAsia+

National Library, Singapore
  • 4.7 (3)
  • HISTORIA
BiblioAsia+

BiblioAsia+ is a podcast series about Singapore stories: some unfamiliar, others forgotten, all fascinating. Does Singapore have a stone age? What’s happened to the murals at the old Paya Lebar airport? Who were some local tennis greats? Find out in this original podcast by the National Library of Singapore.

  1. 31 OCT

    A Tour of 60 Asian Port Cities with Ex–ACM Director Kennie Ting

    To write a book about 60 Asian port cities, ex–ACM director Kennie Ting travelled as far as the Middle East and Africa. He tells us how port cities can tell a different history of Asia, and what his "eat, pray, love" cities and his favourite ACM artefacts are. A writer and museum professional fascinated by the history, heritage and culture of Asian port cities, Kennie Ting is the former director of the Asian Civilisations Museum and Peranakan Museum in Singapore. He has written The Romance of the Grand Tour: 100 Years of Travel in South East Asia (2015) and Singapore 1819: A Living Legacy (2019). His recent book, The Great Port Cities of Asia in History (2024), re-examines Asian history from the perspective of 60 port cities across the region. What Kennie Talked About 02:00 – How Kennie found time to write his book The Great Port Cities of Asia in History while heading two museums04:17 – Kennie’s travel experiences 05:37 – How his fascination with port cities began 06:57 – His writing approach and themes of the book 10:09 – How he categorised port cities into six eras in his book 13:18 – The hardest thing about writing this book 14:36 – His favourite artefacts in the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) 16:00 – Wuhan’s significance as a historic port city 18:23 – Kennie’s research process 18:59 – His “eat, pray, love” port cities 22:19 – The port cities Kennie would pick to live in 26:32 – What he misses about ACM 27:14 – What’s next for Kennie Ting Transcript and Resources Read the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/podcast/asian-port-cities-with-ex-acm-director-kennie-ting/transcriptCheck out Kennie's book: The Great Port Cities of Asia in History Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore. This episode of BiblioAsia+ was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Doppler Soundlab. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Osman Ahmad and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Kennie for coming on the show. BiblioAsia+ is a podcast about Singapore history by the National Library of Singapore.

    30 min

  2. 4 OCT

    He Wrote the National Pledge: S. Rajaratnam, Singapore's First Foreign Minister

    A journalist turned politician turned diplomat, S. Rajaratnam (1915–2006) wore many hats in the service of Singapore. His contribution to Singapore is so great that to cover his life adequately required 20 years of research and over 1,200 pages of writing. Irene Ng, his authorised biographer, tells us little-known facets of the man, his legacy as Singapore’s founding foreign and culture minister, and his relationship with Lee Kuan Yew. Irene Ng is the authorised biographer of S. Rajaratnam and writer-in-residence at the Institute of ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute. She was formerly an award-winning senior political correspondent and a Member of Parliament in Singapore. What Irene Talked About02:29 – Irene’s first meeting with S. Rajaratnam and her impressions of him04:17 – How a journalistic background helped Irene connect with him06:10 – Rajaratnam's personality07:55 – Main themes of the second volume of Rajaratnam biography, The Lion’s Roar10:24 – Why young Singaporeans should read the biography14:49 – How Singapore’s pledge came from Rajaratnam’s ideals19:07 – Rajaratnam's relationship with Lee Kuan Yew24:41 – Rajaratnam’s legacy in shaping Singapore’s foreign policy26:11 – Qualities that made Rajaratnam the ideal founding foreign minister28:04 – Rajaratnam’s impact as the culture minister 30:51 – His forgotten achievements as the labour minister35:10 – What inspired Irene to write Rajaratnam’s biography37:30 – Challenges in writing the second volume of the biography39:40 – Irene’s take on criticisms about the book based on her history as a politician44:58 – What Irene reads for leisure46:06 – Biographies that inspired Irene49:00 – What’s next for Irene 49:38 – Irene’s Singapore dream Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/podcast/s-rajaratnam-singapores-first-foreign-minister/transcript/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/vol-20/issue-3/oct-dec-2024/rajaratnam-biography-lions-roar/ Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore. This episode of BiblioAsia+ was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Doppler Soundlab. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Osman Ahmad and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Irene for coming on the show. BiblioAsia+ is a podcast about Singapore history by the National Library of Singapore.

    55 min

  3. 4 SEPT

    Stella Kon: Beyond Emily of Emerald Hill

    Stella Kon is known for creating the beloved Emily of Emerald Hill – possibly the most frequently staged play in Singapore. She is also a novelist and musical theatre writer, and she has adapted her landmark play into a musical after falling in love with the genre. In this episode, Stella talks about the difference between writing plays and musicals, her favourite actor who played Emily, and her writing process. What Stella Talked About02:15 – How Stella felt watching the first version of the play Emily of Emerald Hill come to life04:13 – Why the character of Emily resonated with many and inspired countless adaptations05:25 – Her favourite portrayal of Emily06:10 – How the play evolved from draft to final product 07:07 – About creating Emily the Musical08:26 – How Stella wrote “Love Was All I Wanted” for Emily the Musical09:19 – What draws Stella to the musical genre11:21 – Her musical Lim Boon Keng, which is based on the life of her great-grandfather 13:03 – Her new novel, 4 Pax to Emptiness14:37 – Common themes in her work16:33 – Her writing process, practices and rituals18:45 – Her writing influences20:10 – What’s next for Stella Kon20:49 – Her advice to writers22:17 – Writing is…22:39 – Stella’s proudest moments Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/podcast/stella-kon-beyond-emily-of-emerald-hill/transcript/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/vol-20/issue-2/jul-sep-2024/emily-of-emerald-hill-stella-kon/ Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore. This episode of BiblioAsia+ was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Doppler Soundlab. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Osman Ahmad and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Stella for coming on the show. BiblioAsia+ is a podcast about Singapore history by the National Library of Singapore.

    29 min

  4. 3 JUN

    Seaside Foraging and Eurasian Cuisine

    MasterChef Singapore judge Damian D’Silva grew up by the sea and spent many happy hours foraging for horseshoe crabs, shellfish and sea snails that would end up in the cooking pot. In this episode, he talks about how his childhood and grandfather influenced his cooking philosophy, when he found his calling in the kitchen (later than you'd expect), and what's left for him after winning the prestigious culinary award La Liste. Chef Damian D’Silva is a judge on MasterChef Singapore and the first Singaporean to be awarded the prestigious culinary prize Artisan & Authenticity Award 2024 from La Liste, a French ranking and restaurants guide. An advocate for local culinary heritage, he helms Rempapa, a multicultural restaurant serving dishes from the ethnicities in Singapore. What Damian Talked About02:15 – Why Damian chose to cook sea snail and papaya curry on From Book to Cook04:26 – Foraging in the sea and on land07:46 – His fascination with Western culture and food as a teenager08:28 – The Malay and Peranakan version of the sea snail and papaya curry dish08:50 – His experience of growing up in a community with different ethnicities10:09 – Foraging for horseshoe crabs and cooking them12:32 – About his grandfather, who had the greatest influence on Damian’s cooking journey14:20 – The difference between a cook and a chief18:01 – When Damian found out that cooking is his calling 20:26 – Why heritage cuisine is important22:45 – How Eurasian cuisine is unique25:23 – What’s next for Damian D’Silva after winning the Artisan & Authenticity Award 2024 from La Liste27:53 – Why he has not written a cookbook29:18 – The hardest thing about being a chef32:28 – The one thing Damian would rather buy than make on his own34:06 – Food is… Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/podcast/sea-foraging-eurasian-cuisine/transcriptWatch Damian make sea snail and papaya curry: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/videos/sea-snail-papaya-curry/ Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore: https://form.gov.sg/616799db4d9b61001398f79b This episode of BiblioAsia+ was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by One Dash. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Osman Ahmad and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Damian for coming on the show. BiblioAsia+ is a podcast about Singapore history by the National Library of Singapore.

    37 min

  5. 27 MAY

    Food of the Peranakan Indians

    Growing up as a Chetti Melaka (Peranakan Indian), Tanya realised her family was different when she was seven or eight years old. Her family spoke Malay at home, ate sambal belacan, and had huge parties with a lot of unusual food. In this episode, Tanya talks with pride about the rituals of the ancestor worship known parachu and the cookbook containing traditional recipes of the Chetti Melaka community.  A Peranakan Indian, Tanya Pillay-Nair is the coordinator of the cookbook Heritage Food of the Peranakan Indians in a Chitty Melaka Kitchen (Peranakan Indian Association of Singapore, 2023). The book contains close to 100 Peranakan Indian recipes, from everyday dishes to festive fare. What Tanya Talked About01:58 – Who the Chetti Melaka are, and where they are from04:32 – How the Chetti Melaka are different from and similar to other communities05:19 – The importance of food culture especially in ancestor worship known as parachu10:04 – The language spoken by Chetti Melaka10:37 – The musicality of the community and a version of the song Di Tanjong Katong commissioned by the Chetti Melaka (Peranakan Indians) Association (used with permission)12:10 – The local community in Singapore and origins of the Chetti Melaka Association 15:00 – How the book Heritage Food of the Peranakan Indians came about19:59 – Tanya’s background as a Chetti Melaka23:11 – Classic Chetti Melaka dishes24:44 – How the Chetti Melaka otak blangah is different from the usual otak-otak 26:29 – Reception of the book29:06 – A must-try and simple dish in the cookbook29:30 – The importance of preserving heritage food 30:11 – Food is… Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/podcast/food-peranakan-indians/transcript Watch Tanya make otak blangah: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/videos/otak-blangah/ Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore: https://form.gov.sg/616799db4d9b61001398f79b This episode of BiblioAsia+ was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by One Dash. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Osman Ahmad and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Tanya for coming on the show. BiblioAsia+ is a podcast about Singapore history by the National Library of Singapore.

    35 min

  6. 20 MAY

    The Chinese Vegetarian Foodscape of the 1950s–60s

    Set up by five Buddhist women in 1946, Loke Woh Yuen was the first Chinese vegetarian restaurant in Singapore. It employed an all-female staff, was known for its popular shark’s fin made from maize, and was sometimes so packed that it had to set up dining tents that stretched to the main road. Its efforts to spread vegetarianism were complemented by other Buddhist women and nuns who wrote cookbooks and fundraised for charity. Kelvin Tan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in history from the National University of Singapore. He was a research assistant for the project “Mapping Female Religious Heritage in Singapore: Chinese Temples as Sites of Regional Socio-cultural Linkage” funded by the National Heritage Board. What Kelvin Talked About01:48 – The founders of Chinese vegetarian restaurants in 1940s–50s05:28 – The most popular dishes at the vegetarian restaurant Loke Woh Yuen06:26 – How Fut Sai Kai Vegetarian Restaurant differs from Loke Woh Yuen07:26 – Ko Tian-gu, the founder of Fut Sai Kai08:37 – Cookbooks that helped to spread vegetarianism10:57 – The famous vegetarian soon kueh recipe by Abbess Yang Qincai of the temple Hai Inn See12:24 – Legacy of early Chinese vegetarian restaurants in philanthropy and Buddhist education 13:55 – Resources Kelvin used in his research.16:40 – Why early Chinese vegetarian restaurants have Cantonese heritage 18:58 – The vegetarian dish that Kelvin wants to master next Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/podcast/chinese-vegetarian-foodscape/transcriptWatch Kelvin make soon kueh: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/videos/soon-kueh/ Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore: https://form.gov.sg/616799db4d9b61001398f79b This episode of BiblioAsia+ was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Gibson Analytics. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Osman Ahmad and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Kelvin for coming on the show. BiblioAsia+ is a podcast about Singapore history by the National Library of Singapore.

    21 min

  7. 13 MAY

    Hajah Asfiah: A Guardian of Traditional Malay Culture

    A tireless steward of Malay culture, Hajah Asfiah worked all her life to preserve and pass on Malay crafts. When she was just 10, she began teaching embroidery and flower arrangement in school. Later in life, she was a mak andam (wedding attendant) for more than 20 years and worked with more than 1,000 brides. At age 65, she got her cookbook Hidangan Warisan Kita (Our Heritage Dishes; 1986) published by Times Books International; it was the publisher’s first cookbook, written in Malay by a Malay person. The book had recipes for dishes that have since become extinct. Sadly, she died a year later, but thanks to the book she wrote and the many courses she taught, her memory lives on. Toffa Abdul Wahed is an associate librarian with the National Library, Singapore, and works with the Singapore and Southeast Asia Collection. She has written about cookbook author Siti Radhiah and belacan in BiblioAsia. What Toffa Talked About00:26 – About bunga kobis (flower of the cabbage), the dish Toffa made in Season Two of From Book to Cook03:57 – Why bunga kobis is a special dish04:30 – The complicated process of making the six-layer dish05:39 – Why Toffa chose to make this dish for the video06:39 – Toffa's special family connection to the dish07:36 – How Toffa practised making the dish for the video 09:43 – When bunga kobis was a trendy dish at Malay weddings10:16 – The secret to making bunga kobis12:00 – Garnish and presentation for the dish13:42 – Why Cikgu Asfiah is considered a guardian for Malay arts15:35 – Cikgu Asfiah's background18:07 – Why Cikgu Asfiah was invited to teach at age 1018:40 – The significance of her first cookbook Hidangan Warisan Kita20:01 – Why she decided to write a cookbook 23:00 – Why her cookbook had limited reach 24:08 – Her work as a mak andam (wedding attendant)26:15 – How her children helped her 28:43 – What a mak andam does33:21 – The resources Toffa used to research on Cikgu Asfiah35:42 – Why food history is important37:35 – Food is… Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/podcast/hajah-asfiah-guardian-traditional-malay-culture/transcriptWatch Toffa make bunga kobis: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/videos/bunga-kobis/ Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore: https://form.gov.sg/616799db4d9b61001398f79b This episode of BiblioAsia+ was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Gibson Analytics. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Osman Ahmad and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Toffa for coming on the show. BiblioAsia+ is a podcast about Singapore history by the National Library of Singapore.

    41 min

  8. 6 MAY

    Kampong Gelam: Kitchen of the Malay World

    You hear Malay, Javanese, Tamil and Punjabi as you wander the streets with shops selling colourful textiles and carpets, spices and flowers. Here you find different curries and bread, nasi padang, sup tulang, mee siam, a Javanese kitchen, Hainanese coffeeshops. Bookstores sell literature and newspapers as far away as Cairo. In this episode, Khir tells us about the Kampong Gelam he grew up in. Khir Johari was born and raised in historic Kampong Gelam, Singapore. He studied mathematics at Santa Clara University in California, and completed a masters in education at Stanford University. Since returning to Singapore, Khir has focused on research into the food cultures of maritime Southeast Asia. He is the author of The Food of Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels through the Archipelago (Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2021). What Khir Talked About02:32 – The origins of mee maidin, the dish that Khir cooked in From Book to Cook 07:18 – Kampong Gelam as the incubator for the Nusantara (Malay World) kitchen 09:19 – Four main streets in Kampong Gelam selling food, including the only place in Singapore that sells mee odong14:35 – The origins of mee siam17:46 – Three types of mee siam that came out of Kampong Gelam18:36 – Khir’s childhood in Kampong Gelam, where the Tamil Muslim community organized an annual commemoration of a Sufi saint 20:23 – Publishing houses in Kampong Gelam22:51 – Why Khir spent 10 years writing the book The Food of Singapore Malays27:12 – What Khir is working on now28:38 – Khir’s dream job if he lived in Kampong Gelam in the 19th century29:37 – The most maligned ingredient in Malay cooking 31:15 – The one recipe in his book Khir wants people to try 33:07 – Food is… Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/podcast/kampong-glam-kitchen-malay-world/transcript/Watch Khir make mee maidin: biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/videos/mee-maidin/ Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore: https://form.gov.sg/616799db4d9b61001398f79b This episode of BiblioAsia+ was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by One Dash. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Osman Ahmad and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Khir for coming on the show. BiblioAsia+ is a podcast about Singapore history by the National Library of Singapore.

    34 min
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BiblioAsia+ is a podcast series about Singapore stories: some unfamiliar, others forgotten, all fascinating. Does Singapore have a stone age? What’s happened to the murals at the old Paya Lebar airport? Who were some local tennis greats? Find out in this original podcast by the National Library of Singapore.

Información

  • Creador
    National Library, Singapore
  • Años de actividad
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodios
    29
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 National Library, Singapore
  • Mostrar sitio web
    BiblioAsia+

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