Press
& Reviews
The
Star, Tuesday July 18, 2006
A
glimpse into Peranakan past
In
her baju panjang (long blouse) and the inevitable pinned hanky,
Bibik Hitam was the epitome of a 19th century Nyonya matriarch.
Never mind
that ‘she’ was really 62-year-old Mohd Bah-roodin Ahmad,
better known as Cikgu Bahroodin or Cikgu Baha, who won a Living
Heritage Treasures of Penang Award 2005.
Bibik Hitam
– An Intimate Tour of a Nyonya House is the latest inception
in the Le- buh Acheh – Lebuh Armenian (LALA) heritage area.
It offers
visitors a ‘live’ glimpse into the everyday life of
the Peranakan people through the tales of the sprightly Bibik.
Sauntering
in where visitors were sitting expectantly around a tok panjang
(banquet table) in her Straits Chinese ‘home’ at 120,
Armenian Street, Bibik was heralded by the rhythmic beat of a
kompang, transporting everyone back a hundred years.
CENTRE
OF ATTENTION:Bibik performing some dance steps
at
her Straits Chinese 'home'.
 COFFEE
BREAK:Visitors were served refreshments from old-fashioned ceramic
cups and saucers.
As
her husband’s concubine, Bibik’s secret to marital bliss
was to jaga badan and jaga sua-mi (take care of
her body and her husband),
Speaking
in English, Malay and Baba Hokkien, Bibik told tales of her childhood.
She spoke of the girls in her house who sat making beaded shoes
and of her maidenly blush at a Chap Goh Meh orange throwing.
Weaved into
her tales were bits and pieces of factual history, such as Chinese
nationalist Dr Sun Yat-Sen (her ‘son’) useing that very
house to hold his revolution meetings.
Bibik also
showed a step or two of the ‘laughing conga’, ‘samba’
and ‘ronggeng’, authentic dance moves as Cikgu Bahroodin
has over 25 years of experience in the Malay performing arts.
After the
half-hour show, limited to 20 people each time, Bibik reappeared
out of character to mingle with the guests and serve them nutmeg
juice, coffee and Nyonya kuih.
The show
will be held every Saturday at 9.30am and 11.00am until October.
Admission of RM20 includes refreshments and bookings can be made
through Adeline (012-3175 498/04-2620123).
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