GEORGE TOWN: A Peranakan-themed festival will kick off in Penang next week, aimed at boosting Malaysia's creative economy.
The 10-day Peranakan Penang festival which begins on Dec 17, will feature among others, gala fashion and musical showcases, tours, food and Nyonya-themed workshops.
The festival is funded by the federal government's investment arm, MyCreative Ventures Sdn Bhd.
"Peranakan Penang will comprise a series of events to highlight the richness of the Peranakan culture in the region with a focus on the Peranakan community in Penang," said festival director, Joe Sidek.
He said programmes will include talks, exhibitions, fashion showcase, tours, food and drinks presentations, along with performances by prominent Peranakan personalities, scholars, artists, designers and entrepreneurs.
Penang landmarks such as the historic Eastern & Oriental Hotel, the Chinese Straits Eclectic-inspired Pinang Peranakan Mansion and the island's tourism icon - its trishaws - will serve as backdrops for many of the festival's events.
Peranakan Penang will include tours, a night of 'ronggeng' and 'joget' dancing, an afternoon of Dondang Sayang, the presentation of Peranakan Chinese and Peranakan Jawi cuisines, along with workshops on ronggeng, Nyonya food and embroidery, and also 'manik' (beads) shoe-making.
Visitors will also be treated to a display of Peranakan kebaya and Javanese batik from Lasem and Pekalongan in Indonesia.
A proposed Christmas week highlight during the festival is a traditional 'Tok Panjang' (long table) Peranakan feast, which celebrates the racially-diverse Peranakan culture and its Chinese and Malay influences.
"Penang is well-suited to stage an international-level series of events as an arts and cultural hub, and to play a bigger role as part of Malaysia's creative economy.
"The success story of the Penang brand as an arts, culture and cultural tourist destination can partly be attributed to an ecosystem of arts festivals and events in Penang," Joe said.
