By the way, that’s my grand auntgreat-aunt (I call her Koh Poh). I’m Meredith Lee Puay En, a Singapore teenager. Thus thatThat makes me the eighth generation from Mr. Li Yi, my ancestor! I’m the daughter of Lee Chit Keng.

Good evening and welcome to my grandfather’s house. Today’s February 11 the year, 2019, the eighth day of the Chinese New Year celebration. We’re gathered here for a thanksgiving party - traditionally, an evening where the Hokkeins performed a thanksgiving prayer to the Jade Emperor for sparing them from persecution.

It’s also time to celebrate the 240th anniversary of the arrival of Mr. Li Yi to Melaka. It’s a bit noisy, as there are over one hundred people here, mostly my blood relatives.

My father (Lee Chit Keng) is on stage with the music band, playing as the bass guitarist.

Though I’m the eighth generation of Baba lineage, I’ve no clue how far back and how related to most of my blood relatives I am. What a wretched girl I’m!I am! I’m lost and need to seek and know my roots.

The Baba-Nyonya people are indeed a dying breed. and herThis culture has become a thing of the past, without much relevance tofor a nation ofdeveloping modern developmentnation.

Thus theThe Baba-Nyonya are faced with a difficult identity problem - hasthey have a culture, but one for which the sustaining conditions hadhave vanished; yet, she isthey are encouraged to think of hertheir culture as an important contribution to the current society.

Today, the Baba Nyonya are known mostly for their food, dessertdesserts (kuih), joget, ‘dondang sayangs’ and ‘pantuns’ – a once-vibrant community diminished to cultural clichés. IfBut in order to survive, it can’t just be dancing, eating and singing! is not enough! Also, itthis culture can’t just be known for its precious and unique heirloomheirlooms and Nyonya wares and cutleries.

I’ll go back in time to find more about our Baba-Nyonya roots. Though I’ve no clue, but a humming sound kept remindingkeeps telling me to go back, go back …