Sundanese Singaporeans
 A Sundanese large family in the "Sunda Padjajaran" cultural community in Singapore, 2022. | |
| Total population | |
| 500–600 (2003)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Singapore | |
| Languages | |
| Malay and English (especially) Sundanese and Indonesian (small part) | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Islam (almost entirely)[1] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Indonesians (Indonesian diaspora • Sundanese) |
Sundanese Singaporeans is a small group of Sundanese people in the part of Indonesian diaspora who are classified as Malay nation/race according to the population census by Government of the Republic of Singapore. Their original territory came from the western part of Java Island in Indonesia which currently includes West Java, Banten, Jakarta, and a western part of Central Java (Brebes and Cilacap).
Population
[edit]At the beginning of the 21st century, there were not many Singaporeans who still had Sundanese ancestry. They are also not the first descendants, in the sense that they have experienced a lot of mixing with other ethnic groups, especially the mainstream Malay people. In Singapore, they are classified as the Malay nation/race. Singapore constitutionally recognizes four different nations/races, namely Chinese, Malays, Indians, and Eurasian.[1]
According to a Sundanese descendant in Singapore, Zachry Hasard (40), it is estimated that the number of Sundanese people or their descendants was only around 500 to 600 people in 2003. Even then, most of them are no longer of pure Sundanese descent. Of this number, the majority come from the East Priangan area which includes Garut, Tasikmalaya, Kuningan, and Majalengka. Their ancestors first arrived in Singapore, mostly working as traders. This is because the Sundanese people from the East Priangan region are known as tenacious traders.[1]
Meanwhile, from the West Priangan area, such as Bandung, Cianjur, Sukabumi, Bogor, and also from Banten, most of them work as ambtenar (government employees). However, it cannot be ignored that most of the population of the Priangan region at the beginning of the 20th century also worked as farmers. Currently, their professions are not much different from those of the general population of Singapore. Among them are private employees, government employees, traders, and various other professions.[1]
Language and culture
[edit]Currently, not many Sundanese descendants are able to speak Sundanese language or at least understand it. Nevertheless, the awareness and interest in the language and culture of their ancestors by Sundanese descendants can be said to be quite positive. This can be seen from the active participation of the Sundanese descendants in the Sundanese gamelan and pencak silat arts groups called "Sunda Padjadjaran".[2] In preserving the cultural heritage of their ancestors, most of them are descendants of the three Sundanese people in Singapore, is quite serious about training and at certain times also brings in trainers who come directly from West Java, Indonesia. This is intended to provide a stronger Sundanese character, because it can be said that the Sundanese community in Singapore, today it has become Malay, both in terms of language, art, and culture.[1]
The gamelan group "Sunda Padjadjaran" in Singapore was founded in 1948, pioneered by Zachry Hasard's parents. Its development did experience difficult times, but it finally became active again and its management was reorganized since the end of the 1980s. At this time, apart from practicing for the scope of Sundanese descent events only. The "Sunda Padjadjaran" gamelan group often performs at various special events, especially weddings, then also appeared in events sponsored by the government and private parties.[1]
Religion
[edit]Like other ethnic groups classified as Malay nation/race by the Government of the Republic of Singapore, Most or almost all of the Sundanese people in Singapore followed to Sunni Islam. In the text of the manuscript Raden Demang Panji Nagara which is contained in the Van Ronkel Catalog, It is said that a Sundanese nobleman descended from the Sumedang Larang in Sumedang went to perform the hajj pilgrimage in Mecca together with 24 of his followers. They departed on 14 August 1852 from Sumedang heading to Cirebon via the Tomo village. From Port of Cirebon, the group finally anchored in Singapore via Muntok in Bangka and Riau. From Singapore which was then a British colony, They then continued their journey on an Arab ship carrying around 250 pilgrims.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g Ulun, Adhyatnika G. (23 October 2009). "Orang Sunda di Singapura". adhyatnikageusanulun.com (in Indonesian). West Bandung Regency English Teachers Forum. Archived from the original on 2025-07-12. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
- ^ "Sunda Pajajaran Singapura | Facebook". m.facebook.com (in Indonesian). Facebook. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
- ^ Johari, Hendi (1 November 2020). "Ketika Orang Sunda Mulai Berhaji". historia.id (in Indonesian). Historia. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
External links
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