The Babas

Book excerpt: This fourth edition of the social history of the Babas and Nonya makes the seminal work by Felix Chia available again after being long out of print. Now illustrated throughout by full-colour pictures of a rich array of Baba artefacts sourced from private and public collections, this beautifully designed full-colour book will captivate and entrance both readers who are familiar with and new to Baba culture. Baba Felix Chia gives a witty, frank and lively exposition of the way of life he grew up in. His reminiscences and personal anecdotes are given additional weight by oral history and research. The result is an exceptional book where text and pictures combine to encapsulate the fascinating origin, language, practices, festivities and character of the Baba. The Babas, first published in 1980, won the Highly Commended Award for English nonfiction by the National Book Development Council of Singapore in 1982.