Museum Penang.
History of Penang.
Pulau Pinang was named, the locals on the mainland called this island Tanjung Penaga, taken from the trees that commonly grew at promontory where Fort Cornwallis stood there. The short form from the word Tanjung Penaga was taken as Tanjung were believed that was used in all land grants issued by the government until 1800, and the State Assembly Building today stood in the Tanjung state constituency.
Sea rovers reffered to Pulau Pinang as Pulau Ka Satu, that would be the large island that they came across while sailing between Kedah and Lingga. This name was retained until 1786 when Captain Francis Light officially claimed the island for the British East India Company, and it became known as Pulau Pinang after the tree areca palm that grew in abundance there.
Historically, the island state was orignally a part of Kedah sultanate. it first malay were those came from Kedah long before the English outpost was set up in George Town. Booming trade within the region and Penang as an ideal base had attracted all kinds of other people among here. Among them were the first Chinese settlers, who were merchants and traders mainly from South China, and many had adapted to the local malay culture and became known as Baba and Nyonya. The early indians coming from the different parts of the sub-continent, were dominated by the Tamils of South India. They too were mostly merchants and traders and money-lenders while oters were plantation or civil clerks. Penang's colourful, multi-ethnics society today is dominated by three communities of Malay, Chinese and Indian.
Much more than other states in Peninsular Malaysia, Penang is noted for its myriad of ethnic minorities and diverse historical communitites. Arabs, Achinese, Armenians, Buginese, Burmese, Japanese, Javanese, Minangkabaus, Siamese, Sinhalese, Europeans and Eurasians (early settlers of mixed ancestries of Portuguese, Dutch, English, Irish, Scottish, French, Italian and German on the one hand, Malay, Chinese, Indian, Siamese and Burmese on each other ).
Uniques mix-marriage between local malays and early foreign settlers had also given rise to other mix-groups such as the Cina Peranakan (Baba Nyonya), Jawi Peranakan (jawi pekan) and also Arab Peranakan. They have their own unique culture and language. Some of them had assimilated fully into the local Malay culture and religion.
Diverse cultural activites, cuisines, dances, fashions, music, daily pursuits and pastimes of the people are also put on display. You will learn, for example, the origin of the now ubitiqious nasi kandar eateries that serve rice with various spicy curry dishes. Trace by the origin of Boria, a popular traditional performing arts tha features a group of dancers, who tell a story in a song , accompanied by the music. In the old days, the group would go to any houses, performing in full costume during festive occassion such as Awal Muharram (month in muslim calendar). Boria now is still actively performed at official function and competition.
Penang was also host to the first bangsawan in the country during the 1880's. This performing art, which reached its hey-day in the 1920's. combined with the technical aspects of opera and stage acting, and has music that fuses malay and western elements while the songs can also adopt middle east, chinese and indian rhythms and modes.