Singapore exhibition explores Malay heritage and history

Bugis lontara story embroidered on textile. Photo: Malay Heritage Centre Singapore

A prince is greeted by a creature with a red body, black head and white breast on the shores of Temasek; A little boy defends his village from a ghastly attack of swordfish with his quick wit.

These iconic folktales, passed down through generations of Singaporeans, are just some of the many in the Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals), the earliest known literary work which mentions Singapore, then known as Singapura.