Think Beyond Borders: Malay Studies at NUS
News and Recent Posts
The Coloniality of Knowledge and the Autonomous Knowledge Tradition
In recent years, the decolonisation of knowledge has gained prominence in academic discourse, drawing attention to the silencing of diverse voices and the dominance of Eurocentric narratives. At its core, decolonisation challenges the historical marginalisation of non-Western knowledge systems, advocating for a more inclusive and holistic intellectual landscape. The relegation of non-Western perspectives reflects broader […]
Songbirds in a Garden City
In Kebun Baru, one of Singapore’s last remaining bird-singing corners, rows of wooden cages are hoisted high into the air, with songbirds like zebra doves, white-rumped shamas, and oriental white-eyes filling the space with melodious calls. Once a symbol of community and cultural identity, bird-singing corners such as those in Kebun Baru now stand as […]
Songbirds in a Garden City
Singapore’s transformation into the metropolis it is today has drastically reduced its forest cover. Despite this, migrant and indigenous songbirds have adapted to Singapore’s environment since the 1950s, cementing their ecological role as a lasting feature of the island. In ‘Songbirds in a Garden City’, the sixth chapter of Singaporean Creatures: Histories of Humans and […]
Malayo-Islamic Aesthetics in Singapore: Continuation and Shifts Through Place and Architectural Histories, Collections, and Curatorial Dimensions
‘Malayo-Islamic Aesthetics in Singapore: Continuation and Shifts through Place and Architectural Histories, Collections, and Curatorial Dimensions’ is a research project led by Assistant Professor Imran bin Tajudeen (NUS Malay Studies & NUS Architecture) and supported by the National Heritage Board’s Heritage Research Grant (2025-2027). The project examines the historical continuities and transformations of Malayo-Islamic aesthetics […]