Singapore holds first Hari Orang Pulau festival to celebrate islander heritage

Singapore’s first Hari Orang Pulau festival took place on 14 June 2025 at West Coast Park, bringing together cultural performances, workshops, and discussions to celebrate the country’s islander heritage.

The one-day event was organised by Orang Laut SG with support from the National Heritage Board. It highlighted the histories of indigenous islander communities such as the Orang Pulau and Orang Laut, alongside Malay, Bugis, and Chinese settlers who once lived on Singapore’s offshore islands.

Cultural showcase of maritime traditions

The festival featured a range of cultural activities that reflected the skills and traditions of seafaring life. Audiences watched performances of the joget dangkong, a traditional dance from the Riau Islands, and took part in workshops led by fishermen demonstrating fishing techniques using bubu traps and gill nets.

Exhibitions displayed photographs of daily life at sea, while other sessions included earth-based paint-making and film screenings exploring regional coastal communities. Panel discussions examined the intertwined history of the offshore islands, complemented by games and competitions for younger visitors.

Organisers chose West Coast Park for its historical role as a docking point for Southern Islanders arriving in Singapore. The location served as a symbolic backdrop, underscoring the communities’ continued relevance despite displacement.

Heritage under pressure

The festival also drew attention to the challenges faced by these communities. The small remaining community space along the West Coast Park coastline sits on state land and may be threatened by future development. The event provided a platform to raise awareness of these concerns while uniting descendants and supporters.

Orang Laut SG, founded during the COVID-19 pandemic, has led efforts to preserve the memories and knowledge of Singapore’s seafaring folk. Its earlier initiative, Panggilan Anak Pulau in 2023, attracted hundreds of attendees and demonstrated growing public interest in islander heritage.

Government support and collaboration

Education Minister Desmond Lee announced during the festival the formation of a new work group that will bring together representatives of the indigenous islander communities and government agencies, including the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Singapore Land Authority, and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

The group will collaborate on ways to safeguard cultural heritage and explore sustainable development options. The announcement was welcomed as a step towards ensuring that community voices are included in future planning.

Speakers at the festival emphasised the urgency of documenting oral histories while original island inhabitants, many of whom were children during relocation, are still able to share their experiences. Academics highlighted the cultural costs of development and the importance of recognising heritage alongside economic progress.

Reconnecting with the sea

For many former islanders and their descendants, Hari Orang Pulau was an opportunity to gather, reconnect, and share stories. Organisers described the festival as a way to keep alive the “spirit of the people of the sea,” ensuring that maritime traditions are not forgotten.

Beyond heritage preservation, the event also underscored the value of traditional ecological knowledge. Many island practices, from sustainable fishing to foraging, offer insights into addressing modern challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

Advocates noted that these nature-based practices could contribute to wider discussions on environmental resilience and sustainability in Singapore.

Looking ahead

Organisers expressed hope that Hari Orang Pulau will become an annual festival. By raising awareness, encouraging dialogue, and honouring the layered history of coastal communities, the event aims to ensure that the culture of Singapore’s islanders continues to be remembered and celebrated.