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Asiah Aman

(Redirected from Nona Asiah)
In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Aman is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Asiah.

Asiah binti Aman (29 November 1931[a] – 30 July 2024), also known by her stage name Nona Asiah, was a Singaporean singer and actress. Her career started in the 1940s where she worked as a singer during the Japanese occupation. Asiah's first film role was in 1948 when she sang on Malay film Chinta.

Asiah Aman
Asiah in 2016
Born
Asiah binti Aman

29 November 1931[a]
Straits Settlements (present-day Singapore)
Died30 July 2024(2024-07-30) (aged 92)
Changi General Hospital, Singapore
Other namesNona Asiah
Years active1940s–1975
SpouseIsmail Kassim (m. 1955)
Children5; including Iskandar
AwardsCultural Medallion, 2016
Singapore Women's Hall of Fame, 2022

She went on to perform throughout the 1950s and 1960s before retiring in 1975, working as a singing teacher from the 1970s to 1980s. For her contributions to music, she was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 2016 and inducted into the Singapore Women's Hall of Fame in 2022.

Early life and career

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Asiah was born on 29 November 1931 in the Straits Settlements (present-day Singapore) to Hajar Rahmah, a bangsawan singer, and Aman Ahmad, a musician. She lived in a shophouse unit at Allanby Road. Her mother Hajar was a Malay Singaporean who worked as a prima donna for the Dean Tijah opera troupe.[4] Her father Aman came from Pontianak, Indonesia, and worked as a painter and musician.[3]

During the Japanese occupation, Asiah developed a love interest with a Japanese officer, Watanabe Makoto, who was impressed by their bangsawan performances and he invited Asiah and Hajar to Japanese classes so they could learn Japanese and perform bangsawan in Japanese.[5]

Asiah and Hajar learnt katakana at Cathay Building, with soldiers sending them to different camps in Seletar and Tengah to perform for soldiers. After these shows, they mostly received payment in cigarettes and food before being sent back to Cathay Building. This was Asiah's first experience performing and singing.[5]

After the surrender of the Japanese, Asiah got her first paying job as a singer at Radio Malaya in 1946, apart of a band called Tiga Serumpun. While working there, she taught Malay through songs when the station started broadcasting in schools. Asiah was soon offered a contract by His Master's Voice Company and recorded her first song, a Malay cover of "Bésame Mucho", in 1949 on the Pathe label, becoming an instant success.[5] This was also when she developed her stage name, Nona Asiah, which was suggested by her mentor Zubir Said, whom she also covered multiple songs of.[4]

Singing and acting career

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Following this popularity, she recorded many more songs such as "Sumbangsihku" and "Chiumku Lagi" along with becoming the vocalist of the Malay Women's Orchestra.[6] In 1948, she made her film debut as a singer in Malay film Chinta (1948) starring Siput Sarawak and S. Roomai Noor whom she, and fellow singer P. Ramlee in his debut, sang the parts for respectively.[4] In 1949, Asiah joined a female Malay band, Wanita Kronchong Orkest, and performed at their debut performance at New World Amusement Park.[7]

In the 1950s, Asiah travelled and performed overseas in Brunei and Sarawak with the Malay Women's Orchestra, making $400 to $500 a month. During this time, she still worked at Radio Malaya, hosting a radio show and recording for His Master's Voice Company.[4] In 1951, Asiah had a main role in Malayan Film Unit's Pelangi (1951) alongside Ismail Kassim.[8] The film also featured songs by Zubir Said that were sang by Asiah, Ismail, and Sani Naneng.[9] In 1962, she was a part of a "cultural mission" to territories in Borneo and performed with other artistes.[10]

In 1975, Asiah "retired" when she gave her final live performance at Radio Televisyen Malaysia where she performed multiple Malay songs in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[4] Through the 1980s and 1990s, Asiah conducted singing workshops for children on Mat Yoyo.[1]

Personal life

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In 1955, Asiah married Ismail Kassim, a Malay singer whom she had previously met whilst working at Radio Malaya.[11] Ismail died on 17 September 1994 in a motorcycle accident.[12] She had 5 children with him, spending most of her time taking care of them and teaching them music. Her children include Cultural Medallion recipient Iskandar Mirza Ismail (1956–2014), host Najib Ali, music director Indra Shahrir Ismail, and author Rilla Melati.[13]

In 2016, she was awarded the Cultural Medallion alongside artist Koh Mun Hong.[14] In 2022, she was inducted into the Singapore Women's Hall of Fame.[15]

Death

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On 30 July 2024, Asiah died at Changi General Hospital of heart complications. She had been at the hospital for the past two months suffering from heart, kidney, and lung problems.[16]

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Some sources[1][2] state her birthdate to be unknown due to missing birth records but she has stated her own birthdate to be 29 November 1931 in an interview.[3]

Citations

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  1. ^ a b Abdul Hadi, Eddino (30 July 2024). "Singapore entertainment veteran and Cultural Medallion recipient Nona Asiah dies". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  2. ^ Abdul Hadi, Eddino (30 July 2024). "Music and film legend Nona Asiah dies at age 94". The New Paper. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b Parani, Julianti (17 April 2004). "ASIAH bte Aman @ Nona Asiah". National Archives of Singapore. p. 5. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e Chan, Rachel (14 May 2015). "Nona Asiah: Pioneer singer and actress". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b c D'Rose, Pat (9 March 1984). "AS TIME GOES BY". Singapore Monitor. p. 16. Retrieved 18 September 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. ^ "ASIAH IS NEW FAVOURITE". The Straits Times. 5 May 1950. p. 9. Retrieved 18 September 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  7. ^ "Malay Women's Band To Make Debut". Malaya Tribune. 2 August 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 19 September 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  8. ^ "Cops and robbers in the Kampong". The Straits Times. 4 November 1951. p. 11. Retrieved 19 September 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  9. ^ Staines, Victor (8 April 1951). "Battle for Bottled Bugs". The Straits Times. p. 13. Retrieved 19 September 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  10. ^ "CULTURAL MISSION FOR BORNEO". The Straits Times. 9 April 1962. p. 4. Retrieved 19 September 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  11. ^ "SINGAPORE WEDDING". The Straits Times. 21 August 1955. p. 5. Retrieved 18 September 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  12. ^ Rohanah Koid, Siti (19 September 1994). "Veteran singer dies". The New Paper. p. 7. Retrieved 18 September 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  13. ^ Said, Nabilah (4 August 2015). "Tribute by son and protege to iconic singer". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  14. ^ Huang, Lijie (3 October 2016). "Artist Koh Mun Hong and singer Nona Asiah receive Cultural Medallion award". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  15. ^ Chin, Soo Fang (8 March 2022). "Infectious disease expert Leo Yee Sin, music icon Nona Asiah among 7 to join S'pore Women's Hall of Fame". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Malay music icon Nona Asiah dies at age 94". Channel News Asia. 30 July 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
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