A Thriving Singapore Before Stamford Raffles, From Orang Laut To Craftsmen

Primary school history lessons teach that Sir Stamford Raffles founded Singapore in 1819. But excavation at Fort Canning by NUS Professor John N Miksic and archaeologists has proved that a large, diverse community thrived here more than 700 years ago. Then there are the Orang Laut, indigenous sea people who "came from Singapore river", but were displaced by Raffles, said their descendant Mohamed Nassir Ismail. He grew up along Kallang River, in a village called Kampung Kuchai. This #SingaporeBicentennial, in the 2-part series Becoming Singapore, Eunice Olsen takes viewers on an evocative journey to meet people with rich and diverse stories that reflect how there’s not just one singular Singapore narrative, but a meeting of many tales. WATCH MORE: cna.asia/becomingsingapore For more, SUBSCRIBE to CNA INSIDER!    / cnainsider   Follow CNA INSIDER on: Instagram:   / cnainsider   Facebook:   / cnainsider   Website: https://cna.asia/cnainsider