Blast from the Past

Long before the art murals, eateries, and quirky shops, Kampong Glam was home to the Malay aristocracy and diverse communities such as the Arabs, Bugis and Malays.

So what does Kampong Glam mean? The word “Kampong” means “village or settlement” and “Glam” is the name of a tree which grew everywhere in the area in early Singapore and could be used for many purposes.

Before any treaties were signed, Kampong Glam was a quiet fishing village. However it become more prominent

when a treaty between the British East India Company, Sultan Hussein Shah of Johor and the Temenggong Abdul Rahman in 1819 giving the company the right to set up a trading post in Singapore.

The fishing port back in the old days

Kampong Glam was also used as a residential area until other residential areas, such as Joo Chiat, Tanglin, Geylang Serai and Kampong Eunos, popped up in the middle of the nineteenth century. However, it still remained as an ethnic district with strong Malay-Arab influence as it was a place where one will patronize for their Arab-Muslim traditional foodstuff and merchandise.

The streets of Kampong Glam

In this time of day, Kampong Glam still retains its strong Malay-Arab influence. Traditions, monuments, trades and culture can still be seen when walking through the streets of Kampong Glam through several conservation efforts.

Kampong Glam still remains the centre for Muslim activities.