Portuguese heritage built far away from Portugal, in Malaysia

Music of Portuguese origin sung in Portuguese creole from Malacca, like “Maliao, maliao” and “Ti Anika”, have elevated the names of folk groups with Portuguese origin in Malaysia, although they are rarely associated with Portugal.

The name of the group “1511 O Maliao Malio Dance Troupe” refers to the year the Portuguese conquered Malacca, but, according to the group’s director, Gerard da Costa, the public rarely makes that association.

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