Rentak Selangor 6.0: A Kaleidoscopic Spectacle of Cultures

Text by SHAHIDA SAKERI Images by AZREEN ZEEN

Rentak Selangor continues to celebrate Selangor’s rich cultural legacy in its sixth edition; this time focussing on the performing arts that have been flourishing in the districts of Sabak Bernam and Kuala Selangor where its communities are predominantly of Javanese lineage. Interestingly, despite the many years that have gone by since the first generation of Javanese people immigrated to this part of Malaysia, the customs and traditions from their place of origin prevail. But of course, this is not to say that such legacies have not met with the inevitable pressure of local assimilation and reformation, all of which are explored during this programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, The Honourable Borhan Bin Aman Shah (the Selangor State Executive Councillor for Rural and Traditional Villages Development, Malay Customs, Culture and Heritage) shares that the programme sees a new addition, which is the syair, a classical Malay poetry that is recited in set rhythms. He hopes the programme can help increase the public’s appreciation towards Selangor’s cultural spectacles, and eventually cement the state’s position as a hub for art, culture, and national heritage.

Read on to discover the cultural assets found in Selangor this time around.

Kuda Kepang

The flat horses ridden by kuda kepang dancers are made from woven bamboo and decorated with traditional batik motifs.

Many historians believe that Kuda Kepang is a tradition originated from West Java, made popular by the Wali Songo (the Nine Saints) who used the art to spread the message of Islam throughout the region. Some, however, believe that its origin was more mystical – it was a ritual performed by villagers to interact with a guardian or an ancestral spirit during a village cleansing (bersih desa) ceremony to garner prosperity and protection from natural disasters.

Kuda Kepang arrived in Malaysia through the influx of Javanese immigrants into Malaysia, particularly Selangor and Johor. The performance features a group of dancers riding on flat horses and dancing in formation to the chilling beating of the demung, gendang, gong, and saron. Sometimes, it can also be accompanied by dancing characters from old folk stories such as a tiger, a monkey, a snake or even a princess. On top of these, kuda kepang is famous for being a trance dance in which the performers are said to be possessed by spirits; however, most of the performances these days have omit such ritualistic aspects, and executed for entertainment purposes only.

Syair

Syair is a poetry form that sometimes can be narrative or instructive. Either way, it is often used to communicate local ideas or knowledge within a given society. But unlike the Arabic syair, the art of the Malay syair is said to be less rigid and sometimes include the element of figurative language. Today, Malay syair is actively preserved and practiced throughout the Malaysian Peninsula, including Selangor where it gives birth to many prolific litterateurs such as Ahmad Sarju.

Ronggeng

Ronggeng during its golden era served as a medium for courtship.

Ronggeng by definition in Javanese language means professional female dancers who perform along with a group of musicians. During the ancient Java period, this entertainment troupe would travel from one village to another. A typical performance would require the dancers to invite male audiences by throwing shawls to them in exchange for tips. Unsurprisingly, this eventually had given the genre a shady reputation.

Fast forward to the 1940s and ‘50s, ronggeng had spread out within the region, including Thailand and Malaysia. However, the genre received a new transformative purpose, performed at social gatherings as a medium of courtship for the people at the time. Couples would usually get to know each other during these performances as they danced to the traditional tempos such as the joget music.

Poja Dance

Poja dance over time has been reformed to reflect local cultures.

Poja dance was originally performed to worship spirits before the arrival of Islam; however, when Islam becomes widely practiced, the dance is then used to entertain the Sultan. It is believed to be brought into Selangor from South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and gradually became popular in the early 1990’s. Over time, the dance has been reconstructed to reflect more on the tradition of Selangor people. The dance normally lasts up to five minutes accompanying the song ‘Ati Raja’, involving a long list of graceful steps such as tindih kasih, kilas angin, and tabur bunga. The dancers, whom generally are women, wear traditional costume called baju bodo embellished with elaborate headgear, bracelets, and flowers.

Dabus Dance

Some claim that Dabus dance has the power to heal and prevent illnesses.

Like the Haka in Maori culture, Dabus is believed traditionally performed by men to prepare for battles during the time of the Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h. It combines singing and lively dancing, which when performed properly, could invoke fearlessness among its performers. This selfmotivating art form remained popular over the years, and is said had drawn the interest from Raja Omar bin Raja Salleh, a Bugis Sultan who ruled Sabak Bernam, Selangor, over 250 years ago. Naturally, it spread to the neighbouring districts of Jeram, Kuala Selangor and Klang. Today, a dabus performance typically requires sharp weapons like ‘anak dabus’ (a spikelike instrument decorated with bells at the hilt) incorporated into the choreography and accompanied by berzanji (hymns praising to the Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h.)

Kompang Jawa

Kompang Java was traditionally performed at mosques during religious ceremonies.

The throbbing beats of frame drums, or kompang as locals call it, is a common sound one might hear during festivities among Malay communities such as weddings and the celebration of prophet’s birthday. But did you know that it was once used by Arab traders to attract customers?

Many believe that kompang was brought to Malaya through Java by Arab traders in the 13th century during the Malacca Sultanate. The migration of Javanese people to Malaya, especially in the states of Johor, Selangor and Melaka then propagate the art of kompang further within the local community. Moreover, the popularity of kompang at the time had also influenced some religious teachers to use it to disseminate Islamic beliefs. This is why you would hear the pulsating beats of kompang today are often accompanied by praises to the Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h.

Balle Balle Kampong Api Api

Balle balle Kampong Api Api often entertains the crowd with its own renditions of popular songs.

For the love of traditional music, a long-time musician, Isnain Abdul Rahim, forms a six-piece band to popularise and make folk music enjoyable for all generations. But the one thing that sets his group apart from others is that he even introduces a new instrument called Balle Balle, a percussion-like item that is made from a tree branch with flattened bottle caps attached to strings, making the sound similar to the tambourine. When matched with the eloquent tones from the bass, bongo, guitar, timbales and violin, a compelling music is created. Interestingly, the band members wear tudung saji (traditional Malay food cover) as headgears, including batik sarongs, colourful shirts and wooden clogs, making them an amusing sight to behold. Isnain’s band takes bookings for social functions and can be contacted at +6 019 281 4535.

Peacock Dance

This religious dance, or also known as Mayil Attam, is said to have originated from the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is performed to honour Lord Subrahmanya who according to legends, rides a peacock and uses his bow to lead the army in battles. The dance involves hypnotic choreography by women dressed in glittering clothes resembling peacocks.

‘Rentak Selangor’ is a joint programme organised by the Committee of Rural and Traditional Villages Development, Malay Customs, Culture and Heritage; the Selangor State Government State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN); and supported by the Majlis Kebudayaan Negeri Selangor (MKNS); Gaya Travel Magazine; and the Selangor media.