Pusaka to feature the last ‘Awang Batil’ master of Perlis in performance at Esplanade in Singapore
KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 — Perlis’ last 'Awang Batil' master, Pak Romli Mahamud will be performing at the Esplanade for the Pesta Raya from May 19 to 21.
Awang Batil is a traditional form of musical storytelling originating from Perlis, Malaysia.
Pak Romli whose real name is Romli Bin Mahamud will perform one story on each of the three nights, Awang Akar Larak, Awang Nakal and Awang Parang Besar.
He will be speaking in the northern Malay dialect, and English translations will be available for audiences who want to understand the stories via QR codes.
Pak Romli, 68, comes from a family of Awang Batil masters who have passed their stories down from generation to generation.
His late father Mahamud Awang Bin Wahid was a famous storyteller from Kampung Pokok Sena in Chuping, Perlis and handed his 'batil' to Pak Romli to continue his family legacy.
The Awang Batil features a solo storyteller who tells folk tales while beating a 'batil' (a bowl or pot used to store water) and playing the violin, serunai, rebana, and other instruments.
During the narration, the storyteller wears two masks, the 'Hulubalang' mask and the 'Wak Nujum' mask, when the characters appear in the story to draw the audience's attention.
Awang Batil performances were held at weddings or evening festivities and would continue from night to dawn, some going as long as two to five days.
The longer stories were told usually when the Awang Batil was invited into another person’s home after rice harvest season.
Some of the most famous stories include Raja Dewa Lok, Raja Bersiung, Raja Berdarah Putih, Anak Lang Pak Belang and Awang Ada Duit Semua Jadi.
The Pesta Raya Malay Arts Festival will honour the rich culture and diversity of the Malay community by showcasing its best theatre shows, dance, and music from May 18 to 21.
The festival will also feature performances from singer Dayang Nurfaizah and short film screenings from Malaysian directors Sharifah Amani, Datuk Yusry Abdul Halim, and Junad M. Nor.
For more information on the Awang Batil of Perlis click here, while more on the Pesta Raya 2023 Festival is available here.
