Blogs
Mari Bertandak!
Hidayah invites you to bertandak or dance!
I remember how I told Nuradee (the famous Malay music duo) to use the zapin melody for “Gedungku” (My home), the song which I composed. During my book launch recently, Nuradee sang the song with a modernised version of the zapin. Oh how lovely! All the guests were mesmerised by the duo’s lovely voices as well as the catchy zapin rhythm! But isn’t the zapin a dance? A guest whispered. Zapin is indeed a Malay dance style. The Malay dance styles, in the modern context, are known by their...
Pak pak ke debing debing…*
Singapore Kopitiam blogger Hidayah Amin muses about Malay musical instruments. *Sounds of the Rebana kompang at Malay weddings.
*Sounds of the Rebana kompang at Malay weddings. “Serampang Laut” is a Malay traditional song whose Joget tune has its origin in the Portuguese folk dance. Malay music is much influenced by early settlers such as the Indian, Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese, Arab, Indonesian and British. When you look at the Malay orchestra, you will notice that there are some Western instruments such as the violin, flute and accordion. Malay music in Singapore and Malaysia has evolved greatly...
Belum time!
Hidayah talks about the Malay’s concept of time.
My grand-aunt, Salmah was very sick late last year. When I visited her, I saw a half-blind, bedridden 94 year-old woman who was still mentally sound. She kept asking her family. “Aku di mana?”“Telok Blangah, nek..” “Where am I?”“Telok Blangah, grandma..” My cousin Khir told me that grand-aunt didn’t want to stay in a hospital. She preferred to spend her last days at home with her family. That was why she kept asking where she was. I then asked her if she wanted to...
Traditional Malay Games
Hidayah Amin wishes she can relive her reign as the Congkak and Batu seremban queen. Before the age of electronics, these games were used by Malays for basic entertainment and to help improve numerical skills and sharpen the reflexes of children.
“Eh eh, don’t cheat…. “ “So slow... I know you’re counting!” Ahh… the familiar remarks exchanged during congkak ‘competition’ with my brother. Many afternoons were spent playing the congkak, one of the Malay traditional games. Many quarrels often resulted from our competitiveness in wanting to win the game. Sometimes my mother banned us from going near the congkak board saying “Jangan-jangan congkak ni berhantu, asyik gaduh saja!” (Maybe this congkak board is haunted,...
Eid-ul Adha
Hidayah reflects about the concept of sacrifice and of the Haj in yesteryear Singapore
“So, why the sheep or goat? Can we not just give money?” “Well, there’s a spiritual notion about sacrifice at Eid-ul Adha…” Eid-ul Adha or Hari Raya Haji (Haji is “Haj” in Malay) marks the end of a Muslim's pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The Haj to Mecca is the fifth pillar of Islam, an obligation that must be carried out by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so at least once in their lifetime. The pilgrimage demonstrates Muslims’ submission to God and the...
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“Kopitiam” means coffee-shop in a mix of Malay and Chinese. A “Kopitiam” typically offers traditional fare and is a popular gathering place for local news & gossip. Welcome to Singapore Kopitiam. It doesn’t matter where in the world you are, you too can indulge in coffee-shop talk, Singapore-style.
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