Dikir Barat Anyone?

As I was reading Mingguan Malaysia (3 October 2010), I could not but amused seeing picture at page 4 of the said news paper ... It shows the top Terengganu leaders - the MB, the Home Minister cum "Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Negeri Terengganu and the Head UMNO Jerteh Division plus other State UMNO dignitaries performing Dikir Barat at Dataran Putra, Jerteh. This was during the Eidl Fitri Open House in Jerteh.

I have to thank them as I scurried through notes & articles on Dikir Barat .... Here briefly on what Dikir Barat is all about ....

Dikir Barat is said to be originated either from Southern Thailand or Kelantan. It was a performance in a musical form and involves singing in a group of normally 10 - 15 members. Normally there would be two (2) opposing groups performing and each of the group would try to outwit each other. Simply said, it is performed in a competitive setting/environment ... It's actually a " duel of wits" !!!!...

Dikir Barat is divided into two (2) segments with the 1st segment led by "Tok Jogho" which feature the "awok-awok" (chorus) singing in unison with other members of the Dikir Barat group with Tok Jogho. This is the low key segment.

The highlight of the Dikir Barat performance is in the 2nd segment featuring "Tukang Karut". "Tukang Karut" is the opposite side of "Tok Jogho" as he is the creative leader of the Dikir Barat group. He composed his rhyme in a debate manner and normally would touch on the current issues - be it social, political issues. These issues are composed in rhymes which are satirical, sarcastic or even (simply) humorous ....

Now now, let's go back to Dataran Putera, Jerteh ....

I really hope - in Terengganu at least - the Dikir Barat performed there did not strictly conform to the "ideal" features/characteristics of Dikir Barat in the strict sense ....

By looking at the jovial faces of those State of Terengganu leaders, my inference is - I hope I am politically right in this - it was not performed in a competitive environment and it was not a "battle of wits" of trying to outdone each other. Most important of all, there was no "Tukang Karut" among them!!!!

If I were wrong, the next question is - "Who is the Tok Dalang here?"

Till we meet again with an entry on "Wayang Kulit", I guess ....