Esplanade Foreword February: Dikir Barat

The opening song by Endang Ratiana, Junjung Budaya Tersergam Bahasa, is about how we should continue to embrace our culture and cherish our language, so that it will not disappear.

Wira will perform a song based on the different cultures and languages practiced in Singapore, which aims to show how people can be united as one.

In the dikir battle segment between Dikir barat Endang Ratiana and Wira, they will elaborate more about Malay culture, and to spice things up, a non-Malay song will be sung to show that music is universal and that dikir barat can be enjoyed by the non-Malays too. So sit back, clap along and move to our beat!

Inspired by the racial harmony and diversity in Singapore, Adiratna performs songs that show how other languages can be brought into a traditional Malay performance.

Performed in six parts, the tok juara and tukang karut will convey a meaningful message while the awok-awok reiterate the messages accompanied with beats from the paluan.

About Republic Polytechnic’s Dikir Barat Interest Group
Republic Polytechnic’s Dikir Barat Interest Group consists of Endang Ratiana Pekacah (female group) and Wira (male group). Endang started back in 2007 with only seven members in the family. The sisterhood has now grown into an award-winning group under the care of their dedicated trainer, Hairil Annuar.

Wira was established much later, in 2011. They too started with a minimum of six members and have grown into a formidable group who have come in first at many competitions.

About Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Adiratna
Adiratna, which means “wanita cantik” or beautiful lady, is a female dikir barat group from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, formed in 2004.

Since then, Adiratna has been actively performing in competitions and shows. At the Piala Suara Serumpun competitions in 2016 and 2017, Adiratna won Best Awok, Best Paluan and came in first in the female category.