Symbolic Representation: Roles of Bongai Performance from The Perspective of The Malays of Negeri Sembilan

Abstract

Bongai is known as the folk music of the Malays of Negeri Sembilan. Bongai is considered part of the intangible cultural heritage and has been traditionally performed during festive events to entertain the audience. Nowadays, bongai is rarely performed due to the cultural change of the younger generation who turned their interest to modern and popular music. In that sense, bongai has lost its significance as folk music in the Malay society of Negeri Sembilan. Therefore, there is a need to explore the engagement of the Malay community, especially the younger generation, towards bongai performance today. This paper aims to investigate the importance of bongai’s performance from the perspective of the Malays in Negeri Sembilan and examine the relevant mechanisms in safeguarding bongai in contemporary society. Hence, this study adopted an ethnographic approach using in-depth interviews and participant observations to gain data from fieldwork. All the data from this study were analysed using thematic analysis and triangulated from past research and research participants of the study. Based on the findings, the roles of bongai’s performance from the perspectives were clustered under five categories: a sense of brotherhood, entertainment, relaxing time, a sense of identity, and educating the community. Lastly, this paper suggests that bongai needs to be sustained to ensure its continuity because it reflects on the identity of the Malays of Negeri Sembilan through community engagement, oral transmission, and collaboration between governmental agencies.