Bangsawan is a distinctive Malay performing art with origins in Parsi theatre - a form of entertainment popular in India in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Brought to Malaysia by Indian Muslim immigrants in the late 1800s, and originally performed in the Hindi language, Bangsawan quickly took hold in the Penang area and elsewhere on the peninsula. The art has evolved over time into a uniquely Malay art performed in the Malay language.

Bangsawan is also a truly multicultural performing art. It includes elements of the Malay, Indian, and Chinese cultures — the three major cultural groups in modern-day Malaysia. The Bangsawan orchestra is equally diverse, consisting of a mix of Indian, Western, Latin American, and indigenous Malay musical instruments. The music itself is a fusion of Malay and Western elements. The Bangsawan singing style, vocal ornamentation, and drum patterns are pure Malay for the most part, though some of the harmony and orchestration is Western in inspiration. Some songs follow Malay rhythms, whereas others follow Middle Eastern, Chinese, or Indian rhythms. Many of the stories come from Malay, Chinese, or Indian folklore, but some take their storylines from the works of Sir William Shakespeare and other Western playwrights and writers. Costumes, props, and stage sets are a very important part of Bangsawan theatre. Every carefully researched and tailored costume has a special significance. The props and custom designed sets support the story, but the designers adapt the sets to modern times and to the local scene.

The best way for you to understand Bangsawan is to experience a performance. The show begins with a comedian who rings a hand bell and invites you and the other members of the audience to sit down. The orchestra then plays traditional music as the curtain opens. Maybe the brightly colored costumes catch your eye. Maybe you notice the sets first. Bangsawan stage sets usually show a palace scene in yellow (the royal color) or a garden scene with many brightly colored plants, flowers, and waterfalls. Music, dances, and songs enliven the performance from beginning to end. If the story involves heroic acts, the performance might include traditional martial arts. If you leave your seat during intermission, you might miss the “extra-turn” comedy skits or traditional dances that fill the time during set changes.

Bangsawan began to decline in popularity shortly after the arrival of motion pictures to Malaysia. The earliest silent movies showed amazing stunts performed on the tops of tall buildings and other unimaginable places that Bangsawan actors could not perform or reproduce in front of live audiences. Eventually, many Bangsawan performers left the stage for roles in the movies. The musicians and dancers found other work, too. Bangsawan stories, music, songs, and dances — and the very art of Bangsawan itself — began to fade from memory because people no longer performed or supported it. Many of the past Bangsawan stars have died, and those who survive are aging.

In 2007, the Penang Budayasari Troupe, a non-governmental organization in Penang, received a grant from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation to document and share information on Bangsawan music, dance, storylines, and set and costume designs. By documenting this fading art form, the project participants hope to ensure its preservation. Mohd Bahroodin bin Ahmad, fondly known as Cikgu Baha and a gifted teacher, performer, and producer of Bangsawan with more than 25 years of experience in the theatre, led the project. Efforts are underway to continue the extraordinary work of bin Ahmad, who passed away in 2008, so that future generations can learn from and enjoy the Malay art of Bangsawan.

Established by the U.S. Congress and administered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Cultural Heritage Center, the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation provides direct grant support for cultural preservation in developing countries. Learn more about this program.