![]() ![]() Rooted in the Hindu concept of devaraja, daulat is traditionally believed to be an all-encompassing, divinely sanctioned royal aura that not only emanates around the Sultan in person, but also throughout his palace and kingdom. The nobat is an embodiment and manifestation of a ruler’s greatness and daulat. Its hereditary musicians are from the orang kalur family, the only people allowed to play or even touch the instruments. ![]() Its instruments are part of the treasured regalia of the state, a symbol of a Malay Sultan’s status and sovereignty. The nobat orchestra is more than just a music ensemble. Such folkloristic features could be seen in terms of words selection, sentence construction, the used of nicknames blended with the elements of humour to bring a jovial mood to the audience although there were also historical elements significantly embedded in the syair. ![]() As a commoner’s composition of poetic form originated from the village milieu, the characteristic of folkloristic features were highly visible as it was presented in the language of the everyday Malay society. This paper will also elaborate the folkloristic nature of the syair and its conceptual implication to the conventions of Malay syair. In view of this, the purpose of this paper is to introduce a syair form of historical work originated from a village milieu which was orally composed. The British were criticized for introducing such an unfavourable taxation scheme whereas the locals were criticized for their lukewarm spirit in their struggle against the colonial force. Although, the syair encapsulates only nineteen verses, however, it manages to portray the event, criticizing both the British and the local villagers. It was then transformed into the written form based on the personal notes of Haji Omar Haji Osman, a local religious personage, teacher and also a local historian. The account of the events were transmitted orally as a local legend and later composed by a person named Encik Hasin into an oral verse form, the syair. ![]() The uprising of social unrest rose due to the enforcement of a new revenue system that brought repressed emotion among the people. Syair Kisah Perang Rokam (The Ballad of the Rokam War) is a historical syair depicting the outbreak of the anti-British resistance among the Malay folks of Serkam in the state of Malacca in 1887. ![]()
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