Preserving ‘Batanghari Sembilan’ Musical Style

Muhammad Ali has a mission to preserve the oral narrative tradition of South Sumatra through the musical style of batanghari sembilan.

KOMPAS/RHAMA PURNA JATI

Muhammad Ali

Incang-incang pelanduk (a poem of a mouse deer)/Pelanduk pucuk rebo (a mouse deer atop the house)/Malam-malam tak tiduk (staying awake at night)/Mikirin purun kito (thinking of our rush plants)

These are some of the lyrics of a song entitled “Incang-Incang Berambak” (a poem of rush plant weaving) written by Muhammad Ali. The song depicts the efforts made by the Pedamaran people in Ogan Komering Ilir regency to safeguard their peatland, where the plants grow, against the threats of wildfires and land conversion. The song is even more enjoyable with guitar accompaniment in the rhythm of batanghari sembilan, a style characteristic of South Sumatra.

In addition to delivering the message of environmental conservation, Muhammad Ali, better known by his nickname Ali Goik, has a mission to preserve the oral narrative tradition of South Sumatra through the musical style of batanghari sembilan.

The oral tradition has grown out of community life, even believed to have been created in the prehistoric era.

As the name indicates, the batanghari sembilan style has evolved in the region where the Musi River’s tributaries spread over southern Sumatra. In South Sumatra, this style is common in Besemah (Pagar Alam, Lahat, Empat Lawang, Muara Enim), Komering, and in lowlands like Musi Banyuasin, Banyuasin, even as far as Palembang.

“The oral tradition has grown out of community life, even believed to have been created in the prehistoric era,” said Ali. The difference is that at the time the message conveyed was more about the prevailing social order and morality.

When Islam entered the region, the message changed into praise for God and the Prophet Muhammad. Today, the songs in the batanghari sembilan style mostly describe young people falling in love.

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The transformation has also involved the musical instruments played. In the prehistoric time, batanghari sembilan emanated from the sounds of colliding stones and rushing river water flows. Later the sounds were produced by traditional inventions like bamboo instruments, gongs and lutes.

KOMPAS/IRENE SARWINDANINGRUM

Palembang shadow puppets were performed again during the awarding night of the Batanghari Sembilan art award in Palembang, South Sumatra, Friday (23/12). After decades of disappearing, this puppet which is almost extinct is trying to be revived.

Now batanghari sembilan has adopted modern musical instruments like the guitar, violin and accordion. “Many artists are now playing this music with solo guitars by tuning the strings in a way distinct from the normal practice,” said Ali.

This string instrument has to be tinkered with to produce suitable tones for the style. “The sixth string has a higher pitch than normal,” added Ali while turning the guitar’s tuning peg.

Many artists are now playing this music with solo guitars by tuning the strings in a way distinct from the normal practice.

Fascinated and concerned

Ali’s interest in batanghari sembilan emerged in 2007, after he watched a blind Palembang artist, Sahilin, sing and play the music captivatingly. He was fascinated and at the same time concerned because very few contemporary artists were able and willing to play the style. The music might vanish if the tradition was left neglected.

He felt even more anxious when he witnessed the Sriwijaya Festival presenting external elements of culture instead of those native to South Sumatra. “South Sumatra is rich in the arts, why did the event offer other cultures?” he asked.

From then on, Ali was determined to immerse himself in the batanghari sembilan style and develop it. “I was so engrossed that I didn’t listen to any other type of music for three successive years,” said Ali.

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Ali’s serious efforts led him to innovate by writing nine songs in the batanghari sembilan musical style. He has created lyrics that are poetic quatrains and maintain the typical Malay rhythm.

Some sociocultural themed songs were also written such as “Tamtam Duku”, about children’s games now beginning to disappear, “Lungguh Kojaman”, about the tradition of mutual assistance, and “Kenceran”, about the tradition of rowboat racing. The songs are packaged in an album called Pesan Damai Simbur Cahaya (rays of peaceful messages).

KOMPAS/IRENE SARWINDANINGRUM

A group of young people in the ethnic music group "Rejung Pasirah" tries to develop songs and traditional music from South Sumatra, Batanghari Sembilan with popular music, Friday (14/3/2014).

Ali also created songs with environmental messages, such as “Incang-Incang Berambak” and “Pasir Hitam Sungai Sembilang” (the Sembilang River’s black sand). He was inspired when exploring several areas and perceived local communities’ grievances.

Besides his artistic engagement, Ali is also a passionate worker in environmental activities. He provides guidance for members of the Anak Dalam ethnic group in various parts of South Sumatra, among other engagements.

Inviting millennials

How long will the oral narrative tradition be maintained? This question has struck him. As he gets older, the time has come to hand it down to young people. Ali realizes that many young people now regard batanghari sembilan as outdated and unable to be adapted to modern times.

This notion has prompted Ali to invite the younger generation to preserve the batanghari sembilan style. He has done this by setting up Rejang Pesirah, an arts community for young people who are concerned about the preservation of the oral tradition.

He has also written songs using modern musical instruments. “My aim is to prove to young people that this style is also fit for diverse types of music and musical instruments,” he said.

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Sometime in 2018, Ali had the opportunity to meet with guitarist I Wayan Balawan and performed a duet with him. At the time, Balawan was surprised to find the distinctive type of guitar played by Ali. “This is one way of attracting young people to make them join,” he pointed out.

His other mission is to strive for the introduction of batanghari sembilan to the younger generation through educational institutions in South Sumatra.

Muhammad Ali

Born: Kotabumi, Oct. 12, 1970

Wife: Nerry Sulastri, 47

Organization:

- Chairman of Depati Institute (2012-present)

- Depati Foundation (2019-present)

Albums:

- Pesan Damai Simbur Cahaya (2019)

- Compilation of the Environment Forum (end of 2020)

This article was translated by Aris Prawira.