3.

0 THE HISTORY OF DIKIR BARAT

3.1 DIKIR BARAT IN SINGAPORE

Some of the opinion say that the Dikir Barat is start introduced in Singapore. Dikir Barat
in Singapore was detected in year of 1975 at a Victoria School. They perform the Dikir Barat as
result from some of their student’s interest in the “Pesta Dendang Rakyat” on the TV. Although
their performance is irregular, but they are the form that the Dikir Barat culture is exist and
become one of the most important culture to Kelantan until the present day. Dikir Barat Victoria
School are so popular that they are invited to make the performance in schools, public places and
even weddings. Year after years, they have improved their performances and indirectly shaped
the way of Dikir Barat in Singapura.

After that, Dikir Barat become more popular in Singapore during the 1980s. In 1984, the
Malay Literary, Debating and Cultural Social of Nanyang Junior Collage was organized the first
Dikir Barat competition for school’s student. This competition sparked off interest among
secondary schools and junior collages, which began to form into groups to the competition. The
art form soon caught on as schools introduced it as an extra-curricular activity and formed the
Dikir Barat groups. The Dikir Barat itself can training instills in students the values of discipline,
tolerance and teamwork with the others member.

Year by year, Dikir Barat had gained traction among Singapore youths. Although there
are breaking from tradition say that the Dikir Barat was to be only performed by men or boys,
but girls in Singapore also began to join or to be part of the group and performed their own Dikir
Barat groups. Besides that, even as these youths were learning a traditional musical genre, they
also began to modify and they will improve that performance into more modern Dikir Barat
performance that can suits to the audience. For the example, the Dikir Barat groups will use their
own creativity to introduce new movement rather than stick to the traditional moves. The songs
composed for Dikir Barat performances also borrowed the elements from English, Malay and
also from Hindi.