Feminist dikir barat

You can take a boy out of the village but you can't take the village out of the boy - hence "dikir barat", one of the many proud cultural heritage from Kelantan and southern Thailand. It is somewhat resembles that of a choir from the western tradition. Partial to dikir barat that I am, I used the following dikir in some of the classes I taught to illustrate certain concepts and ideas and it often prompts lively discussion among my American students.

The above dikir tells about her singing her fortune: being married young to an irresponsible guy who divorced her and that she was left with two small children (toddlers) to raise. Because of her socioeconomic status background and without any education and skills, she was left wondering how to sustain them and to make a living - what to do to earn a living and sustain her and her two young children. She poured her heart at the injustice of gender inequality that exists in her society where "men can literally have their brains in their butts", whereas women have to grow up early, be mature and responsible. She sang about her own vulnerability and temptations following and coping with the divorce but her strong faith and adherence to morality kept her from going astray.

To me, this dikir outlines the cultural mileau that exists in almost every corner of the world regardless of culture. She defines feminism within her own cultural context.