This week in music class we go to Malaysia–a country that is engaged in several balancing acts at once. Geographically, Malaysia balances two distinct regions separated by the South China Sea: Peninsular Malaysia/West Malaysia, which is the populated, urban hub of the nation, and Malaysian Borneo/East Malaysia whose many, many animal species help make Malaysia one of the world’s few megadiverse countries. Religiously, Malaysia balances its Muslim majority (60% of Malaysians–only Sunni Islam is allowed) with its Buddhists (20%) and other religious minorities. Ethnically, Malaysia is exceedingly conscious about balancing the rights and privileges of indigenous Malaysian people, known as the “bumiputra,” (60% of the population) with those of Chinese Malaysians (25%) and others. (The distinction of “bumiputra” includes ethnic Malays as well as several non-Malay indigenous groups. Being considered bumiputra is very important in Malaysia.)) Because of all this balancing Malaysia can baffle a Western visior. Sometimes it’s a country that feels so modern, so familiar, so easy to understand. Then, not too far beneath the surface, one runs up against a legally enforced cultural law or a public religious requirement, and the Malaysia we thought we knew disappears….
— HISTORY: Malaysia is a balancing act — the Peninsula with Borneo, Muslims and Buddhists, a technological future and a traditional past….
— MUSIC: “Malaysian music, like so much of Malaysian culture and society, is the result of an ever-evolving interplay between Indonesian, Thai, Filipino, Chinese and global (especially Islamic) styles….”
— LANGUAGE: Manglish???
— SEPAK TAKRAW: One of Malaysia’s favorite sports. An astounding Southeast Asian “keepie uppie.”
Comments are closed.