Arts practitioners 'drown' as performances banned during pandemic

 

The performing arts field, like most of the sectors and industries, has been severely impacted by the economic fallout caused by the Covid-19 with traditional art performances being restricted during the various movement control orders (MCO).

Prior to the pandemic, dikir barat activists were among the most prominent in reviving the traditional arts and culture segment, but now they hardly earn enough to support themselves.

For Kelantan-based dikir barat performer Ismail Che Seman, known as "Mail Anak Kala" for his beautiful vocals, life has changed 180 degrees from the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak.

As a full-time singer of dikir barat, the 46-year-old was well-paid and constantly received invitations to perform before the lockdown in March 2020.

However, Ismail has now been reduced to doing odd jobs at his village to support his family.

”The situation has been quite difficult for me to earn a living. I have to get odd jobs like repairing other people's houses. It is tough as I don't get such jobs often," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

"I do village work like repairing houses and the like. But it is quite difficult because there is not always such work," he added.

According to Ismail, he has not received any aid from any quarter since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"There is nothing at all, so far. We only earn what is available to us. Can't even travel far to get a job, what more perform dikir barat," he lamented.

"(We feel) like we are drowning making a living via art performances as we are not getting any income," Ismail said.

Similarly, dikir barat song initiator Tuan Yacob Tuan Ismail, 65, has also lost his source of income.

 "But I am still fortunate because (I can) rely on my pension to support my family. However, the situation is different if compared to before, when we could travel around to perform," said Yacob, who is known by his stage name "Tuan Kob Raja Saring".

Meanwhile, for the traditional puppet performance master, Kang Boon Ann, 53, the pandemic has paralysed the performing activities of his team Sri Cindayu.

Kang, who is the team leader of Sri Cindayu based in Kelantan, said his team used to receive invitations to perform both locally and abroad.

"Our group's activities have been completely paralysed since Covid-19 hit the country, and my men have to look elsewhere for food.

"I hope the relevant parties come to visit and say hello to us. So far no one has come forward to offer any form of donation," said Kang, who is better known as "Che Ann". - Mkini