This time, we will introduce an episode of “Magic Kite” from the story “Dewa Muda”, of which is a traditional dance drama called Mak Yong. “Dewa Muda” is also the name of the prince of the Dewa Muda Kingdom. The story begins with his dream that tells him what he should do. In the story, there are several scenes such as “what happened now?” and “why and how did this happen?”. While you are watching the video, you may feel that the power beyond human intelligence is naturally alive in the story. Two traditional cultures, Mak Yong and Main Puteri, will be introduced within the storytelling. None of these can be easily be talked about in the context of art and performance. It seems to be deeply linked to the way people’s spirits (souls) are and how they are perceived by the people of these cultures. Enjoy a glimpse of deep Malaysia! The storyteller is Shafiq Faliq, who is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at Hiroshima University and is also a mime artist.
This story has been told across the countries, especially in the north-eastern part of Malaysia where the traditions of Mak Yong and Main Puteri remain strong, also in the southern part of Thailand which borders the north-eastern states of Malaysia. Those states are a very interesting area with a strong Islamic culture and a deep-rooted shamanic culture. Some people say that Malaysia’s most powerful shamans are often from this area.
