Discover Dondang Sayang and understand why Unesco recognises this traditional form of entertainment

Malaysia Delegates : 13th Inter-Governmental Committee
for The Safeguarding
of The Intangible Cultural Heritage
Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre
Port Louis, Mauritius
Photo Credits : Datuk Khamis Abas

My first discovery of Dondang Sayang was in the late 1980s when a lounge at Madonna Building was hosting this traditional entertainment and it would attract my attention each time I drove through Jalan Laksamana.

The Madonna Building is standing next to the Church of St. Francis Xavier, a church opened to the public since 1859.

I believed Dondang Sayang was not only performed at Madonna Building and was entertaining the communities in Melaka since the 15th century, influenced by traditional Portuguese folk music soon after Sequeira arrived in Melaka in 1509.

About the same period, Chinese immigrants to Malaya, became more profound when the Ming emperor’s reopened the Chinese-Malay trade relations. The descendents of these immigrants are today referred as Baba and Nyonya. Baba is a male and Nyonya is a female.

The Baba and Nyonya will enjoy exchanging extemporaneous Malay poetry humorously to cheer their guests accompanied by the rebana, gong, accordions and other traditional village musical instruments.

Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi announced to the press that the inclusion of Dondang Sayang in Unesco’s listing of cultural heritage was made on November 29, 2018 at a convention in Port Louis, Mauritius.

The Director of National Heritage, Datuk Dr. Zainah Ibrahim and the former General Manager of Melaka Museum Corporation or PERZIM (Perbadanan Muzium Melaka), Datuk Khamis Abas led the Malaysian delegation to the 13 Inter-Governmental Committee for The Safeguarding of The Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Swami Viveananda International Convention Centre.

I love this romantic musical rhythm of Dondang Sayang enriched with the exchange of poetry between the man and the lady and whenever I misses the feel of this traditional art, I would check out with the Submarine Museum (+6062826526) or the Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum (+6062826526)

The Baba love to sing his love to the nyonya and likewise the nyonya respond in another line of lyrical poetry to him. Then, love lingers on … … …

To plan your tour of Melaka, and to indulge in this beautiful traditional ballad, feel free to contact the Melaka Museum Corporation here or just simple press +6063333333

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