Kuda Kepang

The Malay Village  is a museum in Geylang, Singapore where they showcases the life of the Malays who used to live in the area before redevelopment in the 1960s.Every Saturday afetr 8 pm the kuda kepang is performed for the audience to watch in the open field.The Kuda Kepang is a very interesting dance from Johor.

The dance had strong links with spirit possession and often dancers went into a trance-like state.

Twenty Eight year-old Wandi is the leader of one of Singapore's oldest kuda kepang groups known as Tedja Timur which was formed in 1948.

Kuda kepang performances are usually dance dramas based on Hindu epics like Ramayana. However with the Islamisation of Malaysia, this dance now generally renders the tale of nine Javanese men who spread the Islamic faith in the interior of Java.

Kuda Kepang is traditional horse trance dance originated from Java, Indonesia performed by Malays of Javanese origin. The dance is accompanied by a gamelan ensemble consisting of drums, gong and angklung (tubular chimes made from bamboo wood). Kuda kepang is performed during wedding celebrations and at cultural events,

Kuda means horse, kepang means weaving from bamboo.The dance had strong links with spirit possession. At times, some kuda kepang dancers would enter a trance-like state. Before the dance begins, helpers will bring pails  of water and whips of different lengths and colours. The bomoh (a Malay medicine man) will burn kemenyan (rock incense)
Music beats starts slow and the dancers sway elegantly to the music. The music then changes to an almost hypnotic rhythm as the kuda kepang dancers began trotting about like wild horses trying to break free. Each time the dancers try to run away, the guardians will whip them. Totally “possessed”, the dancers are unable to feel pain on any part of their bodies.

According to tradition, one of the forbidden items to bring to a kuda kepang performance is red cloth. The dancers are not permitted to see red cloth or they will go wild with frenzy, chasing the bearer of that crimson cloth.
It is said the kuda kepang dancers will have absolutely no recollection of what happened to them during the performance. Some, however, will begin to experience extreme pain, hunger and exhaustion. And they will normally need about three days to recuperate and physically recover to their normal self.

The dancers can perform extraordinary feat such as jumping as high as 6 feet and gobbling down flowers, glass shards and even ripping coconuts with their bare teeth!

Singapore has hidden culture and traditions. I was introduced to this Kadu Kepang by a Taxi uncle , a special thanks to you Mr. Halim.