As is tradition, the Esplanade’s Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts returns for a brand new edition after Hari Raya Puasa this May. This year, the arts centre and its collaborating and invited artists are ready to whisk audience members to the Nusantara region, with the meeting of tradition and folklore with the contemporary.

Highlights of the festival this year include two new commissioned works, both revisiting classic tales that transcend the boundaries of time, for audience members of all ages. In Bawang Putih Bawang Merah, Teater Ekamatra reunites several creatives from their SIFA smash-hit Bangsawan Gemala Malam in this reimagination of a well-known folktale. Directed by Mohd Fared Jainal, with a script by Ridhwan Saidi and music by Safuan Johari, dive into this darkly humorous and witty show about stepsisters Bawang Putih and Bawang Merah, as the rival siblings embark on a journey of self-discovery and liberation, guided by magical mothers, rebellious royalty, and a fabulous fairy godmother.

Following the internationally acclaimed Setan Jawa—which premiered in 2017 to a sold-out crowd at Esplanade, over at the Concert Hall, look out for Samsara – A Cine-Concert, which brings a vibrant, live electronic music soundscape with traditional Balinese performance elements like the gamelan orchestra, traditional dance, masks and wayang kulit to film auteur Garin Nugroho’s film Samsara. In the film, a man from an impoverished family is rejected by the wealthy parents of the woman he loves. He strikes a bargain with the Monkey King, performing a dark ritual to gain wealth but in the process, curses his wife and child into suffering.  Rooted in Indonesian mysticism, this is a universal narrative about the insatiable hunger to be what one is not, and the boundaries one is prepared to breach to realise this.

In Hidup Pop Yeh Yeh! (Long Live Pop Yeh Yeh!), pioneering artists Dato’ Jeffrydin, Dato’ L. Ramli and S. Mariam join forces with ’60s pop-inspired band Masdo to celebrate the legacy of this beloved music genre. Arising from the 1960s and 1970s, pop yeh yeh combines psychedelic, pop and rock ‘n’ roll sounds with Malay melodies and lyricism, resulting in a unique genre that found deep resonance with fans across Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Pop yeh yeh artists created a unique new sound by blending popular music from both Malay and Western cultures, inspired by artists such as The Beatles and Cliff Richard. 

In Dangdut Koplo Extravaganza!, two of Indonesia’s most promising dangdut performers, Ochi Alvira and Syahiba Saufa, are set to enthrall audiences with the infectious, hypnotic and soul-stirring sounds of the genre. With a combined following of five million fans across TikTok and Instagram, internationally viral songs like Rasah Nyangkem 3 and millions of video views on YouTube, Ochi and Syahiba are certified stars with their own unique charms. Ochi’s sweet yet powerful vocals are complemented by the alluring gaze and lilting tone of Syahiba and together, their undeniable musical chemistry result in performances that you cannot look away from. 

Be sure to also join in the opening festivities at Jalan Raya, a performance-installation by Zarina Muhammad and other Singapore artists inspired by annual Hari Raya visits, where audiences are invited to experience a different perspective on tradition and culture, to walk and talk with place histories, embodied memory and the personal/collective wisdoms we have learnt from spaces we have itinerantly inhabited, passed through and been attentive to.  Come immerse yourself in the Hari Raya spirit and see what the arts from and inspired by the Nusantara region have to offer, and honour and celebrate the Malay culture this Pesta Raya!

Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts 2024 runs from 9th to 12th May 2024 at the Esplanade. Tickets and full programme information available here