PI00007569

Introduction In Malaysia, there is a living traditional art where a storyteller develops the oral tradition, otherwise known as oral literature. Oral tradition is the original source of Malay literature and translated into written literature. One of the practitioners of this oral tradition is known as 'Awang Batil'. Apart from specialised storytellers such as Awang Batil, there are other transmissions of oral literature throughout the country, especially in villages through folk stories or stories of elders that are collected, rewritten and made into collections for children to read. Awang Batil Awang Batil is a storyteller who provided entertainment and education to the people, especially to the villagers and local community. Awang Batil entertains and educates the community through many classic stories that he inherited. Through those stories, the community is entertained and educated. Once upon a time, Awang Batil functioned as a story book, novel, radio, television, movie or video as it is now. He would travel from house to house, village to village, state to state including the state of Kedah, Penang and some areas in the Southern Region of Thailand, especially the Setol Region.

PI00002156

Awang Batil is a story-teller only found in the state of Perlis. Originally he was known with the name ‘Awang Belanga’ because he used the ‘belanga’ or cooking pot as his music accompaniment. As cooking pot is covered with charcoal, it was then replaced with ‘batil’ that is copper water container. Thus the story-teller is called ‘Awang Batil’. The storyteller also plays other instruments such as the violin, serunai, rebana and gendang terinai. In yesteryears, Awang Batil travelled village to village and from house to house, especially houses that held wedding feasts, to tell his stories. Awang Batil inherits lots of folk stories. A story is in series and with continuities that drags to many evenings. Comedy elements are inserted in his story-telling while beating the copper water container with his fingers. The most commonly told stories of the Awang Batil are Raja Dewa Lok, Raja Bersiung, Raja Berdarah Putih, Anak Lang Pak Belang, Jabat Jabit, Abu Nawas, Cerita Angan-Angan and Awang Ada Duit Semua Jadi. At certain Acts Awang Batil wears a mask to relate the character of a ‘Hulubalang’ (Soldier) and the ‘Wak Nujum’ (Fortune Teller). Both are used when suitable characters appear in the stories to attract the audiences’ attention. The mask is made of wood and usually painted red and white. At a house that holds wedding feast Awang Batil performs in a small hut with a height of three to four meters. The audiences sit encircling the hut listening to his stories with laughter.

PI00007699

Awang Batil is a storyteller only found in the state of Perlis. He narrates a story by tapping a Batil (copper water container). In addition to the Batil, the storyteller also plays various instruments such as the violin, serunai, rebana, and gendang terinai. His performances are predominantly held in homes during wedding feasts and can sometimes span several days. Throughout his narration, he wears two masks representing the characters of a 'Hulubalang' (soldier) and the 'Wak Nujum' (fortune teller). These masks, typically made of wood and painted in red and white, add depth to his storytelling. Today, with the advent of digital media, the Awang Batil’s role has diminished, but the Perlis-based storyteller still entertains people with his delightful wit. This mask is made from 'tui' wood. This mask is used when awang batil is telling stories about the character of Wak Nujum. It is painted in red and white.

PI00007698

Awang Batil is a storyteller only found in the state of Perlis. He narrates a story by tapping a Batil (copper water container). In addition to the Batil, the storyteller also plays various instruments such as the violin, serunai, rebana, and gendang terinai. His performances are predominantly held in homes during wedding feasts and can sometimes span several days. Throughout his narration, he wears two masks representing the characters of a 'Hulubalang' (soldier) and the 'Wak Nujum' (fortune teller). These masks, typically made of wood and painted in red and white, add depth to his storytelling. Today, with the advent of digital media, the Awang Batil’s role has diminished, but the Perlis-based storyteller still entertains people with his delightful wit. This mask is made from 'tui' wood. This mask is used when awang batil is telling stories about the character of Wak Nujum. It is painted in red and white.

PI00007700

Awang Batil is a storyteller only found in the state of Perlis. He narrates a story by tapping a Batil (copper water container). In addition to the Batil, the storyteller also plays various instruments such as the violin, serunai, rebana, and gendang terinai. His performances are predominantly held in homes during wedding feasts and can sometimes span several days. Throughout his narration, he wears two masks representing the characters of a 'Hulubalang' (soldier) and the 'Wak Nujum' (fortune teller). These masks, typically made of wood and painted in red and white, add depth to his storytelling. Today, with the advent of digital media, the Awang Batil’s role has diminished, but the Perlis-based storyteller still entertains people with his delightful wit. This mask is made from 'tui' wood. This mask is used when awang batil is telling stories about the character of Wak Nujum. It is painted in red and white.

PI00002093

Awang Batil is a story-teller only found in the state of Perlis. Originally he was known with the name ‘Awang Belanga’ because he used the ‘belanga’ or cooking pot as his music accompaniment. As cooking pot is covered with charcoal, it was then replaced with ‘batil’ that is copper water container. Thus the story-teller is called ‘Awang Batil’. The storyteller also plays other instruments such as the violin, serunai, rebana and gendang terinai. In yesteryears, Awang Batil travelled village to village and from house to house, especially houses that held wedding feasts, to tell his stories. Awang Batil inherits lots of folk stories. A story is in series and with continuities that drags to many evenings. Comedy elements are inserted in his story-telling while beating the copper water container with his fingers. The most commonly told stories of the Awang Batil are Raja Dewa Lok, Raja Bersiung, Raja Berdarah Putih, Anak Lang Pak Belang, Jabat Jabit, Abu Nawas, Cerita Angan-Angan and Awang Ada Duit Semua Jadi. At certain Acts Awang Batil wears a mask to relate the character of a ‘Hulubalang’ (Soldier) and the ‘Wak Nujum’ (Fortune Teller). Both are used when suitable characters appear in the stories to attract the audiences’ attention. The mask is made of wood and usually painted red and white. At a house that holds wedding feast Awang Batil performs in a small hut with a height of three to four meters. The audiences sit encircling the hut listening to his stories with laughter.

PI00002094

Awang Batil is a story-teller only found in the state of Perlis. Originally he was known with the name ‘Awang Belanga’ because he used the ‘belanga’ or cooking pot as his music accompaniment. As cooking pot is covered with charcoal, it was then replaced with ‘batil’ that is copper water container. Thus the story-teller is called ‘Awang Batil’. The storyteller also plays other instruments such as the violin, serunai, rebana and gendang terinai. In yesteryears, Awang Batil travelled village to village and from house to house, especially houses that held wedding feasts, to tell his stories. Awang Batil inherits lots of folk stories. A story is in series and with continuities that drags to many evenings. Comedy elements are inserted in his story-telling while beating the copper water container with his fingers. The most commonly told stories of the Awang Batil are Raja Dewa Lok, Raja Bersiung, Raja Berdarah Putih, Anak Lang Pak Belang, Jabat Jabit, Abu Nawas, Cerita Angan-Angan and Awang Ada Duit Semua Jadi. At certain Acts Awang Batil wears a mask to relate the character of a ‘Hulubalang’ (Soldier) and the ‘Wak Nujum’ (Fortune Teller). Both are used when suitable characters appear in the stories to attract the audiences’ attention. The mask is made of wood and usually painted red and white. At a house that holds wedding feast Awang Batil performs in a small hut with a height of three to four meters. The audiences sit encircling the hut listening to his stories with laughter.

PI00007705

Awang Batil is a storyteller only found in the state of Perlis. He narrates a story by tapping a Batil (copper water container). In addition to the Batil, the storyteller also plays various instruments such as the violin, serunai, rebana, and gendang terinai. His performances are predominantly held in homes during wedding feasts and can sometimes span several days. Throughout his narration, he wears two masks representing the characters of a 'Hulubalang' (soldier) and the 'Wak Nujum' (fortune teller). These masks, typically made of wood and painted in red and white, add depth to his storytelling. Today, with the advent of digital media, the Awang Batil’s role has diminished, but the Perlis-based storyteller still entertains people with his delightful wit. Batil is the most important tool used in a performance of awang batil. The batil used is made of copper. Batil is a container used to store water.

PI00007707

Awang Batil is a storyteller only found in the state of Perlis. He narrates a story by tapping a Batil (copper water container). In addition to the Batil, the storyteller also plays various instruments such as the violin, serunai, rebana, and gendang terinai. His performances are predominantly held in homes during wedding feasts and can sometimes span several days. Throughout his narration, he wears two masks representing the characters of a 'Hulubalang' (soldier) and the 'Wak Nujum' (fortune teller). These masks, typically made of wood and painted in red and white, add depth to his storytelling. Today, with the advent of digital media, the Awang Batil’s role has diminished, but the Perlis-based storyteller still entertains people with his delightful wit. Batil is the most important tool used in a performance of awang batil. The batil used is made of copper. Batil is a container used to store water.

PI00007706

Awang Batil is a storyteller only found in the state of Perlis. He narrates a story by tapping a Batil (copper water container). In addition to the Batil, the storyteller also plays various instruments such as the violin, serunai, rebana, and gendang terinai. His performances are predominantly held in homes during wedding feasts and can sometimes span several days. Throughout his narration, he wears two masks representing the characters of a 'Hulubalang' (soldier) and the 'Wak Nujum' (fortune teller). These masks, typically made of wood and painted in red and white, add depth to his storytelling. Today, with the advent of digital media, the Awang Batil’s role has diminished, but the Perlis-based storyteller still entertains people with his delightful wit. Batil is the most important tool used in a performance of awang batil. The batil used is made of copper. Batil is a container used to store water.

PI00007708

Awang Batil is a storyteller only found in the state of Perlis. He narrates a story by tapping a Batil (copper water container). In addition to the Batil, the storyteller also plays various instruments such as the violin, serunai, rebana, and gendang terinai. His performances are predominantly held in homes during wedding feasts and can sometimes span several days. Throughout his narration, he wears two masks representing the characters of a 'Hulubalang' (soldier) and the 'Wak Nujum' (fortune teller). These masks, typically made of wood and painted in red and white, add depth to his storytelling. Today, with the advent of digital media, the Awang Batil’s role has diminished, but the Perlis-based storyteller still entertains people with his delightful wit. Batil is the most important tool used in a performance of awang batil. The batil used is made of copper. Batil is a container used to store water.