The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam is pleased to announce the publication of IAS Working Paper No 78: Rolling Heritage: Gulintangan as Inalienable Gift in Brunei Darussalam by Mohammad Adi and Muhammad Arafat.
Please see below for details.
Abstract: This paper discusses the dynamics of gulintangan inheritance in Brunei Darussalam, especially among gulintangan-owning families. We closely examine the process of maintaining this traditional musical form by bringing to light the tangible and intangible aspects of gulintangan.
We argue that the family contributes significantly to maintaining this cultural heritage. Our findings suggest that the family is the musicians’ source of introduction, knowledge, skills, and inspiration. The entanglement of the family with gulintangan makes it an inalienable gift for the receivers of this heritage.
We gathered the data for this paper through in-depth interviews and participant observation with eight gulintangan practitioners from four gulintangan-owning families.
Mohammad Adi is a graduate of Sociology and Anthropology at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam. He has performed the gulintangan with his family and other musicians for over two decades. Sharing the stage with his loved ones fosters in him a sense of unity and pride in preserving the family’s musical heritage. This paper was developed from his final-year thesis under the guidance of Dr. Muhammad Arafat.
Muhammad Arafat is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at Universiti Brunei Darussalam. He holds a Doctorate in Social Anthropology from Harvard University. His research interests include the relationship between transculturality, place, and belonging, Arabia-Southeast Asia connections, the study of Malay-Muslim societies, and the anthropology of modern and contemporary art of Southeast Asia.
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