Dikir barat has many singers, but who will master the art of ‘tukang karut’?

Dikir barat, the traditional Kelantanese performance art, is still popular, but concerns are growing over the shortage of skilled performers known as tukang karut. This role requires inventing rhymes and verses spontaneously during a performance, a task currently mastered by only six or seven individuals. Sabri Yunus, an actor, director, and researcher, has noted that while there are numerous dikir barat singers, fewer young performers are dedicating time to mastering the complex skills of a tukang karut.

He attributes this trend to the more straightforward path offered by singing, which can lead to opportunities within the broader entertainment industry. Sabri believes that younger performers should learn from both singers and tukang karut, to better preserve the art form. The loss of veteran performer Mohd Zain Ismail, known as Jen Endoro, has further emphasized the urgency of the situation.

Writing for dikir barat is not just about creating a catchy tune; it requires expertise in storytelling, poetry, melody, and crucially, rhyme. However, younger songwriters are still developing their skills in rhyming patterns, and some attempt to fit standard Malay words into Kelantanese lyrics without fully understanding their meanings.

This compromises the authenticity of the lyrics. Practitioners like Sabri, Fadil Turbo, and Asrulfaizal Kamaruzaman stress that dikir barat is about more than just a regional accent to a popular melody; it encompasses language, timing, wit, and the ability to craft thought-provoking verses in the moment.