Crossing Boundaries – Music and Dance as Symbolic_x000D_
Expressions of the Hadhrami Arabs in Singapore_x000D_
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This paper explores the music and dance of the minority Hadhrami Arab community of cosmopolitan Singapore. Hadhrami Arabs have been crossing borders since the early migration out of Yemen primarily (Hadhramaut [old name] and later as the British colony of Aden) to the Lautan Melayu (the Malay Sea) region. The Hadhramis first came as traders in the 15th century. However in the 19th century not only Arab traders came to establish their roots here but also religious scholars arrived to proselytise Islam._x000D_
Today the resurgence of the marginalised Hadhrami Arab identity is rapidly gaining momentum amongst the younger generation Arabs in Singapore. The Hadhrami Arabs even though a minority community, still maintains many of their unique music and cultural traditions, opposingly different from the other mainstream Singaporean cultures. Without doubt, music and dance are omnipresent in Hadhrami Arab traditions. Needlessly, there are numerous challenges confronting Arab consciousness, particularly the issues on music, Arab identity and politics. Indeed this has to be carefully negotiated as it may at times conflict with the views of the State and on other cultural entities. _x000D_
In short, Hadhrami Arabs have been crossing political and geographical boundaries since the 15th centuries to establish trading settlements in the Lautan Melayu region. Today the Hadhrami Arabs still retain strong social and cultural ties with Yemen. To conclude, this enquiry deliberates on the role of music and dance as strong cultural symbols to re-kindle Hadhrami Arab consciousness. _x000D_
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Dr. Larry Francis Hilarian
Independent Scholar (formerly from Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)

 
ID Abstract: 82