Malay Identity on StageFilm Screening and Discussion

6. April 2021, von AAI Webmaster

Foto: Alan Darmawan

How is cultural heritage used to propagate local identity in Indonesia? How does it involve youths? What is the role of Islam as another important identity marker and how can feudal structures match economic developments? This film explores these queries by presenting in the Indonesian province of Kepulauan Riau celebrating Malay heritage and identity in cultural festivals, parades, contests, and ceremonies. Efforts to keep pace with devlopments in the globalising world have led to the reinvention of the Bintan kingdom, which propagates an Islamic economic system and enhances transnational and transregional networks within the Malay World and beyond.

This film was made between 2018 and 2020. Directed by Jan van der Putten and Alan Darmawan, "Malay identity on stage" is part of the EU-funded project "Competing Regional Integration in Southeast Asia", CRISEA, (2017-2021).

For the subsequent discussion we are  pleased to welcome Dr. Will Derks, a scholar in Malay World Studies from Leiden.

You may sign in for the Zoom-Meeting here. Or see the Flyer (PDF) for more Information.