Article: Cerita Lokal - Rebana Perak
Cerita Lokal - Rebana Perak
FROM SYAIR TO SOUND: MOHD SAPRI BAHARI’S JOURNEY WITH REBANA PERAK
In a workshop in Perak, surrounded by timber, tools and rows of completed rebana, Mohd Sapri Bahari continues a tradition that first entered his life more than six decades ago.
His journey began in the early 1960s, during a time he remembers as particularly difficult. There was no electricity or running water, and everyday necessities required time and effort. Yet amid those challenges, a sound from his childhood stayed with him—the syair sung by his father while working in the village and making fishing nets.
Curious about the words he heard, Sapri asked his father what he was singing. His father replied, “Inilah syair lagu rebana.” That simple exchange became Sapri's first step into the tradition.
After learning from his father, Sapri continued his studies with teachers of the Arabic language. The songs were connected to the Kitab Barzanji, a collection of devotional verses traditionally recited in Arabic.
At the time, Jawi was compulsory in the national school he attended, so reading the script came naturally to him.
A SOUND THAT TRAVELS
To Sapri, the Rebana Perak has a character that distinguishes it from other traditional hand drums. Its thicker hide gives it a deep sound, which he says can travel as far as one or two kilometres when played by a group. By comparison, he explains, the sound of a kompang carries across a much shorter distance.
Sapri explains that thicker animal hides—including cow, buffalo, camel and horse hide. The thickness of the material contributes to the instrument’s resonance, giving the Rebana Perak its recognisable depth.
BRINGING SYAIR TO A NEW GENERATION
Sapri continues to teach the verses of the Kitab Barzanji, but he understands that preserving a tradition sometimes requires a new point of entry. To encourage interest, he began adapting some of the material into Bahasa Melayu and presenting it in Rumi script.
This allows children and new learners to read the words more easily. Once their hands become familiar with the instrument and they understand its rhythm, Sapri gradually introduces the original Arabic syair.
Through this approach, learning does not begin with difficulty. It begins with curiosity—just as it did for Sapri when he first heard his father singing.
A RHYTHM THAT CONTINUES
Today, Sapri remains both a Rebana Perak maker and an educator. He teaches learners at schools, rehabilitation centres and government departments, while also welcoming those who wish to learn directly from him.
His work shows that preservation is not simply about keeping an old instrument unchanged. It is about understanding what must remain, recognising what can evolve and ensuring that the knowledge can still reach the next generation.
Once a curious child listening to his father’s syair, Encik Sapri is now the one passing its words and rhythms to those who come after him.
