Randai, the popular folk theater tradition of the Minangkabau ethnic group in West Sumatra, has evolved to include influences of martial arts, storytelling, and folk songs.Theater and Martial Arts in West Sumatra describes the origin, development, and cultural background ofrandai and highlights two recent developments: the emergence of female performers and modern staging techniques.
This book also explores the indigenous martial arts formsilek, a vital part ofrandai today. The strong presence ofsilek is illustrated in the martial focus of the stories that are told throughrandai, in its movement repertoire, and even in its costumes and musical accompaniment. As Kirstin Pauka shows,randai, firmly rooted insilek and Minangkabau tradition, is an intriguing mirror of the Minangkabau culture.