The Panggung Pusaka: Senandung Kota festival at The Godown arts centre in Kuala Lumpur, which opened yesterday evening, welcomed a young and curious crowd to a series of community programmes featuring traditional artists and culture keepers.

The festival, which runs through the weekend, is Kuala Lumpur-based cultural outfit Pusaka’sbiggest event for the year in Malaysia after its music festival appearance at the renowned Festival de l'Imaginaire in Paris in June, where it introduced a Main Puteri performance (a healing ritual from Kelantan) to an enthusiastic French audience.

Panggung Pusaka: Senandung Kota is also part of Pusaka's 21st anniversary celebrations, which is set to carry on into next year, with a book launch and an upcoming world music concert on the cards.

At The Godown this weekend, the free admission festival encompasses performances, an exhibition, short film screenings, workshops, and talks featuring masters and practitioners of traditional arts from diverse communities across Malaysia. There is also a selection of artisans, book sellers, and pop-up food stalls to keep visitors entertained.

The traditional performing arts showcases in the programme include Main Puteri of Kelantan, Kuda Kepang of Johor, Dondang Sayang of Melaka, Mah Meri indigenous performers, Sumazau dancers of Sabah, Urumee Melum drummers, and Silat Jawi practitioners.

Kuda Kepang is a dance of Javanese origin performed in Johor by communities of Javanese lineage, particularly in Batu Pahat and Muar. A Kuda Kepang performance will close the Panggung Pusaka: Senandung Kota festival tomorrow evening at The Godown in KL. Photo: Cheryl Hoffmann/Pusaka

“The success of last years’ Malam Pusaka was a driving force for us to encourage the general public – particularly the youth, to encounter, experience, and engage with traditional culture and masters of oral traditions. It affirmed our belief that there is a desire and deep interest (a hunger, even) in traditional performing arts within our urban community, hence the decision to curate a weekend festival in downtown KL to celebrate Malaysia’s cultural heritage,” says Pauline Fan, the creative director of Pusaka.

Last year’s "Malam Pusaka Di Ruang Kota" was a major success and eye-opener for Pusaka. That standalone show at REXKL - accessible yet deeply tied to traditional roots - introduced the masses to Seni Reog of Johor and Manora of Kelantan, two cultural performances with a rich history. Over 500 people (mostly young city-dwellers) attended that showcase, underlining the fact that traditional culture has a new generation audience in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

Panggung Pusaka: Senandung Kota, which is happening at one of the capital's hip arts venues, is another ambitious initiative by Pusaka to give the urban masses an authentic sampling of the traditional arts experience.

“We curate to draw an audience of all ages and backgrounds. Some of our audience have been following us for years, while others have newly discovered us," says Fan.

"In all Pusaka programmes, we don’t water down cultural traditions or try to make them accessible; instead, we believe in educating the public on how to perceive and understand cultural traditions that may be unfamiliar at first, but embody the deeper spirit of communities that make up our beloved country. Our cultural heritage belongs to all of us, and we should fully embrace them as our own,” she adds.

Dondang Sayang – Legasi Nyonya Tan, which is set for tomorrow evening at The Godown's main stage, features the children of the late Nyonya Tan Abdullah. Photo: Novelyn Salvador Patac/Pusaka

In the Panggung Pusaka: Senandung Kota live programme, there are familiar highlights, including the Malam Main Puteri tonight which will be similar to the performance in Paris. The performance will also highlight the different styles and “angin” (inner winds) of the four Tok Puteris and Tok Minduks who will perform.

“We have two new collaborations this weekend – Dondang Sayang Legasi Tan Abdullah and Magunatip and Sumazau by Malaysia Borneo Cultural and Heritage Association. We have worked with Dondang Sayang and Sumazau before, but not with these particular groups,” she adds.

Dondang Sayang – Legasi Nyonya Tan, which is set for tomorrow evening at The Godown's main stage, features the children of the late Nyonya Tan Abdullah who was bestowed the title of “Tokoh Warisan Kebangsaan Orang Hidup” (National Living Heritage) in 2012 by the National Department of Heritage.

Dondang Sayang is a traditional Malay art still practised in Melaka among four communities: the Malay, Baba Nyonya, Chitty and Portuguese communities. Dondang Sayang combines elements of music (violin, gong, accordion, and rebana), melodious singing, and the Malay oral poetic art of pantun.

More info and programme schedule for Panggung Pusaka: Senandung Kota here.