Not always should we let bygones be bygones. At Pesta Raya this year, artists from the Nusantara melded tradition with fresh ideas. Dangdut koplo stars alvira.op and syahiba_saufa bring so much life to this folk-based music genre, having sold out two shows! At the Concert Hall, pop yeh yeh brought together veterans Dato’ Jeffrydin, Dato’ L. Ramli, S. Mariam and the new flagbearers of ‘60s pop, kugiranmasdo. Singapore’s kelanapurba9590 and Makyong Kedak exemplified the timelessness of dikir barat with witty wordplay and contemporary references, while diandancers presented choreography new and old in DINAMIKA! The festival also spotlighted the artistry of mak yong, a UNESCO-recognised heritage art form, with one of Malaysia’s most esteemed mak yong groups, Kumpulan Mak Yong Cahaya Matahari. Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts was held from 9 – 12 May 2024. #esplanadesg #pestaraya #pestaraya2024