Sarah, who was with us in Kelantan a few months ago, has painstakingly put together a wonderful podcast on Islam, Wayang Kulit and politics.
Do take some time off to listen to this podcast:
Shadowlands
Islam and the art of wayang kulit, or shadow puppetry, have co-existed in Malaysia for centuries but in 1990 a new generation of political Islamists, influenced by the theology of Wahhabism, outlawed the tradition in its home state of Kelantan. Encounter travels to Kelantan to watch an illegal ritual performance of wayang kulit and to explore how the pluralist history of Islam in the region, embodied in this art form, has been challenged by global developments. But do the results of Malysia’s recent elections suggest the influence of Wahhabism is now on the wane? And, paradoxically, could the successes of the Islamic Party, PAS, be a good sign for democracy and religious freedom in the country?
You will be able to listen to interesting insights and interviews, as well as some background wayang music. Do spend some time listening to it. You can also opt to read the transcript of the program from the same link.
