Emel ini datangnya dari Kakpa, seorang netizen yang kerap kali menggunakan nama samaran "GD2". Namun, identitinya bukan lagi satu misteri selepas beliau mendedahkan diri sebenarnya. Kami dari pihak editorial sugguh berbesar hati dengan kiriman emel dari beliau, dan berharap agar ini bukan kali terakhir beliau menulis.
Dirgahayu Durbar Dua!
Warkah khas buat Durbar Dua & Dwi Durrah
Firstly, congratulations on your recent achievement in Piala Raja Panggung! Being in the top three, in addition to winning individual awards is no easy feat; alongside 13 others, you denied seven teams of an opportunity to proceed to the next level @ Saringan (Qualifying Round) and subsequently overshadowed 11 finalists, being second only to two teams whom I understand to be titans of the scene.I write in English to share my late discovery with friends of other ethnicities. Why late? I am nearing 30, & my interest was sparked only after watching Mega Perdana, a bi-annual prestigious national competition, in November 2008. Where the mean age of players, when they first begin, hovers between 17 and 21, yours truly having interest in Dikir Barat can be quite likened to a newly-enlightened sixty year old thrilled by the wonders of Google for the first time. In other words, lambat giler dok (I am so to’ally late)! Still, better late than never.
It probably sounds ludicrous that I have never watched or joined any group even for a short stint in my teenage years. With a different network of friends, I was more inclined to attend and participate in other song and dance forms.
Even as I was introduced to individuals who were enthusiastic players of the field, it did not occur to me to want to find out more about the development of Dikir Barat here. By then, I had already formulated the perception of those to be narrow-minded individuals who prefer to remain exclusive and seek glory within their own circle. It was not the art that turned me away; it was my opinion of the people that put me off.
Since Mega Perdana 2008 till date, Durbar Dua is the group that helps me to continue to realign my views. With the effective use of visuals , sound and video bites filled with humour and intended puns, DNN – not afraid to exhibit their true selves in cyberspace - helped to informally introduce an otherwise unknown realm to me.
More importantly, they defied the stereotypes of advocates bring either reclusive airheads or whiny beings when facing tribulations. Staying grounded despite the team’s impressive portfolio (http://durbarduatrofi.blogspot.com/) at a competitive level, Durbar Dua continues to reach out to the masses, engaging and giving readers opportunity to ask, participate and give feedback. Having read previous entries, Durbar Dua has also encountered setbacks. Still, in the name of passion, the group – consisting of individuals from diverse walks of life – remains united and has overcome obstacles unimaginable to many.
Notably, where (I think) groups display brotherhood and, to a certain degree, exude patriarchic tendencies and exclude their non-male compatriots, Durbar Dua displays brotherhood AND provides a platform of recognition and participation for their wives and girlfriends (both special and platonic) in a collective effort called Dwi Durrah. These qualities win me over, and having told them before, I shall mention again - you have indeed altered my perception of the advocates of dikir barat.
Congratulations, Durbar Dua. May success – in and out of the competitive arena – be with you always.
Dirgahayu Durbar Dua!
Your groupie,
Faridah Ishak