Dongkrek: an Islamic Art and Literature

     Dongkrek is held to have been created by the late R. Bei Lo Prawirodipuro while he was serving as the palang of Mejayan (Caruban). during the colonial era, a palang was an individual responsible for 4-5 village chiefs, or lurah; as the "head lurah, the palang was directly accountable to the wedana. R. Bei Lo Prawirodipuro was the last palang of the region, serving until his death c. 1915/1916. At the time, the office of palang had already been disbanded; however, R. Bei Lo Prawirodipuro received special treatment. This is attributed to his personal leadership abilities and authority, which led to him being respected as a decision-maker.

     The story of dongkrek’s invention can also be tracked through a song in gambuh verse. According to a book written by the Office of Education and Culture, Madiun, the name dongkrek is derived from onomatopoeia of the two instruments used in performances: bedug (drums) and korek (a kind of percussion instrument). Drums produced the sound dhung, while korek produced the sound krek; as such, played alternatively the instruments produced the sounds dhungkrek-dhung-krek. It is from this sound that the name dongkrek was taken. Dongkrek is a form of performance art. In its performance, it conveys specific messages, including amar ma’ruf nahi munkar (that evil will be vanquished by good).

      In the current information era, dakwah has continued to innovate. This includes, for example, through the use of dongkrek and its strongly Islamic messages. Dongkrek is a traditional performance art that has developed in and around Mejayan Village. Its use in dakwah is an adaptation of the methods used by the Wali. The connection between dakwah and dongkrek is mutually beneficial, promoting innovative dakwah as well as cultural conservation.  

 

reference from :https://journal.uny.ac.id/index.php/litera/article/view/26260/pdf