Party like it’s 1899

By Regina Hoo

April 2017 FEATURE
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(Left to right) Chek Puteh Hashim, Zakaria Hashim, Yusof Mat Hashim, Ustaz Haji Rodalle, Rokiah Othman, Ismail bin Nayan, Haryany Mohamad and Omar Hashim.
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With its Persian origins and exotic tunes, Ghazal Party is an art form unique to Penang’s mainland. But will it survive?Ghazal Party’s tunes are easy to dance to, and once captured hearts in Seberang Perai.Ghazal, which originates from the Arabic word ghaz meaning “songs addressed to a woman”, entertains almost exclusively on mainland Penang, leaving boria (a form of Malay theatre) to the island where a high concentration of tourists allowed it to flourish. Soon, boria became synonymous to Penang...

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Regina Hoo

is the deputy editor of Penang Monthly.


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