Semelai people are an

Orang Asli The Orang Asli are a Homogeneity and heterogeneity, heterogeneous Indigenous peoples, indigenous population forming a national minority in Malaysia. They are the oldest inhabitants of Peninsular Malaysia. As of 2017, the Orang Asli accounted f ...

people of the

Proto-Malay The term Proto-Malay, primeval Malays, proto-Hesperonesians, first-wave Hesperonesians or primeval Hesperonesians, which translates to ''Melayu Asli'' (aboriginal Malay) or ''Melayu Purba'' (ancient Malay) or ''Melayu Tua'' (old Malay), refers ...

people group found in

Negeri Sembilan Negeri Sembilan (, Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Nogoghi Sombilan'', ''Nismilan''), historically spelled as Negri Sembilan, is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state in Malaysia which lies on the Peninsular Malaysia#Other features, wes ...

and

Pahang {{Infobox political division , name = Pahang , official_name = Pahang Darul Makmur , native_name = , settlement_type = States and federal territories of Malaysia, State , image_skyline = , imagesize ...

states of

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

Settlement area

They are divided into two major groups, namely: * The Semelai people in Kampung Sungai Sampo and Kampung Sungai Lui,

Jempol District The Jempol District (Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Jompo'') is the largest district in the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan. The district borders Jelebu District to the northwest, Kuala Pilah District to the west, Tampin District to the south, Be ...

* The Semelai people in Pos Iskandar, Kampung Bukit Rok and Kampung Ibam,

Tasik Bera Bera Lake (Malay: ''Tasik Bera''; Chinese: 比拉湖) is a natural freshwater lake system, located in Bera District, Pahang, Malaysia in the saddle of the main and eastern mountain ranges of Peninsular Malaysia, extending 35 km long and 20&nbs ...

, Kampung Bukit Gemuroh and Bongkok,

Teriang Teriang, alt. Triang ( Jawi: ترياڠ) is a town and a mukim (township) in Bera District, southwestern Pahang, Malaysia. It is the largest settlement in the district. Etymology Its name was derived from Sungai Teriang (Triang River), a tributar ...

Bera District The Bera District is a district in southwestern Pahang, Malaysia, bordering Negeri Sembilan and Johor. Background Bera district was founded on January 1, 1992, detaching it from Temerloh District. Once considered as problematic area (illegal la ...

Population

The 2010 census, the

Temoq people Temoq people belong to the Proto-Malay of the Orang Asli ethnic group that are found in Pahang, Malaysia. Settlement area The Temoq people that are officially recognized are known to settle in two kampungs; on the eastern side of Tasik Bera an ...

were included in the Semelai population due to the small numbers of

Music

Semelai music has been passed down for generations with little modification to suit modern times. There are two musical instruments used; the

Rebana The rebana or terbangan is a tambourine that is used in Islamic devotional music in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore. The sound of the rebana often accompany Islamic ritual such as the zikir. The name ...

and

Gong A gongFrom Indonesian language, Indonesian and ; ; zh, c=鑼, p=luó; ; ; ; ; is a percussion instrument originating from Southeast Asia, and used widely in Southeast Asian and East Asian musical traditions. Gongs are made of metal and ...

(including both "male" and "female"

s). This musical style is often performed in community halls or houses during feasts, weddings,

circumcision Circumcision is a procedure that removes the foreskin from the human penis. In the most common form of the operation, the foreskin is extended with forceps, then a circumcision device may be placed, after which the foreskin is excised. T ...

ceremonies, gatherings and welcoming visitors for the purpose of entertainment. This music is performed with songs sung in

Semelai language Semelai is an Austroasiatic language spoken in the Malay Peninsula by Semelai people. It belongs to the Southern branch of the Aslian language subgrouping. The Semelai people reside predominantly around the Bera, Serting and associated river s ...

. There are also dances but it is only done with regulation and under certain requirements. The music of the Semelai is also used for healing purposes, such as singing in fertility ceremony.

References

External links

JOURNEY INTO TASEK BERA WITH THE ORANG ASLI SEMELAI

More support for indigenous Semelai at Tasek Bera Ramsar Site

Knowledge, Culture and Beliefs of Tasek Bera's Semelai People. Tasek Bera, Malaysia's first Ramsar site, is important not just for its flora and fauna. It is also home to the Semelai, the indigenous Orang Asli people who inhabit the area around the lake. WETLANDS INTERNATIONAL reports on their unique culture and beliefs.
{{Authority control Indigenous peoples of Southeast Asia Ethnic groups in Malaysia Orang Asli