The Literature of Brunei Darussalam

Primary description of the country

* Brunei is a tiny nation on the island of Borneo, in 2 distinct sections surrounded by Malaysia and the
South China Sea. 

*It's known for its beaches and biodiverse rainforest, much of it protected within reserves. The capital,
Bandar Seri Begawan, is home to the opulent Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah mosque and its 29 golden
domes.

*The capital's massive Istana Nurul Iman palace is the residence of Brunei’s ruling sultan. 

*Brunei, situated on the northern shore of the island of Borneo in the South China Sea, is one of the
smallest yet richest states in the world. 

*With a population of less than 500,000, its socialist society is arguably the closest any nation has gotten
to a total welfare state:  the Sultan’s government pays for education, healthcare, and most other living
expenses of its citizens, financed through Brunei’s massive oil and natural gas wealth, thus the nickname
“Shellfare.” The Sultan is one of the richest men in the world and he flaunts his wealth shamelessly. 

 The national crest of Brunei Darussalam was developed from a royal emblem and in its original
form still maintains its status as one of the royal emblems. The present national crest was
superimposed on the national flag after promulgation of the 1959 Brunei Constitution. The crest
comprises of the following: 

 o Bendera – the flag. 

 o Payung Ubor-Ubor – the royal umbrella. 

 o Sayap – the wing. 

 o Tangan (kimhap) – the hand. 

 o Bulan – the cresent. 

 The Bendera and Payung Ubor-Ubor have been royal regalia since the creation of the crest. The
Sayap, the wing of four feathers, symbolizes the protection of justice, tranquility, prosperity and
peace in the country. Tangan or Kimhap, the hand, signifies the government’s pledge to promote
welfare, peace and prosperity. Bulan, the crescent, is the symbol of Islam, the national religion of
Brunei Darussalam. The characters inscribed on the crescent are the national slogan, ‘Always
render service by God’s guidance’. The scroll beneath the crest reads ‘Brunei Darussalam’ which
means ‘Brunei, the abode of peace’.

Political Environment

* The politics of Brunei take place in a framework of an absolute monarchy, whereby the Sultan of
Brunei is both head of state and head of government (Prime Minister of Brunei).

* Executive power is exercised by the government. Despite numerous initiatives and calls for action on
the part of the government, notably through the National Language and Literature Bureau (Dewan
Bahasa dan Pustaka, DBP), the state of Bruneian literature and publishing remains nascent.

* At the 2011 Globalization and Translation conference in Kuala Lumpur, Abdullah (2011) stated that
developed countries generate 1,000 new book titles per year per population of one million, including
textbooks and translations. The national support of Malay Literature is rooted in the use of Malay as the
national literature has been formally recognized at the state level. The country’s investment is
highlighted by the role of the DBP, which is responsible for language and literary development program,
cultural research and documentation and book publication. The DBP has in the past encourage and
supported local literary output through activities such as writing competitions etc.

Economic Environment
  
 
* The economy of Brunei is small and wealthy, and is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship,
government regulation and welfare measures, and village traditions. It is almost entirely supported by
exports of crude oil and natural gas, with revenues from the petroleum sector accounting for over half of
GDP. 

*Per capita GDP is high, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from
domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing.

* Malay /Indonesia language is the dominant language among ASEAN countries which the speakers are
more than 250 million people and it has become world’s fourth most widely spoken language by native
speakers.  Historically, Malay language was widely used in the past particularly in the ports which were
the centers of the economy or trade. Malay language was used as the main language of communication
between Indian, Chinese, Arab, and European traders with the locals. Similarly in the administration,
preaching and literature.  This is to prove that the use of Malay language was dominant and widespread,
and the Malays themselves were also nationalists. Moreover, the Malay language was attributed to its
flexibility and dynamic that made it easily to be accumulated and adapted.

Socio – Cultural Environment

 The social beliefs and customs of Brunei are primarily influenced by Islam, which is the
official national religion. In terms of social makeup, individual families play a critical role
and are considered the building blocks of society. Within families and their extended
relatives, each person occupies a place in the hierarchy. Elders tend to hold the most
important part within the familial structure and showing them respect is of utmost
importance in the culture here.
 Islam has also influenced the social custom of conservative behavior and modest dress.
Following these guidelines of modesty, women are expected to be fully covered with only
their hands and face exposed in public. Another interesting social custom is that eating
and drinking while walking are considered impolite and are behaviors that should be
avoided. When shaking hands with somebody of the opposite sex, the man should wait
for the woman to offer her hand as it is not customary for men and women to touch.
Additionally, touching anybody on the head is considered rude. 

 Brunei is home to unique folk music and dance styles, although Islamic practices
do restrict these types of performances. Some of the most traditional types of music are
combined with specific dance styles. Several instruments are utilized to play the music of
Brunei, including gongs, coconut shells as percussion, rebana tambourines, and dombak
drums. One popular music and dance combination is the Aduk Aduk, which is performed
by children wearing warrior clothing to celebrate birthdays and the end of harvest season.
Another example of traditional music in Brunei is the Adai Adai, which is a song
performed by fishermen while they work. The Adai Adai is made up of vocals and
percussion instruments. The Jipin performance is another important example of music
and dance in Brunei. This performance, which originally comes from the Malay culture, is
carried out by a group of 6 men and women. The music is produced by using percussion
instruments as well as the gambus dan biola, a stringed instrument.
 Literature is an important part of the culture of Brunei and one of the most
important literary works is Sya’ir Awang Simawn, an epic poem. This poem tells the
history of the Sultanate through the adventures of the hero Simawn. Children also have
an appreciation for literature and are particularly familiar with the sajak style of poetry.
The sajak was first used to teach children about history and civil studies. It is read in
regular prose form but may be accompanied by hand movements as well.
 The arts in Brunei take on a number of forms, including painting, architecture,
jewelry, textiles, metal works, and baskets. During the mid-20th century, the government
of Brunei took an active part in promoting art in the society. Since then, the production
and sale of art have increased. Women work primarily with textiles and beads, while men
tend to work with metals. This country is well-known for its silver ornaments and fabrics
dyed in the batik style.

Historical Development of the Literature of Brunei

 Locally produced English literature is a fairly new development compared to Malay literature,
which is rooted in a proud history of oral tradition, folklore, legends and myths. With the arrival of
Islam in the 15th century, this tradition has been enriched by Islamic beliefs, values, teachings, as
well as its literature (Ampuan Brahim 2001, 2010). Echoing Malaysia, the emergence of modern
Malay literature in Brunei generally refers to post-1840s works.
 Despite the efforts of the DBP, the novel form has historically had a late and disjointed presence
in the development of Malay literature.
 The 1980s would see a significant increase in the production of Malay novels, with Mohd Salleh 
publishing  Meniti  Hasrat  (‘The  Passing  Aspiration’) in  1982,  followed  by  Titian Semusim 
(‘The  Passing  of a  Season’) in  1986  and Pahlawan  Bendahara  Sakam  (‘Chief Minister Sakam
the Warrior’) in 1991. Other genres, particularly poetry and cerpen (‘short stories’), have also
continued to flourish during this period.
 In English literature, novel production such as it is has developed at the same pace as the
production of other genres. Due once again to the lack of a critical mass, it is impossible and
unfruitful to make generalized statements about trends in Bruneian English literature. With such a
small and under-marketed body of work to draw upon, writers often find themselves working in
isolation, with little if any knowledge of other writers of the language. This is exacerbated by the fact
that English language writers tend to have very little exposure to Malay.
 Malay literature, in comparison with English, has had the time and space to grow in response to
and in conversation with critical study and other local literary texts as well as texts from the Malay
world. While thematically it tends to address social issues, writers have proven willing to
experiment with narrative form, although a didactic style befitting the perceived moral role of
literature in the national culture is often adopted. While the influences of the West are far more
apparent in Bruneian English literature, traditional narrative dominates, with writers as yet
unwilling to experiment with form.
 Despite the fewer constraints involved in writing for a publisher outside of Brunei, then, Bruneian  
English  literature seems  still  ideologically  invested  in  perpetuating  a  vision  of Brunei in
which MIB is central, and the unique features of Brunei are emphasized.
 Tracing the development of both literatures reveals a still-nascent literary situation struggling to
build the critical mass of texts necessary to truly claim a national literary history or scene. The
slowness of this literary development may also be attributed to the lack of a national culture of
review or critique, other than in academic circles. Nevertheless, the sudden growth in productivity
in the English sphere makes it clear that the lack of engagement across the literatures is, in the
future, something that the Bruneian literary community will have to address if it is to prove
inclusive rather than divisive.
 The development of contemporary Bruneian Malay and English literature has been tied to
publishing and educational policies which have privileged Malay language and literature as a core
part of national identity. Nationalist themes such as support for the monarchy (Syair Rakis and
Mahkota Berdarah), Islam and the importance of Malay culture and tradition (Pengabdian),
abound in Malay literature.

 In contrast, the emergence of English language literature in the last decade seems to have
developed separately from Malay literature, in large part because of its marginalization from state
support and attention; its development can perhaps be attributed to, or at least linked with, global
trends and increased Bruneian presence online, particularly in the blogosphere. Despite this
differing impetus, the themes, form and ideological concerns across literatures have not diverged
significantly. Generally, support for the national ideology of MIB remains a strongly pervasive
theme of local literature in both languages. 

 
Forms of Literature in Brunei
A. Poetry

 Poem (Pantun) – is a Malay inheritance or a genre of pure Malay literature work in the
Archipelago including Brunei Darussalam. Brunei Malay poem involved:

Children’s Poem
Love Poem
Social Poem
Moral Poem
Religious Poem
Advisory Poem
History Poem
Linked Poem
 
 Epic Poem - is a long, narrative poem that is usually about heroic deeds and events that are
significant to the culture of the poet. Many ancient writers used epic poetry to tell tales of intense
adventures and heroic feats. Some of the most famous literary masterpieces in the world were
written in the form of epic poetry.
 
 Verse (Syair) - is a kind song that is sung in verses to narrate tales of writing with rhymes. The
syair can be a narrative poem, a didactic poem, or a poem used to convey ideas on religion or
philosophy, or even one to describe historical event. 

 Sajak - is a Malay free-form style (meaning “rhyme” in English) that was full of nationalistic
symbolism once used as a means of propaganda during the days when the Japanese occupied the
island during WWII.

 Haiku - It consists of three lines. The first line contains five syllables, the second line contains
seven, and the last line five.

 Folksong – in Brunei Darussalam, folksongs mostly consists of traditional Brunei Malay songs
categorized under five categories:

Working Songs
Magical or Spiritual Songs
Love Songs
Lullabies
Festivities Songs
B. Prose

 Myths - a legendary or a traditional story that usually concerns an event or a hero, with or without
using factual or real explanations. A myth involves historical events and supernatural beings.
 
 Legends - a narrative that focuses on a historically or geographically specific figure, and
describes his exploits. Similar to a myth, a legend can provide an etymological narrative, often filling
in historical gaps.

I. Religious Legend. It includes legend about saints or clergies such as propagators of Islam.
II. Supernatural Legend. Events which actually took place and was experienced by someone. Its
function is to strengthen folk beliefs and creeds.
III. Individual Legend. Stories about an individual who are regarded by the originator as true stories.
IV. Local Legend

 Tales 

Common Tales or Tales of Romance – are tales about people and usually portrays the life story of a
person.

Comedy Tales – tales of comedies often tickles the listener, audience and the story teller him or herself.

Animal Tales – often portray the life in the jungle.

 
Short Story – is a brief fictional prose narrative that is shorter than a novel and that usually deals with only
a few characters.
 
Novel - is a long narrative work of fiction with some realism.
 
C. Drama 
Drama is a mode of fictional representation through dialogue and performance. It is one of the
literary genres, which is an imitation of some action. Drama is also a type of a play written for theater,
television, radio, and film.
 
The Most Distinguished of all Forms

Sajak is type of modern Malay poetry which is free-form and is not bound to the number of rows,
inline words, duplicates, recitals and so on. The free nature of this rhyme means the ability and readiness
of rhyme in accepting forms of traditional poetry or the emergence of new forms created based on the
creativity and sensitivity of the poet or the merger of the existing forms.