dangdut

Dangdut is a genre of Indonesian popular music that blends Malay folk songs with Indian filmi music, Arabic music, and Western influences. The term dangdut is onomatopoeic, describing the characteristic rhythm or the sound of a drumbeat often produced by tabla, which helps define the style.

The genre emerged in the mid-1960s to 1970s in urban Indonesia, particularly in Java and Sumatra. It was popularized in the 1970s by Rhoma Irama and the group Soneta, who fused Indonesian folk melodies with Indian and Arabic influences to create a dance-oriented sound that appealed to broad audiences.

Musically, dangdut features a strong, syncopated beat, melodic vocals, and percussion such as tabla, gendang, or electronic drums, along with guitar, keyboard, and brass. Lyrical themes range from romance to social issues and religious devotion. Subgenres include dangdut koplo, a faster East Java style often performed with a percussion ensemble.

Dangdut has wide appeal across Indonesia and has become a major part of contemporary Indonesian culture. It is widely performed on radio and television and has produced popular artists and reality shows such as Dangdut Academy. It has also attracted criticism and controversy from conservative groups who view some performance practices as improper, prompting periodic censorship.

Beyond Indonesia, dangdut has gained audiences in neighboring Southeast Asia and among diasporic Indonesian communities, influencing regional pop music and fusion styles. Notable artists include Rhoma Irama, Elvy Sukaesih, Rita Sugiarto, Inul Daratista, and Mansyur S.