Nasit

For female participants. Middle-Eastern in origin, the nasit of the Mandailing ethnic group are songs with Muslim sacred texts that are sung in Arabic or the Indonesian language. As this image indicates, nasit is usually performed by teenage girls (in this case in South Tapanuli) or women, in solo and group formations, while they dance and accompany themselves with frame drums of varying sizes. Copyright 1978. Notes prepared by Bronia Kornhauser with Margaret Kartomi, School of Music-Conservatorium, Monash University. Photography by Hidris Kartomi.