The Tale of “Dewa Pechil”: Performing Healing, Narrating Resilience, and Seeking Sustainability for Malaysian Mak Yong

Abstract:This article explores the mak yong tale of “Dewa Pechil” and how it functions in a ritual healing context in Kelantan before addressing issues of long-term sustainability of the mak yong oral tradition. The author discusses her collaboration with Kelantanese traditional artists to ensure that elements of the mak yong oral tradition can be introduced to a new generation of Malaysians not just through archival documentation and academic writing, but also through the process of developing a children’s book based on the tale of “Dewa Pechil” as told by a traditional mak yong performer.