Hikayat Betawi

Hikayat Betawi is a performance art popular among the indigenous people of Jakarta (Betawi). A performance carried out by a single actor, without the accompaniment of any percussive or other musical instruments. In presenting their stories, the actors become the storytellers, relying on their voices, facial expressions and bodily gestures to express happiness, sadness, disappointment and anger.

The stories, which are easy to follow, focus on issues like valor, kings and kingdoms, domestic life, and advice for the youth, or modernization. In telling the story, the storytellers never fail to include three key elements: entertainment, humor and religion (sermon).