Zapin

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Malay dance

title: "Zapin" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["malay-culture", "malay-dances", "culture-of-indonesia", "culture-of-malaysia", "dances-of-sumatra", "partial-squatting-position"] description: "Malay dance" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapin" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Malay dance ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox dance"]

FieldValue
nameZafin
native_nameZafin, Japin, Jepin, Jepen
etymology
imageZapin.jpg
captionSchoolchildren performing Zapin in Batu Pahat, Johor.
instrumentsGambus, Gendang, Marawis, Rebana
inventorPersian, Arabs, Malays
originHadramaut, Yemen.
Malay World
::

| name = Zafin | native_name = Zafin, Japin, Jepin, Jepen | native_name_lang = | etymology = | image = Zapin.jpg | image_size = | caption = Schoolchildren performing Zapin in Batu Pahat, Johor. | genre = | signature = | instruments = Gambus, Gendang, Marawis, Rebana | inventor = Persian, Arabs, Malays | origin = Hadramaut, Yemen. Malay World

Zapin (Jawi: زافين) is one of the most popular dance and musical forms in traditional Malay performing arts. Dance movements are choreographed to melodies, which are performed using musical instruments such as the gambus (short-necked lute), accordion, and rebana. It is believed to have been introduced by Persian and Arab Muslim missionaries from the Middle East to the Malay Archipelago around the fourteenth century, where back then only males were allowed to perform; nowadays, female dancers are included. It used to be performed exclusively for religious ceremonies but through the years it has become a form of traditional entertainment, hence the participation of female dancers is allowed.

Instruments

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/Iringan_Tari_Jepin.jpg" caption="Malay]]s of [[West Kalimantan]]."] ::

The dancers usually perform in pairs and are accompanied by musicians playing the accordion, violin, gambus, gendang, marwas/marawis, and rebana.

Distributions

Presently, zapin remains an integral part of the regional Malay performing arts scene, particularly in Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Singapore. In Malaysia, Zapin is mostly associated with the Malaysian southern state of Johor. In Indonesia, Zapin is mostly associated and classified as part of Malay cultures especially in terms of traditional dances and traditions in Malay-populated areas in Sumatra, Riau Islands, Bangka Belitung Islands, and Kalimantan.

Types

There are numerous types of Zapin, and each type varies by the movement and style of dance:

References

References

  1. . (12 December 2019). ["Zafin"](https://www.jakarta.go.id/artikel/konten/5844/zapin). *The Official Communications, Informatics and Statistics Province's Exclusive Capital Government of Jakarta (eng)*.
  2. . ["Japin / Zafin Dance (eng)"](https://jakarta-tourism.go.id/visit/blog/2018/01/tari-japin-zafin). *Jakarta Tourism Service*.
  3. . (2010–2020). ["Zafin"](https://warisanbudaya.kemdikbud.go.id/?cari=Zafin). *Directorate of Cultural and Heritage Diplomacy, Directorate General of Culture of The Republic of Indonesia*.
  4. . ["Japin / Zafin Dance (eng)"](https://jakarta-tourism.go.id/visit/blog/2018/01/tari-japin-zafin). *Jakarta Tourism Service*.
  5. . (2015–2020). ["Japin"](https://warisanbudaya.kemdikbud.go.id/?cari=Japin). *Directorate of Cultural and Heritage Diplomacy, Directorate General of Culture of The Republic of Indonesia*.
  6. . (2010–2020). ["Jepin"](https://warisanbudaya.kemdikbud.go.id/?cari=Jepin). *Directorate of Cultural and Heritage Diplomacy, Directorate General of Culture of The Republic of Indonesia*.
  7. . (2015–2020). ["Jepen"](https://warisanbudaya.kemdikbud.go.id/?cari=Jepen). *Directorate of Cultural and Heritage Diplomacy, Directorate General of Culture of The Republic of Indonesia*.
  8. "Zapin INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE".
  9. Muhd Noramin. "Joget: the Popular, Ever-Evolving Music of Dance".
  10. "Zapin dance still popular in Johor".
  11. Halim Said. (28 September 2017). "Johor to seek Unesco recognition for traditional zapin dance".

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malay-culturemalay-dancesculture-of-indonesiaculture-of-malaysiadances-of-sumatrapartial-squatting-position