Zapin Petuah: Documentary Film as Applied Ethnomusicology in Preserving the Musical Legacy of Zulham Djais

Abstract

Melayu Deli music faces extinction due to minimal documentation and regeneration. Zulham Djais (1970-2024), a maestro of Melayu Deli music from Batubara, left a rich musical legacy that remains inadequately documented. This research explores how the documentary film "Zapin Petuah" functions as an applied ethnomusicology method in preserving ZD's musical heritage. Through a biographical-cinematic approach, this study reconstructs ZD's life journey from a fishing village in Batubara to becoming a prominent Melayu Deli singer, analyzes the influence of locality on his creativity, and investigates his musical philosophy that unifies vocal and dance as one entity. Ethnographic qualitative research was conducted through in-depth interviews with ZD's family and musical colleagues, participant observation at GMS Sanggar and significant locations in Batubara, and audio-visual archival documentation. The hybrid documentary film production process—combining fictional narrative with documentary inserts—serves simultaneously as an instrument for data collection and dissemination. Findings reveal that ZD's biographical journey from Batubara (1970-1988), Medan (1988-1999), Jakarta (1999-2002), returning to Medan (2002-2024) shaped his distinctive musical characteristics: Melayu grenek with Batubara dialect influences, repertoire inspired by coastal life, and a philosophy of "music that breathes with nature." Documentary film proves effective as an accessible applied ethnomusicology medium for cross-generational cultural transmission. This research contributes to visual ethnomusicology methodology development and offers a documentation model for Indonesian traditional music artists.