DANGDUT: MUSIC, DANCE, PERFORMERS, COBRA-BITE TRAGEDY

DANGDUT

Happy Asmara performing dangdut at SMA Negeri 2 Pare, Kediri

“Dangdut” is one of the most popular forms of pop music in Indonesia. It is a style of music that originated in the 1960s as an adaptation of Indian film music with some Arabic influences and still sounds like Indian film music today. It's name comes the rhythm played by the Indian-style tabla drum (“dang-dut-dang-dut-dang-dut-dang-dut-dang-dut-dang-dang”). Dangdut has continued to absorb new influences, evolving in some cases into a form of rock. [Sources: Rough Guide to World Music]

Dangdut fills buses, streets, and marketplaces across Indonesia and blasts from taxis, bemos, cafes, markets and homes. Originally it was popular among the lower classes, especially working-class Muslim youth, and was associated with bars where knife fights were common. It is now a multimillion-dollar industry and has been popular for decades. Its performers are often known for energetic and sometimes provocative stage routines. Now it is embraced by the middle and upper classes.

Dangdut's sexy rhythms draw from Indian, Malaysian, and Arabic influences while being adapted to Western musical scales. Its emotive singing speaks directly to Indonesians. Indonesia cultural expert Philip Yampolsky told the International Herald Tribune, dangdut "has a special power for Indonesians precisely because it is Indonesian not Western. There was a time when people symbolized their social aspirations with Western pop music. But that time has passed."

Dangdut Dancing and Lyrics

Ndarboy Genk for Hari Kesehatan Nasional (HKN) in Bantul, November 2024

Dangdut is known for its energetic, sensual and syncopated dance rhythms. It commonly accompanying a Malaysian-derived dance known as joget. Joget is characterized by smooth, flowing movements that follow the music with controlled grace, especially through expressive arm and hand gestures reminiscent of classical dance forms. Dancers often move their heads gently from side to side in rhythm. Young men in particular enjoy demonstrating their skill, and joget allows for solo dancing, partnered movement, or group formations. [Source: “Culture and Customs of Indonesia” by Jill Forshee, Greenwood Press, 2006]

Despite the lively tempo of the music, dangdut lyrics are often emotional and melancholic, frequently focusing on heartbreak. This theme is so common that another pop genre is known as cengeng lagu, or “whining songs,” centered on lost love. Frustration and rage over the inequalities of Indonesian society has also been a theme.

Rhoma Irama, widely known as the “King of Dangdut” since the 1970s, has criticized what he sees as increasingly erotic performances in the genre. “Polite dancing not erotic dance—that’s the true dangdut,” he says. At the same time, he emphasizes that the music itself is not incompatible with religion. “Islam is very pluralist. Islam is peaceful. Love Indonesia, love dangdut, love the world,” he says. “Dangdut is Indonesia, it’s the spirit of Indonesia.” Asked about the incident, he adds, “This is the first time I have ever heard of it. Snakes are not essential to perform dangdut at all. In all my years on stage I have never met a snake.” He notes that the dangdut community maintains support funds for performers who fall ill or die, and Irma’s family has received assistance. [Source: Rebecca Henschke, BBC, May 9 2016]

Dangdut Scene

Dangdut has long occupied a complex cultural position, admired for its popularity yet criticized in some conservative circles. Although it was once banned by the government, dangdut later became widely accepted, even as some critics came to view it as outdated. [Source: Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, April 8, 2016]

“With its nasal, melismatic vocal style and propulsive hand drum rhythms, dangdut is in many ways a music of the Islamic world,” Jeremy Wallach wrote in Sonic Modernities in the Malay World, though “most dangdut songs deal with non-religious, sentimental themes, and the genre is frequently denounced as sinful and morally corrupting by strict Muslims in Indonesia.”

Dangdut thrives in Jakarta nightclubs attended by people from all walks of life. Describing one such place Jonathan Napack wrote in the International Herald Tribune, "The tabla drum clicks, synthesized flutes wail, a sultry woman sobs words of love. The ambience is opulent and sensual, reeking of perfume. Bollywood thrillers play on a projection television while bartenders in turbans pour beers. Men dance mostly with men, women with women."

As the genre became increasingly saturated, some performers turned to unusual stage elements to distinguish themselves. According to Cocunuts Jakarta, “Dangdut is such an oversaturated musical genre in Indonesia that it’s not surprising how many artists employ gimmicks in their act to stand out from the rest.” The outlet added, “Unfortunately, dangdut singer Irma Bule’s deadly gimmick, combined with her dedication to showmanship, led to her untimely death.”

Dangdut Performers

A typical dangdut group consists of a singer, tabla (Indian hand drums), electric guitar, percussion, bass and synthesizer. The music has a danceable beat. Dangdut singers are among the most famous people in Indonesia. [Sources: Rough Guide to World Music]

“Dangdut”'s greatest star Rhoma Irma was at the peak of his popularity in the 1970s. He added rock music, political commentary, Islamic references to the music, and in the process created a unique Indonesian sound and angered the government at the same time. Rhoma Irma has produced dangdut films and was famous for his outrageous lives shows. He remains very popular today.

Other classic dangdut stars include Elvy Sukasih, Dettu Kurnia, Maryam and Camelia Malik. These four singers were all attractive women with large followings. "Disco-dangdut" stars of the 1990s included Ade Ima, Sendak Oriel, Evie Tamala. The form has appeal outside Indonesia. In 1999. MTV Asia launched Salam Dangdut.

Inul Daratista was perhaps the biggest pop phenomena in Indonesia in the early 2000s. Known for her hip-shaking and pelvis-thrusting dance moves, she was adored by her fans, who called her Inul and regarded her as the queen of dangdut. conservative Muslim clerics condemned her as “pornographic” and called her the “devil dancer.” One Muslim organization issued a fatwa against her. Inul has not taken the criticism lying down. She was spoken out against her detractors The criticism has also been great for her career. Her popularity skyrocketed after the fatwa was issued. Politicians begged her to perform at their rallies.

Village-Level Dangdut and Working Your Up

Many dangdut performers begin their careers in rural areas like Karawang. At village events such as weddings, singers perform for mixed-age audiences, often changing into more elaborate outfits as the evening progresses. Audience members, usually men, approach the stage to dance and give tips by placing money into the performers’ hands, hair, or clothing. While singers receive fees through agents, much of their income comes from these tips. [Source: Rebecca Henschke, BBC, May 9 2016]

Nani Sanjaya, a performer and friend of Irma, says acts involving snakes can attract more attention. “You get more money and tips if you perform with snakes—you’re the star of the show,” she explains. “There is pressure to please and stand out from all the others, we all dream of becoming stars.” For some, success in dangdut can lead to television appearances and national recognition.

At a television studio in Jakarta, performers such as Duo Serigala—Pamela Safitri and Ovi Sovianti—have built popularity through distinctive dance routines and social media presence. “It’s been a long journey, we have worked very hard from the bottom to get here, we started from zero,” says Pamela. “We were nobodies. I am sorry to say that our families were poor but now slowly, with the money we are earning from singing, we are able to support them.” Both singers said they were shocked by Irma’s death. “Irma Bule was doing the same as we did, working really hard to try and entertain people,” Ovi says. “She used the snakes to make her performance the best. We really feel for her family.”

Dangdut Singer Killed by a King Cobra

In April 2016, dangdut singer 29-year Irma Bule — known for performing with live snakes — died after being bitten by a king cobra during a stage performance. Irma had been performing with snakes, including reticulated pythons ( and boa constrictors, for eight years and had used cobras in her act for the last two. Reptiles Magazine described her act a form of “gimmick.” Cocunuts“ said "Unfortunately her deadly gimmick, combined with her dedication to showmanship, led to her untimely death.” [Source: Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, April 8, 2016; Rebecca Henschke, BBC, May 9 2016]

Bule was performing in a village in West Java when she was handed a king cobra that was believed to have been defanged. Video that circulated widely shows Irma accidentally stepping on a king cobra while dancing. The snake bites her leg, and stagehands quickly pull it away. Despite the injury, she continues performing for another 45 minutes. She is only taken offstage after she begins vomiting. By the time Encum reaches the hospital, her daughter has already died. “My daughter might not have known that the snake that was given to her for the show was a dangerous cobra,” her mother, Encum, said in comments reported by the Daily Mail. “She was told she could wear it, even though its mouth was not closed with duct tape.”

“In the middle of the second song, Irma stepped on the snake’s tail,” witness Ferlando Octavion Auzura told an Indonesian news outlet. “The snake then bit Irma in her thigh.” A bite from a king cobra is extremely serious. According to National Geographic, the species can grow up to 18 feet long and is among the most formidable venomous snakes. “It seems unfairly menacing that a snake that can literally ‘stand up’ and look a full-grown person in the eye would also be among the most venomous on the planet,” the publication noted.

The venom of the king cobra is highly dangerous. “Their venom is not the most potent among venomous snakes, but the amount of neurotoxin they can deliver in a single bite… is enough to kill 20 people, or even an elephant,” National Geographic wrote, adding that the snakes are generally shy but “fiercely aggressive when cornered.” Despite the severity of the bite, Bule continued performing even though a snake handler with antivenom was present. “The effects were felt 45 minutes after the bite,” Auzura said. “She vomited, had seizures, and her body seized.”

Bule was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital . She was survived by her husband and three young children, according to Us Weekly, which reported that police confirmed her death. Authorities opened an investigation into the incident. “I and her family are still trying to find out exactly what went wrong for our youngest child to die like this,” her mother said, as quoted by the Daily Mail. “We are waiting for the organizers of the show to tell us.” She left behind two young daughters, who are now being cared for by their grandmother.

Family of the Dangdut Singer Killeed by King Cobra

Sitting on a bamboo bench outside her home in Karawang, West Java, Irma Bule’s mother Encum told the BBC sh recalls watching her daughter, Irma Bule, perform. “It was embarrassing, seeing her up there dancing on stage like that,” she says. She knew her daughter worked as a dangdut singer, but she had no idea that the performance that day involved snakes.[Source: Rebecca Henschke, BBC, May 9 2016]

“I always hoped she would become a teacher but she always wanted to sing. No-one forced her—she was doing what she loved,” Encum says, wiping tears with her headscarf. “I miss her terribly. She was a good mother, a good wife, a dutiful daughter.” She continues to question why her daughter was not taken to the hospital immediately after the bite.

“The snake killed her but the snake didn’t crawl up on stage by himself,” says her uncle, Maman, who has been following the case at the police station. “Someone gave it to her and told her it was safe. Whether it was neglect or planned, she was killed.” Police have questioned several people, but no charges have been filed. Event organizers deny wrongdoing, saying they only hired the musicians and the snake handler. The handler, who has also been questioned, could not be reached.

Back at the family home in Karawang, Irma’s daughters return from school. The oldest, eight years old, says she wants to become a singer like her mother. Her uncle, Maman, says he hopes to guide her in a different direction. “I can’t stop her,” he admits. “What I will do is keep her in school and, if we can, send her to university. Hopefully with a good education, she will make her own good decisions about what to do with her life.”

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: “Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 5: East/Southeast Asia:” edited by Paul Hockings, 1993; “Culture and Customs of Indonesia” by Jill Forshee, Greenwood Press, 2006; National Geographic, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Encyclopedia.com, Library of Congress, Indonesia Tourism website (indonesia.travel), Indonesia government websites, Live Science, The Conversation, The New Yorker, Time, BBC, CNN, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Google AI, Wikipedia, The Guardian and various websites, books and other publications.

Last updated April 2026