Yike
| Yike | |
|---|---|
| Khmer name | យីកេ |
| Also known as | Lakhon Yike; Khmer musical theatre |
| Practice type | Performing art |
| Usual occasion | Dry season |
| Subjects | Dance & Theatre |
Yike is a performing-art tradition practised in Cambodia and Khmer communities. (Wikipedia)
Practice
Yike combines sung and spoken storytelling with dance, using an ensemble of traditional and modern instruments. Performances commonly begin with the invocation dance robam yike hom rong, incorporate movements similar to rom kbach, and take place in a circle so audiences can watch from every angle. Stories include Jatakas, tales of the Buddha’s life, Tum Teav, Khmer literature, traditional subjects, and contemporary stories; the skor mei drum starts and ends the music. (Wikipedia; Archive.Unesco-ichcap)
History
Yike is described as an ancient Cambodian musical theatre form with several proposed origins: it is believed to have come from Champa and to have been imported during the Funan period, while another account links it to seafaring people and places its poetic form in the late eighth century. It was initially presented as a post-performance event in the Royal Palace, later became an independent popular form, and was especially popular in the 1920s. Lakhaon Yike is currently included in the drama curriculum at Cambodia’s Royal University of Fine Arts. (Wikipedia; Archive.Unesco-ichcap)
Variations
Yike is performed in nearly every province of Cambodia and among Khmer Krom communities in southern Vietnam. Over time it has adopted different costumes, instruments, and Khmer customs; Khmer Krom communities use both yike and yuke, with yuke also referring to the dance theatre known as Lakhon Bassac. (Wikipedia; Archive.Unesco-ichcap)
Communities and practitioners
The tradition is maintained by Khmer community troupes, including older village performers and younger people who learn the art. Performers commonly appear at pagodas and local festivals, while practitioners and cultural authorities have expressed concern about the declining number of successors. (Wikipedia; Archive.Unesco-ichcap)