What is "dangdut"

n. (context music English) A genre of Indonesian music that combines elements of Arab and Malay folk music

Dangdut (pronounced ) is a genre of Indonesian folk and traditional popular music that is partly derived from Hindustani, Malay, and Arabic music. Dangdut is a very popular genre in Indonesia because of its melodious instrumentation and vocals. Indonesians dance in somewhat similar to the ghoomar while listening to dangdut music, but in a much slower version. Dangdut features a tabla and gendang beat.

Dangdut really has strong Indian music influence from the basis of harmony, instrument, beat, and rhythm. One of the most populous Dangdut musicians and singers such as Rhoma Irama known as the "King of Dangdut", Mansyur S., Meggy Z, and Ellya Khadam include strong Indian music influence in the basis of harmony, theme, and beat to their songs and also by other popular dangdut singers also.

Dangdut is very popular throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and other Malay speaking lands.

A dangdut band typically consists of a lead singer, male or female, backed by four to eight musicians. Instruments usually include a tabla, gendang, flute, mandolin, guitars, sitar, drum machines, and synthesizers. The term has been expanded from the desert-style music to embrace other musical styles. Modern dangdut incorporates influences from Middle Eastern pop music, Western rock, house music, hip-hop music, contemporary R&B, and reggae.

The popularity of Dangdut peaked in the 1990s. By 2012, it was mostly popular in the western parts of Indonesia and not in the eastern parts, apart from Maluku.