Arakan State’s zat pwe troupes making a comeback 

By DMG 28 Oct 2021

DMG Newsroom
28 October 2021, Sittwe 

Zat pwe troupes in Arakan State, which had suspended their performances and other entertainment offerings due to some two years of fighting between the Tatmadaw and Arakan Army, are beginning to return to the state’s cultural milieu, according to troupe owners. 

The ensembles suspended their traditional dance-drama performances in November 2018 due to the armed conflict in the state, but several have been re-established as the previously warring sides reached an informal ceasefire toward the end of 2020.  

A total of 11 troupes have been re-established in eight Arakan State townships, said U Tun Myint Naing, director of Arekha Mandai Khit Thit, an Arakanese traditional Thabin troupe. They are based in Sittwe, Mrauk-U, Pauktaw, Minbya, Taungup, Kyaukphyu, Ann and Ponnagyun townships. 

“Clashes stopped in 2020. We re-established our troupe because we had a financial crisis for our livelihoods. About four troupes were re-formed last year. And more troupes were restructured this year and it has reached 11 now,” he said. 

U Tun Myint Naing said the number of event organisers hiring zat pwe troupes to provide entertainment is still relatively low this year. 

“Most troupes have to provide performances by connecting with officials at villages as there are not many customers at the moment. We charge K500,000 for three nights of performances,” he said. 

The Arakan State townships where zat pwe troupes entertain audiences are primarily Ann, Kyaukphyu and Myebon. 

“We cannot get many event organisers this season,” said U Moe Chit, owner of the Arian Moe Chit Thabin troupe. “There are many pagoda festivals in the coming months. So, a lot of customers from different villages will hire the zat pwe to entertain at the festivals.” 

Ma Phyo Wai Tun, a resident of Mrauk-U town, said she hoped to watch zat pwe entertainment without worry after the past few years without performances from the troupes due to conflict and the Covid-19 pandemic.