Somchok Pramongkit

Somchok Pramongkit is a performer specialising in the art of ronggeng, a tradition encompassing song, dance, and instrumental performance found throughout the Malay world. Somchok became interested in the form at an early age. He learned to sing, dance, and play the violin and the Brabna (a type of drum), from various instructors including his late grandmother, Mae Jew Pramongkit, a widely recognised custodian of the tradition. Somchok belongs to Phuket’s Chao Lay commu- nity, descendants of sea nomads now settled in areas along the Andaman coast, with linguistic and kinship ties reaching through the straits and far beyond national borders. Ronggeng is a customary art form of this re- gion, with deep roots and many variations of style and tone in each locale. In Phuket, it is performed at various kinds of events, including welcoming ceremonies for esteemed guests and dignitaries. Once an itinerant tradition, Ronggeng is today a cherished part of Phuket’s syncretic cultural heritage. The performances and teachings of Somchok and his community are preserving and transmitting this traditional knowledge for generations to come.