Tradition, Transition, and Identity: The Malay Literature in North Sumatra

This paper examines the historical evolution and cultural significance of Malay literature in North Sumatra, with particular attention to its development under the influence of regional sultanates including Deli, Langkat, Asahan, Serdang, Siak, and Aceh. Malay functioned as both a literary medium and a cultural lingua franca, facilitating the emergence of a diverse corpus encompassing oral and written forms such as pantun, sinandong, gurindam, hikayat, and syair. The analysis traces the transition from court-centred literary production to more popular and urban expressions, notably the emergence of the so-called “Medan novel” during the colonial period. The study also considers the preservation and reinterpretation of traditional forms in the post-independence era. Figures such as Tengku Amir Hamzah illustrate the convergence of classical Malay aesthetics with modern nationalist sentiment. Drawing on established scholarly literature, this study argues that Malay literature in North Sumatra reflects a dynamic interplay between Islamic intellectual heritage, regional identity, and cultural continuity. Despite shifts in language use and sociopolitical context, these literary traditions remain enduring expressions of Malay cultural identity in contemporary Indonesia.