Dr. Shafa'atussara Silahudin is a Senior Lecturer at the Academy of Malay Studies, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. She specialises in Malay performing arts, Southeast Asian music history and community-based arts research. She obtained her PhD from Leiden University, the Netherlands with research focusing on Malay traditional singing practices. Her work explores the relationship between music, culture, identity and community wellbeing, including the role of traditional arts in social engagement and healthy ageing. Besides her academic career, she is also an active performer of Malay traditional songs and has performed internationally. Her research and performances contribute to the preservation and contemporary development of Malay musical heritage.