Awang Batil is the title given to a traditional storyteller in the state of Perlis. The art of storytelling, known as lipur lara, is a form of oral tradition, and interestingly, Awang Batil can only be found in Perlis. Initially, this storytelling art was called Awang Belanga because it used a belanga (a traditional cooking pot) as its accompanying musical instrument. However, since the back of the belanga was often covered in soot, the storytellers replaced it with a batil—a water container made of brass. The sound produced by the brass was also sharper and more resonant than the belanga. From then on, the storytellers were called Awang Batil.

In the past, Awang Batil would travel from village to village and house to house, particularly to homes hosting wedding ceremonies, to perform his stories. Typically, the performances were held in a small elevated hut, about three to four meters high. The audience would sit around the hut to listen to the tales. This was how the Malay community entertained themselves for generations before the advent of technology.

Awang Batil inherited a wealth of folk tales. Some of these stories were serialized and continued over several nights. Villagers would gather to listen to these tales, which often included elements of humor. During the storytelling, Awang Batil would strike the batil with his fingers. In certain scenes, he would don two masks alternately to portray characters such as the Hulubalang (warrior) or the Ahli Nujum (soothsayer). These wooden masks, usually painted red and white, were distinctive features of Awang Batil's solo performances.

The performance later evolved to include other musical instruments, such as the violin, flute, rebana (a type of drum), and gendang terinai (traditional drum), making the storytelling more engaging.

Before beginning a performance, Awang Batil would conduct a traditional ritual. This involved filling the batil with water, sprinkling it on his head and face, chewing three slices of betel nut, burning incense, and holding the batil on his lap. This ritual, which took about half an hour, was called bertabik or a salutation to the host, his teacher, and a prayer for safety.

"Hei! Riuh rendah gegak gempita,

Inilah hamba nak mula cerita."

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