MIRI: The first leg of the events leading up to the inaugural Baram Sape Master Kuala Lumpur (BSMKL 2015) kicked off at Permy Mall here yesterday in conjunction with Miri May Fest.
Telang Usan assemblyman, Dennis Ngau, when launching the event yesterday, urged Orang Ulus to uphold their traditions, in particular sape music – which has undergone tremendous transformation.
“We need to maintain the original sape music for posterity and cultural identification.
“This does not mean that we don’t want others to modify or modernise our sape music and its rhythm. What is important is to have the databank of sape music for easier identification of both original and modern sape music,” he said.
Dennis also called for strong support from all to ensure that the sape remains relevant, particularly as one of the Orang Ulu’s identities, which has the potential to become a tourist attraction.
“Support, including financial assistance from successful Orang Ulus and the general public too is greatly needed, especially for staging BSMKL 2015 in Kuala Lumpur,” he urged.
BSMKL 2015 will be held on Sept 4 and 5 to preserve and maintain the originality and uniqueness of Orang Ulu traditional music from Sarawak and Malaysia in general at both national and international levels.
It is the first to be held outside Sarawak, following the success of the 2014 Baram Sape Master, held in Long Lama.
Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Preserving traditions through ‘Sape’ music
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