Sunday, May 17, 2015

Serian set to come alive with inaugural Bidayuh Music Festival on May 23 – 24


KUCHING: The pre-Gawai celebrations in Serian will be extra special this year as the town stages the first-ever Bidayuh Music Festival.

Bidayuh Artistes and Musicians Association (Bama) president Dr Alim Impira said the event would be held for two consecutive nights, starting May 23.

He also said about 5,000 people were expected to fill Taman Komuniti Serian to watch new and established Bidayuh recording artistes.

“Bidayuh Music Festival (BMF) 2015 will be parading the best recording artistes from the Bidayuh community. It is also one of the key activities for Bama, registered on Jan 6 this year, to elevate the standard of the Bidayuh music industry, which has a history of more than 50 years,” said Alim.

Bama is organising BMF 2015 with Serian District Council (SDC), which celebrates its silver jubilee this year. The event is also supported by Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) in conjunction with its 60th anniversary, and it also coincides with the elevation of Serian District into a division, added Alim.

The event’s patron, Minister of Human Resources Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem is scheduled to officiate at the opening ceremony on May 23, while Kedup assemblyman Martin Ben is expected to close the spectacle the following night.

Alim said the theme chosen for the inaugural BMF was ‘Lagu Bidayuh Paguh, Le Caq!’ (Bidayuh songs are good, let’s remain solid) to reflect the association’s aim to elevate the Bidayuh music industry.

.
.
at