Dayak Music Awards tickets on sale

KUCHING: With only a month to go, what are preparations like for Dayak Music Awards (Dama) 2008?

“Let me begin by answering the most popular question of tickets,” said Dama 2008 organising committee chairman Dato Sri Celestine Ujang Jilan.

Speaking to The Borneo Post, Dama 2008 official newspaper, after chairing a meeting of his committee yesterday, Ujang said tickets to the awards night slated for Sept 27 at the Crowne Plaza Riverside here are now on sale.

According to him, there will be 10 RM3,000 tables, 20 RM2,000 tables, 30 RM1,000 tables and 20 RM800 tables.

“Tickets to these tables will be distributed fairly among followers of Dayak music in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri who have called us to enquire about buying the tickets and coming to the awards night,” Ujang said.

Continue reading at: Dayak Music Awards tickets on sale

Baram Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Night - Festivals of unity encouraged

MARUDI: The state government will continue to support the holding of festivals like the Baram Regatta and the Borneo Sape Festival as these events are capable of bringing people closer together, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinngi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang.

Speaking at the Baram Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Night yesterday, Jabu said because these festivals involved Malaysians from all races and religion, they had become a vital tool for uniting the country’s multi-racial society.

Jabu said while the government would continue to host certain events on its own it would encourage the private sector to take it upon themselves to organise festivals and celebrations, in line with the government’s aspiration of strengthening unity and fostering understanding among people.

Continue reading (incl. pic) at: Baram Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Night - Festivals of unity encouraged

Start of year-long festivities to mark Sarawak’s freedom

SARAWAK recently launched a year–long celebration to mark its 45th anniversary of independence starting off with a grand and colourful show.

Themed Sarawak’s Progress in Malaysia, the celebration was launched at the State Stadium in Kuching by Governor Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng, with Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and other state Cabinet members in attendance.

They were welcomed into the stadium by dancers in traditional costumes who the carried past and present Sarawak flags.

Thousands of performers took to the field to put on dance and drama presentations depicting the state’s history and rich cultural heritage.

Continue reading (incl. pics) at: Start of year-long festivities to mark Sarawak’s freedom

Potpourri of events at Borneo Cultural Festival impresses the crowds

THE recent Borneo Cultural Festival at the Town Square in Sibu was a cultural potpourri and an eye-opener for first-time visitors.

The nine-day, Sarawak-tourism-calendar event hosted on an elaborate scale by the Sibu Municipal Council impressed many locals.

Besides showcasing Sarawak’s rich cultural heritage, the festival offered lots of entertainment and fun through traditional games, a Dayak beauty queen and warrior pageant, karaoke and singing contests, talent and fashion shows.

The staging of a traditional Malay wedding and a Chinese opera were rare.

Food lovers were pampered with a choice of specialities and delicacies from the Chinese community.

The trade show featuring dozens of booths was a crowd puller.

Continue reading (incl. pics) at: Potpourri of events at Borneo Cultural Festival impresses the crowds

Baram Regatta 2008 - Sape goes global

MIRI: The Baram Regatta 2008 will take on an international flavour for the first time in its century-old history.

The event will feature sape players from England, Kalimantan in Indonesia, Brunei and local Chinese and Malays who have become experts in playing this Orang Ulu guitar-like musical instrument.

The Baram Regatta, as the name implies, will be held along the mighty Baram River in the interior town of Marudi, 200km inland from Miri, on Aug 16 and 17.

This historical event marks a peace accord reached by warring Orang Ulu tribes in 1899 that ended the ancient practice of head hunting.

Continue reading (incl. pic) at: Baram Regatta 2008 - Sape goes global

Melodies of culture from the Kelabits

Kan’id is the culmination of hard work and passion from a Kelabit youth outfit that showcases their culture and history.

TUTU’ Udan Nah Pera... the responsorial chant sung by Kan’id – a Kelabit youth outfit bent on preserving and promoting tradition passed down from their forefathers – is a lilting melody that will grab anybody’s attention. And especially if you’re at the Rainforest World Music Festival 2008 in Kuching, Sarawak.

These youth – dressed in traditional sepa’ ngarang (dance attire) – looked exuberant last Friday at the soft launch of their debut eponymous album, aptly slated right at the start of the festival.

It was a grand culmination of efforts for the youth – a dozen of them – who have honed their skills over many years and have rehearsed intensively for the last two months.

The album features 11 songs which present an overview of the Kelabit culture and history.

Inspired by the ancestral songs of the Kelabit and drawing upon the rich musical traditions of the Orang Ulu tribe along the Baram river, Kan’id hope to keep their history alive and pass it on to future generations.

Continue reading (incl. pics) at: Melodies of culture from the Kelabits

Sarawak Rainforest Music Festival enters a new decade

KUCHING: After the stirring 10th anniversary celebration last year, Rainforest World Music Festival is now ready to enter into a new decade with the promise of a better festival and more value-added experiences for audiences in coming years.

The festival, which won the Pacific Asia Travel Association Gold Award in 2006, will be held from July 11 to 13 at the Sarawak Cultural Village, a 45-minute drive from here.

With 16 local and international groups performing this year, visitors can expect a myriad of world music performances, including Celtic fusion, Socca, folk, Baul fusion and traditional.

The three-day festival will feature the Ross Daly Quartet from Greece, Kasai Masai (Congo/UK), Hiroshi Motofuji (Japan), Oikyataan (India), Cholo Valderamma (Colombia), New Rope String Band (UK), Yakande (Gambia/Guinea), Pinikpikan (Philippines), Adel Salameh (Palestine), Beltaine (Poland), Sheldon Blackman and The Love Circle (Trinidad & Tobago), Fadomorse (Portugal) and Akasha (Kuala Lumpur).

Continue reading at: Sarawak Rainforest Music Festival enters a new decade

Unique fests of Sarawak's Lun Bawang and Bisaya

LIMBANG: While the Gawai Dayak festival, which began on June 1, was held across Sarawak, two Orang Ulu ethnic groups in the northern region of the state had their own unique midyear celebration.

In Lawas, the northernmost district of the state, Lun Bawang folks had their Irau Aco (festival) from June 1 to 3.

The festivities swirled down to Batu Danau in neighbouring Limbang district where the Bisaya hosted the Babulang Festival from June 5 to 7.

The Irau Aco was a celebration marking a great harvest season in the old days, but as the Lun Bawang community moved on with time, it turned into a showcase of the rich and colourful traditions and cultural roots of this largest Orang Ulu ethnic group in northern Sarawak.

Continue reading (incl. pic) at: Unique fests of Sarawak's Lun Bawang and Bisaya

Rich colours of Sarawak

SARAWAK put on a grand display of its rich cultural traditions at the Gawai Dayak Open House at the Indoor Stadium here recently.

Head of State Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng was joined on stage by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud to launch the event by winnowing rice in traditional flat baskets.

Also present were Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal and Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu.

A welcoming dance to kick off the celebration was followed by a solo Orang Ulu ngajat” (warrior’s dance) and a “Selamat Gawai” song.

There were special performances by cultural groups from the Bisaya and Penan communities, who put on a show of their traditional dances.

A Lun Bawang bamboo band from Long Semadoh in Lawas then serenaded the crowd with a medley of familiar tunes including “Geylang Si Paku Geylang” and “Auld Lang Syne”.

Continue reading (incl. pics) at: Rich colours of Sarawak

Dayaks rejoice in Gawai fest

Elders from the Orang Ulu community with traditional instruments at the festival

Traditional dance performances by Dayak beauties at the festival

Dayak beauties in their traditional colourful attire

Photos courtesy of and Copyright to Achong Tanjong and Brunei Press Sdn Bhd

By Achong Tanjong in Kuching, Sarawak

The national-level Malaysia Gawai Dayak Open House 2008 celebration held in Kuching recently was the ideal experience to explore and learn the unique cultural heritage of the many ethnic groups in Sarawak.

It is the iconic celebration of the Dayak communities in the state to showcase their respective cultural performances on stage with their traditional colourful costumes and dance.

The mesia was invited by Tourism Malaysia under the Mega Familiarisation Programme to witness the colourful celebration of the Dayak community.

Our group from Brunei comprised local travel agents led by Tourism Malaysia (Brunei) officer Mrs Efarina Abang Haji Osman. The travel agents were from Mas Sugara Travel Services Sdn Bhd, Century Travel Services Sdn Bhd, Pan Bright Travel Services Sdn Bhd and Freme Travel Services.

Other Mega Fam groups were from Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

The festival carried the theme "Unity Through Culture and Tradition" (Segulai Sejalai) and was attended by the Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah.

The event was declared open by Head of State Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin on behalf of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Shah by taking the lead in a mock winnowing of rice on stage.

The festival is celebrated annually and is one of the highlights in the Sarawak tourism calendar of events. The festival was first held in 1987.

The Gawai Open house is usually held in June just after the actual Gawai Dayak celebration on June 1.

The festival brought together the culture of the ethnic groups of the Dayak communities in the state. Altogether, there are 30 different ethnic groups in Sarawak.

Visitors who attended the event had the opportunity to take a closer look at mini traditional longhouses to portray the different Gawai celebrations of each Dayak ethnic group.

There was also a mini exhibition on the wide range of handicraft items including Iban traditional textiles Pua Kumbu, decoration and accessories of the ethnic groups.

Gawai Dayak is the most popular festival among the Dayaks in the state. It is the festival to mark the end of the padi harvesting season and the beginning of a new one. The native ethnic groups of Sarawak comprise the Iban, Bidayuh, and the Orang Ulu. The Orang Ulu consists of about 24 sub-groups - Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Lun Bawang, Bisaya, Penan, Tabun, Tagal, Saan and Punan Busang.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Sunday

Dayaks display cultural heritage at open house

KUCHING: The 5,000-capacity Stadium Perpaduan at Petra Jaya here packed in the crowds last Saturday when it became the venue for the national-level Gawai Dayak Open House celebrations.

It was a night of grandeur as the Dayaks showcase their cultural heritage through performances by the many ethnic groups that included the semi-nomadic Penan group.

More than 10 Penan girls dressed in traditional attire came all the way from Suai, Bintulu to join the others in performing before the audience which included guests-of-honour Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah.

Participating in the song and dance were Dayak recording artistes in the likes of Jennarino Jeraki, Fiona John, Felicia Gek, Urai and Linda who performed alongside established artistes such as Zainal Abidin, Rem and Deja Moss.

Head of State Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin on behalf of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Shah declared open the celebration by taking the lead in a mock winnowing of rice before Gawai.

Continue reading (incl. pic) at: Dayaks display cultural heritage at open house

The Gawai Festival

From Travelzon blog:

Types of Gawai

The Ibans has many festivals called 'Gawai'. These different 'Gawai's are known as 'Gawai Kenyalang' (hornbill festival), 'Gawai Antu' (festival for the dead) and 'Gawai Dayak' (harvesting festival).During such festivals, besides the customary observance of ritual, there is usually a lot of drinking of the locally brewed rice wine called tuak, much merriment and dancing called ngajat and displays of elaborate traditional costumes.

Gawai Festival

A harvest festival celebrated by the state's indigenous people,particularly the Ibans and Dayaks, in their traditional costumes.It features ceremonial offerings of various local traditional delicacies and tuak - home made rice wine, to the gods of rice and prosperity. This unique festivity is a must see for local and foreign tourists alike.

First celebrated on 1st June 1965, it is the feast for the eyes with its colourful rituals, traditional music, cock fighting, feasting and games. It is simply a time for merrymaking.

The Gawai festival has always been one of the celebrated festivals in Sarawak. Its origins goes back to the folklore that tells of the adventure of men travelling to the world of the gods and spirits with an invitation to join in a feast, then oftheir subsequent journey to the world of mortals. It is generally believed thatGawai is being held when one is persuaded by the gods to do so in his dream. After performing this Gawai ceremony, one's life and the lives of all those who have been touched by the celebration will be blessed - so it is believed!

Continue reading (incl. pics) at: The Gawai Festival

Celebrating Gawai Dayak

Gawai Dayak, recognised as a festive celebrated in Sarawak on June 1 every year, is both a religious and social occasion.

It has become part of the events under the Sarawak Tourism Board to promote tourism. It has an “Open House” concept to receive guests in our multi -acial society. Such visit is commonly known as “ngabang” in the Iban language.

Background

During the British colonial rule, the government refused to give recognition to the Dayak Day. This disappointed the Dayak community because the festival was their source of national pride and a way to reciprocate social hospitality extended by other races during their festivals.

After numerous requests, the first Chief Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Stephen Kalong Ningkan and his Cabinet, our present Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, Tun Abang Haji Openg, who was a member of the Council Negeri, at that time, persistently pushed through the proposal to recognise Gawai as a festival.

Gawai Dayak was formally gazetted on September 25, 1964 as a public holiday in place of Sarawak Day. It was first celebrated on June 1, 1965 and became a symbol of unity, aspiration and hope for the Dayak community.

Since then, the Dayak community have been celebrating June 1 as a thanksgiving day to mark a good harvest and a time to plan for the new farming season.

Meaning of Gawai Dayak

“Gawai” means a ritual or festival while “Dayak” is a collective name for the native races in Sarawak namely the Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Murut and other ethnic group. A combination of the word “Gawai Dayak” means Dayak Festival.

Continue reading (incl. pic) at: Celebrating Gawai Dayak

Living with the Melanau of Sarawak

FOR the Melanau community of Mukah, Sarawak, raw fish is not served with soya sauce and wasabi. Instead, it is sliced paper thin, and marinated with a whole lot of condiments like salt, shallots, chili and lime juice. One can eat it on its own but it’s best eaten with hot rice.

Umai, or “Melanau sushi”, is the staple food and pride of the Melanau community worldwide and they often boast that their version is tastier than that served by the Japanese.

The Melanau comprises folks of seafaring background. Till today, Mukah in Sarawak’s 10th division, is famous for fresh seafood and all things made of sago –– from biscuits to dessert, as well as sago worms which are eaten raw, stirfried with garlic and soya sauce or simply fried on its own.

The town may be small but it’s bustling with activities, especially the market area in the mornings when the boats come in with their catch.

Walking around Mukah is very safe because no one disturbs you and at night, it is relaxing to sit around in the open-air coffee shops sipping drinks, eating umai and watching the Melanau community go by.

What else does Mukah have to offer visitors?

Plenty, say the folks there. For a start, the Kala Dana beach is the venue for the annual Pesta Kaul Mukah. The Melanau fishing community celebrates this festival to mark the beginning of the fishing season after the monsoon ends. It is usually held in April.

Continue reading (incl. pics) at: Living with the Melanau of Sarawak

Gawai celebration is Dayak symbol of identity

LABUAN: Dayak community should remember that Gawai celebration is to remind them of their identity as well as their culture, said a Sarawak Assemblyman, Mong Anak Dagang.

He said it should become a symbol of unity and aspiration and this would be recognition to the Dayak race.

“The Gawai Dayak celebration is not just a merry making occasion but most importantly a time for them to look back at their progress in all fields,” he said.

Speaking at a Gawai celebration here, Mong said that the community should use the occasion as a platform to foster good relations and remain united.

He reminded the community to also organize economic and educational forum activities as well as finding ways in preserving their culture for posterity during the Gawai holidays.

Continue reading at: Gawai celebration is Dayak symbol of identity

World Harvest Festival 2008 Queen

KUCHING: The highly anticipated Miss Fair & Lovely World Harvest Festival 2008 pageant came to a close Saturday evening with Pearlycia Brooke from Kuching winning the title.

Pearlycia, 25, of mixed Bidayuh and Kenyah parentage, also won two other subsidiary titles - Miss Best Traditional Costume 2008 and Miss SMS Voters 2008.

Standing at 5’2” and weighing 45kg, she seemed to have the whole package. She is currently pursuing Masters in Environmental Biotechnology at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) and aspires to be a researcher or scientist.

“I did not expect to win because of my height,” she said later to the media.

The moment the results were announced, Pearlycia was seen fighting back her tears as hard as she could so as not to ruin her mascara.

This was her second involvement with the pageant. She did not make it into the finals in 2006.

With the cash prizes totalling RM4000, Pearlycia plans to buy things for the orphanage in Kuching, and to donate to the Children’s Cancer Society.

Continue reading (incl. pic) at: World Harvest Festival 2008 Queen

Kaul Festival - Hanging on to brave tradition

Melanau traditional dances were among the highlights of the Kaul Festival

Tibau is a traditional game for 'courageous' participants

Melanau dancers captivate the crowds

Photos courtesy of and Copyright to Mohammad Abdullah and Brunei Press Sdn Bhd.

By Mohammad Abdullah

The Kaul Festival or Festival by the Sea held in Mukah, Sarawak has always been a crowd-puller.

We had a chance to witness the age-old traditions of the Melanau community during a road trip to Mukah, 500 kilometres from Miri, Sarawak. Eighteen members of the Darussalam Motorcycle Association (PEMODA) travelled to Mukah to join in the annual Kaul Festival during a weekend of festivities that also attracted members of other communities from all over Sarawak.

"This is the first time for most of us in witnessing the festival. We are awed by the hospitality of the locals and government officials. We did not expect such hospitality. In fact, this was just a trip to witness the Kaul Festival in all its splendour. However it turned out to be an official event for us as we were invited to all the official events during the festival, including escorting the Sarawak Chief Minister, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud," said PEMODA member, Yusof bin Hj Emrin.

Originally the Kaul Festival was a pagan thanksgiving held independently by the Melanau villages to appease the spirits of the sea. It was traditionally held at the river-mouth in March after the northwest monsoon had passed. The Melanaus are mainly a fishing community.

With the majority of the Melanau people now Christians and Muslims, the pagan reasons behind the Kaul are evolving into an ethnic celebration unique to the Melanau culture.

Among the rituals is the launching of miniature wooden boats containing offerings for the sea spirits. The river-mouth is closed and boats are not allowed to go out to the sea for several days.

The festival's highlight is the tibau, a high-spirited but dangerous traditional game in which young men compete to see how many can swing from the end of a single 10-metre rope.

The tibau is a daunting test of courage and skill. The players are normally young, unmarried men who are out to impress the women and to garner status among their peers.

According to the Penghulu or village elder, in the past, the tibaus were huge with the smaller ones even reaching five storeys high. Now however, the tibaus are much smaller, and are meant only for cultural games, in which visitors and tourists can participate.

About 50 booths were set up along the beach to sell traditional Melanau food, clothes as well as handicraft, most of which were made of sago plants and rattan.

The Melanaus as well as other ethnic communities of Sarawak also showcased their traditional dances. Dressed in colourful costumes, the troupes mesmerised the audience with their traditional dance routines.

It was definitely an honour to witness the festival of the Melanau community whose traditions and cultural identity remain strong in today's modern world.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Weekend

Bidayuh Bisapug to showcase culture

KUCHING: Bidayuhs from the Bisapug tribe will be organising a cultural night cum pre-Gawai dinner on May 23 to promote the tribe’s culture and tradition said to be slightly different from those of the other Bidayuhs.

It will also be the first pre-Gawai event organised by Sarawak Bisapug Association (SBA), formed to promote, preserve, document and exhibit the Bisapug culture as the pride, identity and symbol of the tribe.

According to SBA president Paul Kawin Pipo, the Bisapug tribe came down from Darud Bunggu some 300 years ago. They now number 6,000 and live in four villages, namely Simpok, Mundai, Sarig and Pesa.

“We are different from other Bidayuhs in terms of the colours in our traditional costumes, dressing, food, and even the way we speak the dialect,” he said in an interview yesterday.

Continue reading at: Bidayuh Bisapug to showcase culture

Sarawak Longhouse Adventure

From Travelzon blog:

It is almost a crime to come to without visiting an Iban longhouse. Iban hospitality is legendary, and visitors are guaranteed a good time. A longhouse is basically a terraced street of separate dwellings coveredby one roof, under the authority of a headman, or tuai rumah.

These longhouses may have anywhere between six to nearly a hundred units! Longhouses located in newly opened areas are typically made of bamboo and tree bark, but more established and prosperous longhouses can be made of precious and long-lasting hardwoods.

Primarily a communal group, the Ibans community practices their own brand of democracy, with the elders having an important role in major decisions. Each family lives in its separate apartment, or bilik, and communal activities take place outsideon the verandah, or ruai. This is also where single male visitors spend thenight. Female visitors and couples will be invited to stay inside the bilikwith the family.

Continue reading (incl. pics) at: Sarawak Longhouse Adventure

Arts programme at Kuching waterfront villages

KUCHING: Come the end of March, city folks and tourists can catch local art and cultural performances at the waterfront of Kampung Boyan, Kampung Gersik and Kampung Sourabaya here in a programme put together by Kuching North City Hall and the state Culture, Arts and Heritage Department.

Dubbed the Kuching North Arts Centre, the programme will kick off on March 29 and take place twice a month until December 20.

State culture, arts and heritage director Chua Tek Luwi said it was a way of preserving and promoting local art and culture besides providing a space for artists and groups to perform or display their work.

“The arts centre programme will be the cultural hotspot for Kuching North, showcasing various art and cultural activities.

Continue reading at: Arts programme at Kuching waterfront villages