Sape sales went up during the pandemic, says young Sarawakian sape craftsman

"The sape is a beautiful art form of Sarawak. Crafting a sape provides me with freedom of expression." Photos: Hayree Hashim

Sarawakian sape luthier Hayree Hashim, 27, has been busy fulfilling orders for his handcrafted musical instrument since the start of the pandemic.

The award-winning sape maker says that sales have been up since the start of the pandemic and he reckons that it's because music enthusiasts have picked up the sape as a pastime during the months of staying home due to the movement control orders these past 18 months or so.

"Many Malaysians are learning new hobbies to battle boredom since Covid-19. Some have signed up for online courses, or cooking and others are learning a new instrument. There are online sape classes and during MCO, anyone could learn to play the instrument in the safety of their own homes.

"In the last one-and-a-half years, I've been making an average of 10 to 20 sapes a month. My team and I spend about 10 to 12 hours each day fulfilling orders from different states across Malaysia and also abroad, from Germany, Australia and the United States," says Hayree in a phone interview from Kuching where he is based.

The sape is one of the most identifiable musical instruments associated with Sarawak's Orang Ulu community, particularly the Kayan and Kenyah tribes.

Hayree manipulates different curves to create 'kalong' - motifs that represent the Orang Ulu tribe, on his handcrafted sapes.

However, these days the sape is played by people from outside the Kayan and Kenyah tribes too and, to prevent it from dying out, traditional sape players and craftmasters are happy to pass on their knowledge to anyone, young or old, who is interested in learning the sape.

Like Miri-born Hayree, for example. He isn't Kayan or Kenyah, but he's learnt not only to play the instrument but also the art of sape making from Kayan sape craftmasters Emang Wan and Dines Ngau Wan.

"I learned to play the sape when I was 15 years old. I was drawn to this instrument because of its soothing and calming melody. I ordered my first sape from Ulu Belaga in Kapit and I remember waiting many weeks for it.

"At the time, I noticed there was a demand for the instrument but also that there were problems obtaining a sape as many sape makers live in rural areas. This inspired me to learn to make my own one," explains Hayree who is an Iban.

Dines (right) thinks Hayree's patience and determination fuels his passion in making the sape.

He became a sape apprentice in 2014 while pursuing his degree in industrial design at Kuching's Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).

Dines, a sape craftsman of 15 years, says Hayree’s plus point is his determination and interest to learn how to make the ancient lute.

“Hayree is patient and motivated. He never gives up and is always willing to expand his knowledge in sape making. His commitment and focus are commendable,” explains Dines, 51, a Science teacher at SK St Martin in Kota Samarahan.

Over the years, Hayree has won a few awards for his sape crafting skills.

In 2017, he clinched first prize (traditional category) in The Craft Master competition, organised by government investment arm MyCreative Ventures and second place at Sarawak Tourism Board's Sarawak Handicraft Competition and the bronze medal at Unimas' Innovation Technology Expo.

He added another feather to his cap two years ago when he clinched the third spot at the Malaysian Innovation Foundation's Mainstreaming Grassroots Innovation competition.

Dines (left) and Hayree (right) are just regular guys who enjoy crafting the sape.

Because of his passion for the instrument, Hayree didn't think twice about venturing into sape making as a full time job after his graduation in 2017.

"Initially, my parents were worried that I couldn't earn a decent income as a sape craftsman. They'd prefer it if I had secured a job related to my field of study. But I am uninterested in climbing up the corporate ladder," he says.

Hayree is happy to be helping to preserve a traditional instrument that is among many heritage crafts in danger of fading into obscurity.

"Up until recently, there was not much exposure about this instrument, and only a few youths could play the sape. Perhaps the younger generation weren’t interested in learning the sape then, as it seemed less trendy than the bass guitar, drums, or piano.

"But now, with the help of social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, there is more exposure to the sape. Young people realise its potential and have started developing an interest in learning to play this instrument," Hayree opines.

The sape began to gain popularity thanks to annual international events such as the Rainforest World Music Festivals as well as as musicians like Jerry Kamit who first started participating in international competitions like the World Championship of Performing Arts in the United States in 2009 where he he won the gold media.

Thorn among the roses: Hayree stands proudly alongside homegrown female sape players, Alena Murang (left), Elizabeth Bungan (second from right) and Munirih Jebeni.

More recently, the instrument was put in the spotlight by award-winning singer, songwriter and sape player Alena Murang who became the first female professional sape player in Malaysia and also formed the first all-girl sape band. She's gone on to play the instrument on an international stage, which has undoubtedly helped in the revival of the traditional instrument.

There are also other Borneo's famous sape players like Jerry Kamit, Matthew Ngau Jau, Thambunesia and all-female sape band, Ilu Leto, who are also helping to promote this instrument.

On YouTube, there are many video tutorials on how to play this instrument too.

"This is a positive sign because the sape is part of Sarawak's culture and heritage," says Hayree, who also plays the drums, bass guitar, keyboard, and piano.

Hayree hopes that he is doing his part to help preserve the traditional Sarawakian musical instrument.

Preserving an ancient heritage

Just like the guitar, the sape has a strings, frets and a machine head (a geared apparatus for tuning stringed musical instruments by adjusting string tension). The sape, however, is unique in shape, resembling a "sampan" which is why it is sometimes referred to as a "boat lute", especially in the West.

Traditionally, the sape was used during healing ceremonies in longhouses, but over the years, it has become a social instrument used for entertainment.

Hayree's handcrafted sapes comes in three sizes – sapelele (76cm), medium (101cm) and standard (121cm). He uses local wood like adau, meranti, and medang, which are sourced from the villages.

To make a sape, Hayree first chops pieces of wood into billets (blocks of wood) with his chainsaw. He then outlines the shape of the sape on the billet and cuts the wood with a saw following the outline.

"I use a machete to carve the handle and the curves around and inside the sape. The orbital sander is then used to add any facets or shapes and to finish it and make it look good," he says.

Hayree admits that one of the biggest challenges he faced was learning to use the tools needed to make his lutes.

"It takes a lot of time and practice to master the tools used in crafting the sape. The tools are sharp and you can easily hurt yourself. I have many scars to prove this," reveals Hayree.

But the deep scars and grazes on his fingers, palm and wrist, he adds, are part and parcel of his trade, he reckons.

Dines agrees that sape making can be dangerous.

Hayree admits that one of the biggest challenges he faced was learning to use the tools needed to make his lutes.

“Sape makers handle dangerous tools like the chainsaw, machete, adze and chisel. You need to be skilled to use these tools because one little mistake or a lapse in concentration could cause really bad injuries,” says Dines.

Once the wood has been cut, the next step in the process is designing and drawing motifs on the sape. For Hayree, the design of choice is mainly the "kalong" which are motifs that represent the Orang Ulu tribe.

"My free-hand designs are abstract, but they are inspired by the 'kalong' motif. The designs range from ferns, creeper plants to animals," Hayree shares.

Once the instrument is varnished, the last step is adding accessories like the pick ups, tuning pegs and strings that are made of fishing lines. The strings are held by a moveable rattan fret, tightened or loosened with rattan pegs.

Hayree uses a carving tool known as "lungga" to whittle the rattan and turn it into a fret set.

"The type of wood that is used does affect the quality of sound the sape produces," explains Hayree, who posts photos of his creations on his Instagram.

Traditional sapes have four strings – one for the melody and three for bass. These days, there are modern versions of the sape that are fitted with eight strings even. However, the fundamentals remain the same, where only one string is for the melody, while the rest are for the bass.

It takes about a month to make a sape, and the process, he shares, is tedious.

"Not many youths are interested in sape-making because it is time-consuming and it requires physical strength and stamina. And lots of practice, patience and determination," says Hayree, who sells his handcrafted sapes for between RM500 and RM1,500.

Alena has helped to promote the sape to international audiences. Photo: Filepic

For Hayree, this is his labour of love and though it may be challenging, he is enjoying every moment of his journey in sape making.

"I won't stop making sapes because I'm still passionate about it. I also love the challenge of being creative and innovative in my designs. I usually browse social media platforms to keep up with the new trends, new art styles and new techniques," he says.

It's Hayree's dream to promote the sape and make it an instrument that's recognised and appreciated internationally.

"After all, the sape is a really beautiful instrument of Sarawak. And sape making is like abstract art with which I can experiment on and it allows me to have freedom of expression," he says of his craft that helps bring music to life.