First-hand experience of sape

Alexander (third from right) and his committee members displaying their sape.

SIBU: The Borneo Youth Sape Festival is set to excite enthusiasts of this Dayak musical instrument as it is being organised on a larger scale this time around.

The event on Dec 2 from 9am to midnight at One Malaysia Cultural Village, opposite Bukit Aup Jubilee Park, is organised by the Sarawak Dayak Youth Organisation (Pebedas) in collaboration with Sibu Dayak Sape Club.

Pebedas president and organising chairman of the festival, Alexander Frederick, said the audience will be entertained by myriad performances from individuals and groups who are experts at playing the instrument.

They include Jerry Kamit, At Adau, Desmond Emang, Saufi Aiman Yahya, Ilu Leto, Ferinandus Lah, Eugene Kuek, Julien Cottet Of France and Solomon Gau & Son.

The groups include Ethnic Revolution, Jackery Chukan & Band, Borneo Spectrum, KSDS and The Collabration - Gendang Pampat.

A forum on sape will be conducted by Narawi Rashidi from Sarawak Cultural Village, Kuching, on the same day.

There will also be a demonstration by the Sarawak Body Arts Association on tattoos.

“We are also using the festival to create a new entry in the Malaysia Book of Records for having the most number of sape players at a single event,” said Alexander.

The festival, he pointed out, is an important platform to promote sape and its music.

“Visitors to the festival can learn more about this unique musical instrument.

“We are confident that foreigners will also be drawn to this event,” he added.

There will be a sape exhibition and sales, demonstration and competitions in both group and individual categories.

Tickets to the festival are priced at RM48 for adults and RM15 for children below 15 years.

For details, call Dalas Robert at 013-845 0934 or Jackery Chukan at 019-839 0839.