CULTURE enthusiasts and art lovers in Penang were in for a rare treat as they became the first in Malaysia to witness the debut performance of Taiwan’s acclaimed Formosa Aboriginal Song and Dance Troupe.
Staged at Dewan Sri Pinang as part of the George Town Festival (GTF) lineup, the 95-minute production titled “When Spirits Meet: The Rainbow Bridge and Ocean Chants” brought the ancestral heritage of Hualien County’s mountain-dwelling Truku and coastal Amis peoples vividly to life.
The afternoon performance opened with the soft, metallic twang of the lubux (mouth harp) with what began as a solitary, delicate vibration played by one performer gradually accumulating in strength as 15 artistes joined in unison.
The hypnotic crescendo filled the hall before seamlessly giving way to an energetic tribal dance featuring seven men and eight women dressed in their traditional woven garb.
As the Truku segment unfolded, the women took centre stage, singing melodic work chants while executing graceful movements depicting seasonal harvesting.
The atmosphere then shifted to a quiet, reverent hush during a solemn performance on the pgagu – a traditional nose flute whose breathy notes echoed the deep forests sounds of the Truku ancestral lands.
This was followed by an intimate uyawas (bamboo xylophone) duet by two women performers, leading into a warm ritual greeting.
Stripping away all instruments, the Truku troupe demonstrated the raw power of the human voice, bursting into a cheerful song and high-energy dance powered purely by harmonious vocal chants and rhythmic body movement.
The showcase’s second half transported the audience from the deep mountain valleys straight to the Pacific coastline, introducing the rich harvest culture of the Amis people from Makota’ay village.
Striking the sharp taktak (wooden clappers) to mark the beat, an ensemble of 16 dancers took to the stage in a dynamic display representing the harvest festival and their supreme deity Malataw.
Without relying on modern synthetic instruments, the entire performance drew its thunderous pulse directly from organic acoustic sounds, synchronised foot stomping and chest claps.
For many in the auditorium, the sheer energy of the performance resonated deeply.
“It was an extraordinary, almost otherworldly experience,” said engineer HL Tan, who attended the show with his wife.
“You don’t just hear the music with your ears, it touches your soul with its steady beats and ancestral chants.
“The stomping, the clapping and acoustic instruments made one feel connected to the two tribes and the earth.”
A cultural enthusiast who wanted to be known only as Boon, said, “Even though I could not understand the indigenous languages, the music and singing completely bridged the language barrier.
“The raw emotion behind the nose flute and power of their collective voices gave me goosebumps,” he said after the performance.
The Malaysian premiere proved to be a fitting celebration of cultural heritage, leaving local audiences spellbound by the harmonious dialogue between mountain echoes and ocean tides.
The performance was also held in conjunction with the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on Aug 9.
Prior to the performance, there was a culinary gathering outside the Dewan Sri Pinang entrance.
Organised by the Junior Chapter of the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce & Industry in Malaysia, the 2026 International Tour of Taiwan Gourmet Cuisine showcase set up a special interactive booth under the guidance of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia and the Overseas Community Affairs Council.
Visiting to observe and participate in the experience was Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who was joined by Penang tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia representative Dr Lien Yu-Ping.
All of them then attended the performance after a live cooking demonstration by chef Chiang Hsin-Yi and assistant chef Lu Wei-Sung, who showed how to make an indigenous-inspired fried dough dessert using millet.
