Rich culture: Abdul Karim (left) and the ministry’s permanent secretary Hii Chang Kee posing with musician Desmond Junek at the launch of the coffee table book. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
KUCHING: The sape, the traditional boat lute of the Orang Ulu community, is now an iconic world instrument thanks to Sarawak’s renowned Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF), says the state Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Ministry.
“Recently, during the Citrawarna Malaysian Family event at the Kuching Waterfront, a sape concert made it into the Malaysia Book of Records for being the largest performance by sape players,” said Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
“The sape, which was once only known in longhouses and villages, has grown to become famous,” he said when launching a coffee table book titled Rainforest World Music Festival – A Journey of 25 Years here yesterday.
RWMF artistic director Randy Raine-Reusch said the sape was now a worldwide phenomenon.
“People are coming to Sarawak to learn how to play the sape or ordering the sape online to learn how to play it in their own countries,” he said.
“I’m also excited to see young musicians now making international careers by playing traditional Sarawakian instruments.”
Abdul Karim said the sape’s growth was among the stories told in the coffee table book, which documents the festival’s journey from many points of view.
He said the stories illustrated RWMF’s impact on the local music scene and the careers of Sarawakian musicians such as Alena Murang and Bob Meldrick.
“The book commemorates the collective achievement of those involved in creating this iconic festival and in keeping the indigenous music of Sarawak alive.
“It is good that we continue to keep our festival alive through documentation so that readers will know and appreciate Sarawak’s efforts in preserving our cultural heritage for future generations to enjoy,” added Abdul Karim.
The 170-page book was written by Gracie Geikie, the director of RWMF co-event organiser Place Borneo, and festival content director Karen Shepherd, in conjunction with RWMF’s 25th anniversary this year.
The festival will take place at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Santubong here on June 17-19 this year.
