THE WAK Sibu festival returned for its third edition this year with fresh energy, collaborations and exciting experiences, building momentum for Sibu’s growing creative scene.
Over three days in June, Sibu came alive with music, visual arts and creative activities in public spaces and cultural landmarks.
The rich heritage of the Melanau community took centre stage at the festival’s opening ceremony at the Sibu Heritage Centre.
Themed “Celebrating Us: The Melanaus”, the opening showcase offered a glimpse into their cultural identity and traditions through music, dance and traditional costumes.
Councillor Michelle Law, representing Sibu Municipal Council chairman Clarence Ting, said WAK Sibu displayed the town’s creativity and cultural spirit.
“This festival provided a platform for people to come together, connect and celebrate their shared identity, while also contributing to the growth of Sibu’s creative economy,” she said at the opening ceremony.
WAK Sibu is a satellite event of the annual WAK Festival in Kuching, celebrating arts, culture and lifestyle with the concept of “by the community, for the community”.
The Melanau performance was followed by “Colours of Malaysia: Pirin Kamek”, a cultural showcase by the National Department for Culture and Arts to celebrate Malaysia’s rich heritage, arts and traditions.
“Pirin Kamek”, which means “Our Plate”, portrayed the traditional cuisine of Sarawak’s diverse ethnic communities through dance, music, visuals and storytelling.
The featured dishes included the Iban penganan jala (crispy rice flour and palm sugar snack), Sarawak Malay kek lapis (layer cake), Chinese kolo mee (noodles), Lun Bawang nuba laya (rice wrapped in leaves) and Melanau linut (sago starch).
Festival director Donald Tan said it was an honour to see Sibu’s vibrant community spirit shining through WAK Sibu.
“We are deeply grateful to the council and our partners for believing in the power of community-led celebrations. This festival belongs to the people of Sibu,” he added.
