BAU: The young participants of the Sape Camp 2023 are excited about the experience of playing the indigenous musical instrument which has attained world-wide acclaim, thanks to Sarawak’s Sape legend Matthew Ngau Jau.
Organised by Yayasan Perpaduan Sarawak (YPS), the Sape Camp 2023 was participated by 15 youth comprising students from all over Malaysia.
All the participants were eager to learn to play the musical instrument and meet the legend himself.
Mathew praised the students for their interest in the indigenous music of Sarawak.
Apart from learning to play the Sape, the students also interacted with each other regardless of race and faith.
They opined that the programme has given a positive exposure to each of them, not only to learn about a famous traditional musical instrument but also to strengthen the bond of unity amongst each other.
Andrew Lau, 19, Iban, Kuching
The Sape Camp 2023 gives me in-depth knowledge about the indigenous musical instrument. This is the first sape camp I have attended and I admit it was a lot of fun and at the same time I hope it will continue to attract the younger generation. I also hope that I can make a name for myself in the sape music industry on the national stage.
Gloria Lirek Joseph, 23, Punan, Tatau
I joined this camp because I have been interested in playing sape since childhood. When I saw the advertisement recommended by the lecturer, I became interested in participating. I’m actually more into traditional music but I hope that by joining this programme, I will be able to switch to contemporary.
Dhakshyani Kalai Chelvan, 22, Indian, Selangor
I heard about this sape from Instagram and on music apps. For me, sape is very soothing. Every time I hear it, it gives me a feeling of nature. Out of nowhere I saw about this camp and I just signed up and then I’m here and so far I love everything about this camp. To be honest, I have heard about sape and it has a very similar sound to Sitar, an Indian musical instrument. Speaking of unity, this programme has succeeded in uniting various layers of society. I would like to introduce sape to my friends especially in the Peninsula. Sape is something that Sarawak has and it’s so beautiful that I think everyone should learn.
Endang Seliman, Orang Asli, 21, Perak
I join this camp because someone from the Perak Cultural Arts Association told me about it. He invited me to join because I am a stringed instrument player. Sape is a musical instrument similar to the traditional indigenous musical instrument called Kereb. I aspire to be like Alena Murang. Two years ago, I saw her near the National Museum and I was very interested in her sape tune. I just learned sape and never played before. I have no basic knowledge about it but I am interested to learn and play sape.
