The Gajah Oleng attire is widely known in the Malay community as a traditional outfit for a bride to wear during her wedding. With more than a century of heritage attached to it, the art is at risk of extinction. However, efforts are being made to revitalise its grandeur and ensure its continuation within the community before it disappears.
Capturing the essence of the Gajah Oleng
This is part one of a two-part series on the enduring legacy of the Gajah Oleng.
A bride’s big day is one of the most important days of her life. It symbolises a new chapter, marking the transition from single to married. On this day, she deserves to be the most beautiful among all, amidst the crowd.
Behind the scenes, tukang hias Kazuliah Mohamed Towfek, affectionately known as Kak Kajuk, is an octogenarian with a perfectionist touch, dedicated to ensuring the bride receives the finest treatment and looks her best. Kak Kajuk is not just any bridal makeup artist; she is a living testament to the traditional practices of the Malay community here.
In her hands, Kak Kajuk held the intricate pieces of the Gajah Oleng ornament, a symbol of timeless elegance worn by the bride. Installing the headpieces is tedious and time-consuming, but the tradition symbolises the roots of marriage. Each element of the headpiece is dainty and precious and can take up to 40 minutes to install, as Kak Kajuk revealed.
At 82, Kak Kajuk has been a tukang hias for most of her life. Her skill is a family tradition learned from her mother, who learned it from her own mother. Thus, the Gajah Oleng heirloom has been in the family for over 100 years and is still used in traditional Malay weddings, where Kak Kajuk herself adorns the bride.
Importance of preservation
A unique identity of the Malay community in Sarawak, the Gajah Oleng is one of many rich cultural heirlooms that is slowly dissipating. With modernisation and Western cultural influences, traditions and heritage are gradually losing their value.
Recently, Dr Anna Sue, an academician and Industrial Advisor Panel member of the Faculty of Applied and Creative Arts at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), organised a showcase to highlight the traditions of Malay weddings in Sarawak.
Known as “Reliving the Culture: Sarawak Malay Traditional Wedding Showcase”, the event depicted a traditional wedding within the Malay community here. The bride model, adorned in the Gajah Oleng, looked majestic.
An advocate for the heritage, Dr Anna was inspired by the unique characteristics and charm found only in this region.
“This is the identity of Sarawak’s Malay women on their big day, showcasing the richness of the arts as well as symbolising beauty, luxury, and wealth.”
She added that it is important to preserve the cultural legacy and pride of the Sarawak Malay community so that it can be carried forward to the present and into the future.
“When I organise events with a Malay theme and concept, I can feel people’s connection, togetherness, and oneness. It is not just about cultural preservation but also about promoting a strong cultural identity among the community across different generations.”
This show isn’t her first; she has organised numerous events, all with the theme of promoting the Malay heritage of Sarawak. To her, it is important to continue preserving this tradition.
“If you ask me why I am so keen to promote Malay heritage, I would say that I aspire to turn it into a living culture in today’s ultramodern world,” she said.
Revitalising the culture
With a heritage of over a hundred years, the Gajah Oleng is said to have declined during the peak of modernity in the 1950s and 1960s. During these years, Sarawak was slowly opening up to the world with the introduction of Western culture post-war. Furthermore, with the federation of Malaysia in 1963, the merging of cultures between the two Malay communities occurred.
Nevertheless, this waning symbol of beauty has been gradually revived with increased awareness of this special bridal wear, as revealed by modern-day tukang hias Danny Mohd Zulkifli.
“There is a need for greater awareness of the importance of restoring the splendour of the Gajah Oleng among Sarawak’s Malay community, especially for the younger generation. Intensive efforts to highlight the bridal ornament in cultural and tourism events, as well as weddings, can help ensure it does not go extinct.”
Having researched the intricate adornment, Danny opined that modernisation and the younger generation’s preference for simplicity may have rendered the Gajah Oleng an attire that is regarded as a hassle or impractical.
“But for what it is worth in Sarawak Malay heritage, its value is worth sustaining and preserving, especially for future generations,” he added.
Embodying a practice of old age, the Gajah Oleng is not only a celebration of tradition but also a crucial link to the identity of the Sarawak Malay community. As modernity and Western influences continue to shape contemporary society, it is imperative to safeguard the beauty and significance of this tradition. By treasuring it, we help maintain the community’s identity, making these traditions a living part of today’s world.
