‘Our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our nation’
– Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa.
ON Saturday, I attended the inaugural Brarak & Bipajak Gawai Bisegu at Kampung Bunuk – it was my first time joining and witnessing a Gawai Dayak procession.
It was exciting and mesmerising to see the villagers wearing their traditional Bidayuh costumes, so you can just imagine how lively the atmosphere was.
Previously, I did not know that Kampung Bunuk was divided into six, namely, Kampung Segu Bunuk, Kampung Sumur Bunuk, Kampung Sorot Bunuk, Kampung Bratan Bunuk, Kampung Punau Bunuk, and Kampung Sibatuh Bunuk.
According to the Persatuan Segu Bunuk Penrissen (PSPB) chairman Gabriel Michael Tomi, Kampung Bunuk on its own was too huge, hence it divided into six villages.
“We are overwhelmed with the encouraging response and large turnout in this event. The event was organised with the intention of uniting the six villages as well as to further strengthen harmony and nurture good relationships among villagers,” he said.
Despite a sudden heavy downpour on that day, the procession began at 4 pm and the villagers were accompanied by Puncak Borneo MP Datuk Willie Mongin together with PSPB members.
It was a sight to behold, seeing more than 500 villagers marching together, singing and dancing along the way as they passed through the village.
Villagers who were not participating in the procession came out to see and cheer on the procession, using their smartphones to capture the moment.
I was quite surprised to see a healthy mixture of young and old taking part in the procession.
My colleague and I spoke to a few of the enthusiastic young ones who said they volunteered to join because they wanted to be part of the exciting experience.
In fact, they encouraged their friends and younger siblings to come along as it was one of the highlights of this year’s Gawai celebration.
Meanwhile, the seniors expressed how they were delighted to see many young people taking part because it was a good platform to showcase their culture and to ensure it lived on.
It is a known fact that Sarawak is a treasure pot of diversity in culture and heritage with the state often referred to as the place where unity and harmony prevail.
As such, events like this during the festivities should be highlighted and given more coverage.
Such events not only highlight the culture and heritage of an ethnic group, they also serve as good tourism products that can be promoted to both local and international visitors.
The state government through the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts and its agencies have continued to embrace cultural tourism to promote the preservation of cultures and heritages.
Uma Belor Leo Dian (Belor Leo Dian longhouse), located at Sungai Asap, Bakun in Bintulu, is one of the places highlighted on the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) website.
The Belor Leo Dian longhouse is considered one of the best Kayan longhouses and potentially the longest uninterrupted longhouse structure in Sarawak. It is listed in the Homestay programme by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
From experiencing farming and orchard activities, learning how to cook interesting food and seeing how the local wine ‘burak’ is made to appreciating the intricate handicrafts of the Kayan heritage, visitors are exposed to a world of culture and heritage during a stay here.
Another tourism product that offers visitors a similar experience is the Bawang Assan Iban longhouse located approximately 40 minutes from Sibu.
This is appealing to visitors as it ranges from the very traditional to a quite modern longhouse, showcasing how longhouses have evolved to keep pace with the times.
In addition to this, the state government has also implemented various policies and legal frameworks to protect the cultural heritage of ethnic groups.
This includes legislation to safeguard ancestral land, traditional knowledge, and cultural artifacts from exploitation and infringements.
At the same time, the state government has taken initiatives and efforts to revive and preserve traditional practices and crafts that are at risk of being lost.
For instance, the Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) is working together with indigenous artisans to preserve heritage in terms of craftsmanship such as pua kumbu and songket weaving.
On top of the efforts and initiatives by the state government to promote and preserve these cultures and heritages, I personally believe that there is a need for the younger generation to carry on the torch.
The knowledge and skills must be passed down to the younger generation who not only must realise but understand the importance of ensuring the cultures and heritages will not disappear with time.
While the modern world is very tempting, it is important to remember that our cultures and heritages are embedded in our DNA which sets us apart and makes us unique from others.
