BAU: A group of 15 young musicians from all over Malaysia are taking part in a two-day Sape Camp 2023, being held at the Lan E Tuyang Homestay here.
The participants comprise Orang Asli, Indian and Malay from Peninsular Malaysia, a Kadazan Dusun and a Rungus from Sabah and from the Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau, Orang Ulu, Kenyah, Kayan, Punan, Malay and Chinese community in Sarawak.
The Sape Camp 2023 is organised by Yayasan Perpaduan Sarawak (YPS), to enable the youth to learn and play the sape musical instrument and the process of making a sape.
It is being conducted by Sarawak’s Sape legend Matthew Ngau Jau.
Matthew, who is also the host of the homestay, was happy to see the young participants attending the workshop and able to play sape, an Orang Ulu traditional musical instrument.
“I am moved by our young participants’ interested in learning and playing the sape instrument.
“I am happy to share the history of sape and how we make the sape instrument. Nevertheless, I am proud that they come here and to learn about our musical instrument,” said Matthew when met at the Lan E Tuyang Homestay.
As the participants came from across the country, he expressed gladness to see that they are from various races, adding that the sape can be an instrument of unity.
“It is very good because we also received people from other nations who are interested in learning sape, so as an Orang Ulu, I am very proud of it,” he said.
YPS’ Communications executive Ringkai Jewel said this is the first time the foundation is organising such programme.
YPS Deputy chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Alfred Jabu Numpang is expected to officiate at the closing ceremony and present certificates to the camp participants at Auditorium, Borneo Cultures Museum today (June22).
The participants will perform at a unity concert to be held at the Kuching Waterfront Amphitheatre from 7.30pm to 9.30pm today (June 22).
The concert is open to the public for free.
Ringkai added that a similar programme will be held next year with more participants expected. The current participants will be appointed as YPS Sape ambassadors as they are the first batch from the programme.
“We are targeting students and youth aged 18 to 30.
“Our intention is actually to make sape a tool that unites different races because sape is already famous internationally,” said Ringkai.
