SIBU: Yayasan Perpaduan Sarawak (YPS) is bringing in five young talented sape musicians for Sibu’s iconic event, Borneo Cultural Festival’s (BCF) closing ceremony on Sunday (July 23).
According to its Communications Manager Benedict Jimbau, in YPS’ effort to promote unity in diversity, they are not only bringing in ordinary sape musicians but their own sape ambassadors.
“Our presentation would be something that you have not always seen. We are bringing sape from a different angle.
“We are having five of our young sape players, groomed in April (during YPS Sape camp) that comprises Malaysians, not only Sarawakians but also Orang Asli from Perak,” he said in a press conference here Saturday (July 22).
Benedict said that Selindang Sari Seliman, their Orang Asli Sape player will sing a song accompanied by a sape instrument, entitle ‘Bungak Kantan’ or if translated into Malay, Bunga Kantan.
“She will sing her song in her language while playing sape. She is the first orang asli who knows how to play sape,” he said.
Meanwhile, on the Sape Camp organised by YPS where they groomed talented sape players, Benedict said it was open to all.
However, they only took in 15 participants for a start and not only from Sarawak but throughout Malaysia.
“We want to join them together as a united Malaysian group playing a Malaysian musical instrument.
“We are very proud that we (YPS) can contribute towards unity (through YPS sape ambassador) but at the same time, people enjoy the show.
“One thing we are very excited (to show), is they will play the sape music on stage in their traditional costume,” he said.
Benedict hopes that the public will take the opportunity to come and experience the uniqueness of their 30-minute performance.
“Sibu is our first stage, and we are looking for other places to show these talented young people of various races playing sape.
“If you (public response) can convince Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) to bring us again for next year’s BCF, we might bring others to come, or even camp trainer renowned Sarawak sape player Jerry Kamit to come,” he said.
