Life In Borneo

Posted by Xander on August 12th, 2009 in Culture & Traditions, Events, Festivals

JULY 26th 2009, Papar Municipal Hall – The 10th  Sabah Gambus Festival 2009 was a spectacle with this years’ venue of the town of Papar. The Association of Bruneian Community of Sabah (help  me translate this better) or the Persatuan Masyarakat Brunei Sabah brings this musical and cultural celebration to promote not only the traditional gambus instrument but also to nurture the the values of the katani ethnics’ customs and traditions as well to preserve a sense of unity and progress in Malaysia.

Gambus, Instrument of Unity was this years’ motto and staying true to such an adage, it can truly be felt from the people and environment in which this occasion took place. Several competitions with a variety of categories that revolves around the gambus instrument took place here in Papar.

Representing the Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Musa bin Haji Aman for the final day of this affair was Yang Berbahagia Datuk Masidi Manjun, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment. Among the delegates and VIPs that also attended were Datuk Karim Bujang, the President of the Association of Bruneian Community of Sabah; Yang Berbahagia Datuk Haji Yusoff Bin Datuk Haji Mohd Kassim and to name a few.

Datuk Masidi Manjun was presented with a memento in the form of the gambus instrument by Datuk Haji Yusoff Kassim to officiate this monumental event for the Bruneian people in Sabah.

Along with the participants of the Gambus Competition, several acclaimed musicians and singers also graced this auspicious affair. These artists includes Fauziah Yunus who brought the gambus instrument to national level by performing all throughout Malaysia and the world, the celebrated guitarist Roger Wang and the illustriously distinguished gambus musician Farid Ali.

The day began with an instrumental piece from the Labuan group which was specially invited by the organizers for this event.

The first team to perform and also one of the participants of the Gambus Competition which is held in conjunction for this festival was performers from Papar that was represented by the Kampung Buang Sayang. Elegant and refined as well as talented they were in a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors and unique performance.

Kg. Warisan, Kota Kinabalu.

Sipitang in a combination of anomalous and regal both in the color and style of their attire.

Kg Binsuluk, of Membakut.

Beaufort, from the town of Menumbok with an impressive portrayal in their dance which depicted the hardships of the Bruneian people as they were once originally fisherman in the past.

Kg. Weston from Kimanis, representing Bongawan.

Winners of Gambus Group Category . . .

Consolation prize went to Kg. Warisan from Kota Kinabalu and Kg. Weston of Kimanis which took home RM1000.

2nd Runner-up, Kg. Buang Sayang from Papar took home RM2000.

1st Runner-up, Menumbok awarded RM3000.

Champion of the Gambus Group category of the Gambus Festival was bestowed upon the group from Kg. Binsuluk which performed for the Membakut district and the prize of  RM5000.

As was last year, Gambus Festival 2009 did not fail to deliver the communal conviviality of such wealth of customs and traditions delivered from the Brunei Society of Sabah.

Any interested party(s) may contact the website admin should they require further information and/or services pertaining to this event.

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Posted by Xander on July 14th, 2009 in Culture & Traditions, Events, Festivals

JULY 7^TH, – Sabah International Folkdance Competition was set to be  an even more stimulating than the night before as the winners would be announced at the end of the event. As was the night before, the opening was a celebration of camaraderie in the anomalous presentation of each of their country’s cultural backgrounds and to share among their fellow men that this world has such an omnifarious wealth of customs and traditions.

Tonight each team is allowed a maximum of 5 minutes for one performance and points would be deducted for extra time on top of being awarded points for other criteria. This is also one of the many reasons why most teams would show some of their best performances, though to everyone that attended they were already winners in the hearts of the audience.

PESAKA dance troupe from Brunei started off the night with a dance known as Anding Rimba, an elegant performance which sets the tone of how the night would be, resplendant in their bright red and gold costumes.

Cambodia, as was  their performance the night before they once more showed how they can get the crowd to share the effervescent feel of their Chayang dance. Their joviality was to portray this dance as a thanks giving dance performed usually upon a good harvest season. The male performers shared their hilarity yet the women, dancing vivaciously added a mix of elegance to an already humorous yet very engaging performance.

China, with a different form of dance for a good harvest season, their dance was one of the most vibrantly colored and gracefully lithesome of performances. The women of the Guang Dong province truly showed the audience their joyfully pliant dancers.

It seems that the festival are not short of dances based around a good harvest celebration, Punjab Folk Arts Centre from India also shared their conviviality and this time they are fully garbed in variegated colors of the Punjab people costume cheering the masses in the hall with their energetic and delightful dance.

Indonesia, of the Daya Presta dance troupe.

Indonesia, from the Burung Raya Regency of Central Kalimantan performed a dance based on the Dayak tradition of a cleansing rite implemented to cleanse a family of any bad elements they may encounter in future.

The On Alty Kyz from Kazakhstan was one of the performances that truly standout and epitomizes the term sui generis. A dance in which encompasses a favourite past time among the Kazakhstan people, tea drinking. They displayed their charming young dancers executing arduous routine of  exchanging tea cups as they danced to this rendition of the tea drinking festival.

Philippines, of the Tacloban Performing Arts made a second appearance with dazzling array of colors and sensational arrangement of choreography. Its’ presentation expressed in a fiesta-like approach was simply wonderful and awe-inspiring.

East Barito Regency from Central Kalimantan.

Saudi Arabia, presented a performance inclusive of live instruments and singing which usually performed by their fishermen to honor and praise the sea for a bountiful catch.

Singapore.

Some of the highlights of the evening was a feature presentation which was given to the audience as the various participants of the competition performed a musical fusion. Live instruments of diverse origins and cultural backgrounds utilized by an assortment of some of the worlds’ best traditional dancers and musicians was an ensemble that many would never soon forget including acclaimed local singers.

An eventful and almost indefatigable night experienced by all who were there at the Penampang Cultural Centre, it was certainly an unforgettable affair for all. As Yang Berbahagia Datuk Masidi Manjun executed the closing ceremony after the announcement of winners and presentation of mementos to all the judges, juries and dance troupe managers’; the stage was filled with all the performers dancing the local kadazandusun dance, the sumazau.

Winners of the 4th Sabah International Folkdance Competition…

Best female dancer: Ari Tri Marnila from Daya Presta group of Jakarta.

Best Male dancer: Mark Rayan from the Tacloban Performing Arts of Philippines.

2nd Runner-up and Best Costume – On Alty Kyz from Kazakhstan

1^st-Runner up -  from Jakarta Daya Presta.

Champion and winner of Best choreography and Best music – Tacloban Performing Arts from Philippines.

Any interested party(s) may contact the website admin should they require further information and/or services pertaining to this event.

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Posted by Xander on July 14th, 2009 in Culture & Traditions, Events, Festivals

On July 6th, the 4th Sabah International Folklore Festival reached its’ apex as various dance troupes from almost every corner of the world came to enthrall us with their elegance, grace and anomalous performances. The total of 11 countries joined in on this spectacular event and as grand as the name of this event; grander were their fascinating dances, traditional musical ensemble and an unparalleled representation of their countries’ exceptional ethnic backgrounds.

With the arrival of the Minister of Tourism, Culture & Environment Yang Berbahagia Datuk Masidi Manjun and other delegates which includes the juries and judges from several countries; the event kicked off to a dazzling and radiant evening as the various dance troupes took up centre stage and communally performed a melodious song as the crescendo of pyrotechnics illuminated and reverberated the hall with their combination of radiance and resonance.

The competition would be adjudicated by a panel of judges from various countries and particular criteria’s were carefully reviewed such as presentation, costume, choreography timing and music. For tonight, the teams participating in this competition were given a time limit of 7 minutes per recital.

For every dance recited that night, it had a legendary tale to convey to the audience and it has an important significance to the peoples from which the dances originated from. With a diverse gathering of wonderful performers it was already a night which promised to be both breathtaking and spectacular. The host country, Malaysia also disqualifies itself from this competition just as was in the previous folklore festivals.

Dance Troupes of the World. . .

The PESAKA group of Brunei began the night with a dance normally presented for the royal family; though nowadays this dance can be seen performed at wedding ceremonies.

Next up was Cambodia of the Cambodian Culture & Arts group; a dance which is based around the praying-mantis and said to bring peace and happiness. Attached upon the dancers’ elbows and knees were instruments of a kind in which they also used to provide the beat to such an inimitable and intricate dance.

An adroit performance from Guang Dong province of China featured some of the most lithe and statuesque dancers that night as they performed a dance that tells a tale of a young girl playing alone nearby a river as the fishes joins her in an afternoon of merriment.

India, of the Punjab Folk Arts Center was one of the more lively performances of this festival as they performed Bhangra, a Punjabi dance. Along with their live music and singer upon the stage, the audience were cheering to the joviality of their dance as it permeates throughout the hall.

Indonesia, Daya Presta company. This dance is known as Tarian Topeng Betawi, a very characterful dance which portrayed  3 different personalities within a legendary tale; the soft hearted, the stern and the restless.

Indonesia, Central Kalimantan, from the Burung Raya Regency Artistry Team. Lawang Terantang Mancha is a dance that tells a tale of two legendary brothers and renowned warriors of central kalimantan.

Indonesia, of the East Barito Regency dance troupe delved deeper into the many folktales of Central Kalimantan as they performed this dance concerning a woman whom about to transcend as the witch-doctor of her village after she overcame her mysterious illness and thus elevated to this significant position among her people.

Singapore, performing a dance called Nadi which means ‘Pulse’.

Saudi Arabia, with an a folklore dance is usually a war dance in the past, though now it is performed for wedding ceremonies. With live instruments on stage adding more jocundity to an already lively dance.

Philippines, from the Tacloban Performing Arts was captivating as they portray the legend of Sariman. An interesting display of such a mythical tale weaved into this performance put the audience into a trance tht lasted throughout the night.

Kazakhstan, with one of the most enthralling performances that night; the On Alty Kyz dance troupe did not fail to fascinate the crowd with this dance as translated as God’s Blessing. An enchanting and enigmatic  swan-based dance; this rendition also showed the multifariously colorful costumes they have as many dancers converge on stage with varied attires.

Only being the first night of such an extravaganza of cultural performances, most of the audience stayed long into the night to enjoy some of the dancers still dancing the night away with other performers from different countries.

More to come in the Sabah International Folkdance Competition Part 2…

Stay tuned as we bring you more news of this wonderful event here only at lifeinborneo.com…

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Posted by Xander on July 12th, 2009 in Culture & Traditions, Events

July 3rd-4th, Sabah Cultural Center  – The Sabah International Folklore Festival which began its history since 2001 and successfully staging two more of such a propitious event in 2004 and 2007. This year, the event was launched since the 1st of July this year and promises to feature the various folklore dances from all over the world.

Two competitions were held in conjunction with this festival, the Sabah Creative Dance Competition and the International Folklore Dance competition. Tickets for the local dance competition were priced at RM20 for 1st class, RM10 for normal and RM5 for children under the age of 17 years.

The evening started off as the audience was welcomed with a spectacle of pyrotechnics and an ensemble of young performers from all over Sabah. These youths are none other than the students from the many elementary schools and high schools from each districts within Sabah. They are also the participants for the Creative Dance Competition which is also part of this auspicious and splendorous of occasions.

Each district was represented by an elementary school or high school which will be competing for their respective titles. For these two nights the audience were enthralled by their glittering and dazzling performances.

The elementary schools that participated showed how charming and graceful these young performers were and they captivated the hearts of the crowd. One such school was from the Stella Maris Elementary school performing a dance from the Murut people.

St. Peter of Telipok performed this particular dance which has one of the most colorful attire and it is a dance derived from a traditional dance of the people of Bajau. Though this rendition of the dance was slightly modified but it stayed true to the occasion and it was indeed creative nonetheless.

One specific dance which was surprising to see that night was a performance by the Putatan High School. It is rarely seen outside of its district which hails mainly from the Kokos people of the Tawau district.

Some performances that night also included the choir from Saint Francis Convent high school, adorned in various costumes of different ethnicity and background of the world singing a classic local tune ‘Tinggi-2 Gunung Kinabalu’.

Winners of Elementary level school.

Announcing the winners – The Special Jury Award went to Labuan Federal Territory of S.K Pekan Satu. Kumpulan Harapan category was given to S.K. Tamparuli.

Best Male and Female dancer each received RM300.

Best Costume and Best Choreography – S.K Piawaian of Tambunan.

2nd runner-up was awarded to S.K Likas while 1st runner-up went to Stella Maris Elementary school. The 1st place was given to S.K Piawaian of Tambunan.

Winners of the High School categories.

Special Jury’s Award Anugrah khas juri – St.  Peter of Telipok.

Kumpulan Harapan category – Labuan Federal Territory.

Best Costume – Kota Belud.

Best choreography – Maktab Sabah, Kota Kinabalu.

2nd place -Putatan High School.

1^st place of this years creative dance competition high school level was won by Maktab Sabah High School

Don’t miss out on the coverage of the International Folklore Dance competition which was held on the 6th and 7th so stay tuned to lifeinborneo.com.

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