MIRI: One of the most commonly seen musical instruments in Sarawak, the sape, is a traditional lute of the Orang Ulu community or “upriver people” of central Borneo.
In the spirit to uplift and inspire local musicians, Belia Uma Akeh (KEBUMA) will be organising the Sarawak Sape competition, which will take place here on Feb 1.
The music competition will be held in a physical setting to motivate and inspire musicians and artists to resume their artistic careers.
The event organiser and its strategic partners believe that the live competition will be able to offer listeners and audience the essence and rhythm of the sape music.
The competition is also nurture the youths, the rising talents, to learn Sarawak’s traditional instrument besides upholding their culture and encourage the growth of the sape community.
According to the history, the sape is a traditional lute of the Kenyah and Kayan community who lives in the longhouses that line the rivers of East Kalimantan and North Kalimantan, Indonesia and Northern part of Sarawak.
Sape is carved from a single bole of wood, with many modern instruments reaching over a metre in length and it was once played solely during healing ceremonies within the longhouses, but gradually became a social instrument that is used as a form of entertainment.
The competition will be divided into two categories: below 25 years of age and another with no age limit, open to all Sarawakians.
The champion will bring home a RM1,000 cash prize.
Registration is free and open until Feb 20.
Supported by Majlis Seni Sarawak (MSS), the event’s strategic partners Sape Movement & Sarawak focus and Bintang Megamall Miri will be sponsoring the venue while the prize-giving cum closing ceremony will be officiated by Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau.
Details of the competition can be obtained from sapetimes.com or socials at (IG @ sapetimes) and (FB @ Sapetimes).
