BY SHARIFAH NONG-JASIMA
KUCHING: The Bidayuh Bijagoi Cultural Association (PKRBB) Bau will be organizing an inaugural Bidayuh Community Cultural Ceremony this year.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP), Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that the ministry’s Heritage, Arts and Culture Facilitation Fund has allocated a sum of RM60,000 to aid PKRBB in organising the event.
“We will witness all sorts of interesting activities that are very meaningful to the Bidayuhs as this year is a special year for the Bidayuhs for they will be hosting the state-level Gawai Dayak celebration,” he said.
He said this in a text speech read by his Deputy Permanent Secretary, Desmond Douglas Jerukan during a press conference on Community Cultural Ceremony held at Baitulmakmur Building II yesterday.
He expressed his hope that this cultural event will provide an opportunity to introduce the diverse cultural arts of the Bidayuh community to increase Sarawak’s tourism value and attraction.
Meanwhile, President of PKRBB Bau, Eddie Moda, added that the event would start with an aerobic session at 7.30am prior to the official opening ceremony.
Some of the event’s highlights will be a Bidayuh musical instrument performance called ‘Silotuong’, a traditional Bidayuh costume display and a special appearance by local artists and bands.
“During the event there are activities such as the traditional Bidayuh dance from the four different Bidayuh-majority districts: Lundu, Bau, Padawan and Serian, referred to as Motak Birumoh which will be presented live on-stage by the dancers,” he said.
In addition, the secretary of PKRBB Bau, Anthony David Gramong further elaborated that the Motak Birumoh is a Bidayuh dance, representing the people’s paddy farming endeavors before it is ready for harvesting.
Anthony added that two of the remaining Ring Ladies of Sarawak and Sarawak’s very own post-traditional band, At Adau will also make a special appearance during the event.
The event will be held at the Dayak Bidayuh National Organisation (DBNA) headquarters at Jalan Ong Tian Swee on 20 April.
