Borneo World Music Expo Review

The inaugural Borneo World Music Expo (BWME) was officiated at the Pullman Kuching convention centre with a press release by Sarawak Tourism Board’s CEO Dato’ Rashid Khan, Assistant Tourism Minister Sarawak Datuk Gramong Juna and Director of the BWME, Gerald Seligman.

A total of 50 reporters from around the world and locally were present during the welcome reception here.

Questions were asked about this first-ever event in the world. I have been to several music festivals around Malaysia. I wanted to know if the STB would have any plans to bring the Sarawak Highland Folk Music Festival closer to both the current events.

Borneo World Music Expo Review

From my knowledge, these three events would be a perfect gel as the BWME, and the SHFMF would be a great build-up to the Rainforest World Music Festival, giving tourist and music lovers a longer stay here in the city.

BWME Director Gerald Seligman, Sarawak Tourism Board’s CEO Dato’ Rashid Khan and Assistant
Minister of Tourism, Sarawak Datuk Gramong Juna

Dato’ Rashid replied, “Yes, the Sarawak Tourism Board is working with the communities of the Borneo Highlands and have even invited these people to come and attend the BWME 2013”.

He also said, “As the Highland community are independently run, it was only right that the tourism board or any other body include the Highlands people by inviting them to participate. In the future, the STB hopes that there will be more participation by them.”

Sarawak has also been in the limelight for music festivals worldwide as the Rainforest World Music Festival is now in its 16th year running.

The other successful event, which is the Borneo Jazz Festival, is also now in its seventh year and has seen many world-renown musicians performing over the years.

This year BJF saw classic musicians The Nylons appearing for the first time here in Miri. With the success of the two music festivals came along the Borneo World Music Expo.

Delegates at the opening of the Borneo World Music Expo 2013 in Kuching

This kind of expo consists of a trade fair, conferences from various musicians, exhibitions, musical showcases and even sessions.

The three-day event was conceptualized to bring musicians, promoters, and event professionals in the trade to one venue where the music of the various genres and cultures can be promoted worldwide.

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Matthew Ngau and Lan E Tuyang from Sarawak

Matthew’s son Jackson performs the Orang Ulu Warrior Dance.

After the welcome dinner reception, everyone was ushered to the other hall for the music showcase, where the opening acts featured a Sarawak Cultural Night with world-renowned sape player Matthew Ngau and his band, Lan E Tuyang performed the opening act.

Matthew invited his son, Jackson Ngau, to come to upstage and perform a warrior dance from the Orang Ulu Kenyah tribe for his last piece. Next on stage was a rare performance from the Highland Bamboo Band, who come from Bario and Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak.

The band uses only flutes to perform where there are various sizes of flutes, from small ones to bass flutes. Women play the smaller flutes while the men play the mid and bass flutes. This was no easy task; this was in face a skill to have everyone in sync to create the music.

Bisaya Musicians

The third local performers were the Bisaya Gong Orchestra, which hails from Limbang, a district near the Brunei border. Having eight musicians, everyone has a type of gong and one main drum.

The drum known as the Dumbak is the main instrument, while the rest are gongs in various shapes and sizes.

Apparently, this is the only full ensemble for the Bisaya community. Over the years, several musical instruments like these were sold or traded and to re-make these instruments is no longer the same as the antique ones.

Their band leader, Peter Sawal, had shared with the audience about this matter where the Bisaya people are currently on a campaign to try and recover the original musical instruments to bring back the culture and heritage from the musical part of the community.

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Bisaya musician playing the Dumbak (Wooden Drum)

Bisaya Gong Orchestra performs at the BWME 0213

Bisaya Gong Orchestra from Limbang, Sarawak

Finally, the second showcase or last set was performed by a contemporary folk ensemble from India called Oikyotaan.

Comprising five members, they performed an exciting set of Folk-Classical Indian music with a mixture of contemporary and pulsating rhythms, which saw many of the crowd moving along with their unique music.

As day one ended towards midnight, several other invited bands will perform for day two and three for the Borneo World Music Expo. Musicians from Korea, Indonesia, India, and Malaysia will be showcasing the many unique styles and genres of world music.

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A member of Oikyotaan performs solo.

Oikyotaan from India takes the stage for the last showcase.

Oikyotaan on a duet

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Oikyotaan’s main guitarist does a solo.

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The one-of-a-kind Borneo World Music Expo.

Conclusion

There are also quite several interesting workshops lined up for the following two days. Sessions include case studies, regional marketing opportunities, professionalism for musicians, international touring and more. For those interested to attend this, you can contact the Sarawak Tourism Board.

As for me, I will be looking forward to these workshops to learn a little more about this industry and the showcase performances for the following days of the Borneo World Music Expo.

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