Latest news with #Unimas
Borneo Post
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Maestro: Growing interest in sape' helps keep heritage alive
Looking ahead, Mathew says his role will be to support the next generation of sape' performers. — Photo by Desiree David KUCHING (June 10): Once a taboo for women and nearly forgotten by younger generations, the sape' is now undergoing a revival, especially among the youths. According to sape' maestro Mathew Ngau Jau, the growing interest in this iconic Orang Ulu stringed instrument is not only helping to preserve a rich cultural heritage, but also breaking the old taboos and bridging communities. 'Now I see young people, even from other races, are picking up the sape'. 'Parents come and ask if they could get one for their children. That makes me very happy,' said the 72-year-old Kenyah musician, who has spent more than 30 years performing and teaching the sape' across Malaysia. Mathew's own journey with the traditional lute was far from immediate. Growing up in Long Semiang, Ulu Baram, he was more interested in dancing than in music. It was not until he attended school in Long San where a missionary teacher encouraged Orang Ulu cultural practices that he first picked up the sape'. Even then, he only began to play seriously in his 20s, during his teaching days at SMK Bau. 'People started inviting me to perform, but I didn't feel confident. 'So during the holidays, I would return to the longhouse to learn from the elders,' said Mathew at an exclusive seminar on 'Sape' & The Soul of Borneo: Heritage, Identity and Future', held at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) near here yesterday. Eventually, his persistence paid off. Today, Mathew is considered a master of the sape', recognised nationally for his role in preserving and promoting this traditional art form. The artiste has also helped pave the way for women to play this instrument, defying a longstanding taboo. 'Back then, girls weren't allowed to play the sape' in the longhouse. But I was the one who opened that door,' he said, pointing to players like Alena Murang as examples of women who have since taken the instrument to the world stage. 'At first, people in the longhouse weren't comfortable with it. But now, even the critics are gone. 'In my longhouse, I'm the oldest. The young people have taken over and many of them are girls,' he said. With the instrument's popularity booming, especially in urban areas, the demand for sape' instruments has also surged, making the traditional materials harder to find. Mathew said the original sape' was made from 'adau' wood, which is now rare. He recounted a legend associated with 'adau' – about a gravely ill woman who was revived after hearing the sound of a sape' carved from the sacred wood, seen in a dream by her husband. 'The sound was different. Even in her dream, she recognised the name of the wood,' said Mathew. He added that in the past, the sape' strings were made from jungle creepers known as 'iman', and the traditional instruments had only two strings. 'The modern versions now have up to six strings, allowing the musicians to play a broader range of music. 'Those with more strings are contemporary sape', not original like mine,' said Mathew, adding that the traditional form is most closely associated with the Kenyah and Kayan communities. As for the future, Mathew said his role would be to support the next generation. 'I've done what I can. I can see that the sape' growing. 'It's popular now among the children, among the young adults, and even among people who aren't from our community. 'That's what makes me feel very satisfied,' he smiled. Arts and Culture lead Mathew Ngau Jau music sape
Borneo Post
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Growing interest in sape' helps keep heritage alive — Maestro
Looking ahead, Mathew says his role will be to support the next generation of sape' performers. — Photo by Desiree David KUCHING (June 10): Once a taboo for women and nearly forgotten by younger generations, the sape' is now undergoing a revival, especially among the youths. According to sape' maestro Mathew Ngau Jau, the growing interest in this iconic Orang Ulu stringed instrument is not only helping to preserve a rich cultural heritage, but also breaking the old taboos and bridging communities. 'Now I see young people, even from other races, are picking up the sape'. 'Parents come and ask if they could get one for their children. That makes me very happy,' said the 72-year-old Kenyah musician, who has spent more than 30 years performing and teaching the sape' across Malaysia. Mathew's own journey with the traditional lute was far from immediate. Growing up in Long Semiang, Ulu Baram, he was more interested in dancing than in music. It was not until he attended school in Long San where a missionary teacher encouraged Orang Ulu cultural practices that he first picked up the sape'. Even then, he only began to play seriously in his 20s, during his teaching days at SMK Bau. 'People started inviting me to perform, but I didn't feel confident. 'So during the holidays, I would return to the longhouse to learn from the elders,' said Mathew at an exclusive seminar on 'Sape' & The Soul of Borneo: Heritage, Identity and Future', held at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) near here yesterday. Eventually, his persistence paid off. Today, Mathew is considered a master of the sape', recognised nationally for his role in preserving and promoting this traditional art form. The artiste has also helped pave the way for women to play this instrument, defying a longstanding taboo. 'Back then, girls weren't allowed to play the sape' in the longhouse. But I was the one who opened that door,' he said, pointing to players like Alena Murang as examples of women who have since taken the instrument to the world stage. 'At first, people in the longhouse weren't comfortable with it. But now, even the critics are gone. 'In my longhouse, I'm the oldest. The young people have taken over and many of them are girls,' he said. With the instrument's popularity booming, especially in urban areas, the demand for sape' instruments has also surged, making the traditional materials harder to find. Mathew said the original sape' was made from 'adau' wood, which is now rare. He recounted a legend associated with 'adau' – about a gravely ill woman who was revived after hearing the sound of a sape' carved from the sacred wood, seen in a dream by her husband. 'The sound was different. Even in her dream, she recognised the name of the wood,' said Mathew. He added that in the past, the sape' strings were made from jungle creepers known as 'iman', and the traditional instruments had only two strings. 'The modern versions now have up to six strings, allowing the musicians to play a broader range of music. 'Those with more strings are contemporary sape', not original like mine,' said Mathew, adding that the traditional form is most closely associated with the Kenyah and Kayan communities. As for the future, Mathew said his role would be to support the next generation. 'I've done what I can. I can see that the sape' growing. 'It's popular now among the children, among the young adults, and even among people who aren't from our community. 'That's what makes me feel very satisfied,' he smiled. Arts and Culture lead Mathew Ngau Jau music sape
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Unimas Arts Management third-years host seminar featuring sape maestro Mathew Ngau
Mathew (front row, sixth right) Rahah (front row, fifth right) takes a group photo with the third-year Arts Management students and seminar participants. KUCHING (June 9): Universiti Malaysia Sarawak's (Unimas) Faculty of Applied and Creative Arts today hosted a seminar titled 'Sape and the Soul of Borneo: Heritage, Identity and Future' featuring national sape maestro Mathew Ngau Jau. The event was organised by third-year Arts Management students under the Seminar Management course, and aimed to explore the role of the sape — a traditional Orang Ulu instrument — in shaping, preserving and promoting Borneo's cultural identity, particularly in Sarawak. Mathew performed live for attendees, and also shared his decades-long journey as a cultural bearer during the programme. Mathew, who is recognised as a National Living Heritage, captivated the audience with his reflections on tradition, modernisation and the need to pass on cultural knowledge to younger generations. His participation provided valuable insight into the challenges and hopes surrounding the future of traditional music. Seminar Management lecturer Dr Rahah Hassan said the seminar was more than just an academic requirement, and was a real-world platform for students to apply their learning. 'This programme is created by students, for students. It's where they practise everything from planning to execution, while actively engaging in cultural preservation,' she said when met by reporters at Unimas after the event earlier today. She added that the students had complete ownership over the event, from choosing the focus of the seminar to organising every detail. 'They chose for themselves who they wanted to spotlight, and what cultural element they felt was important to highlight. 'That process alone is a powerful way to instil appreciation and responsibility for heritage,' she said. She also emphasised the urgency of youth-driven preservation efforts. 'We're not going to have masters like Mathew Ngau Jau forever. That's why this kind of programme is important. It's the younger generation taking charge of their cultural legacy,' she said. The seminar forms part of an annual series of events under the Arts Management programme, with each cohort of third-year students selecting a unique cultural topic to explore through hands-on event planning. 'This is just one of many. Each year, our students organise similar seminars covering everything from music to crafts to rituals, anything that contributes to cultural preservation. 'It is how we make sure the theory they learn in class comes to life,' she said. Arts and Culture Mathew Ngau Jau sape Unimas
The Star
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Former Warisan star Rampas says not contesting Sabah polls on Upko ticket
KOTA KINABALU: Former beauty queen Jo-Anna Sue Henley Rampas denied claims circulating on social media that she will be contesting in the upcoming state election (PRN17) on a Upko-Pakatan Harapan ticket for the Kiulu (N15) seat. Responding to a viral Facebook post suggesting she had secured support from Upko members to run in Kiulu, Rampas dismissed the claim as completely untrue. 'This is not true. I still remain party-less to this day,' she told The Star. The 36-year-old, once regarded as Warisan's 'poster girl,' also confirmed that no political party has approached her regarding candidacy. "Nobody from Upko has contacted me, prior or even after this viral post … so I don't know where this is stemming from,' she said. Rampas, who was crowned Unduk Ngadau in 2007 and previously contested the seat under Warisan, said her current focus is on academic and media pursuits. 'Right now, I am focusing on my podcast project Smart Talks Sabah and academic research with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas),' she said. She dismissed the viral post as 'baseless and false,' speculating it could be the work of political cyber-troopers. 'Election fever is definitely kicking in... but I am happier interviewing politicians these days than being one,' she quipped. The post, shared by Facebook user Bunga Togingo, quoted a so-called 'reliable source' claiming Rampas was being backed as the Upko-Pakatan candidate in Kiulu for PRN17. It suggested she had a strong chance of winning, citing both the party's large membership in the constituency and her own loyal following. 'If this development materialises, incumbent YB Datuk Joniston Bangkuai could face a tough challenge in retaining his seat,' the post read, referring to the current Kiulu assemblyman from Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS). Rampas, currently on sabbatical from politics while pursuing her doctorate at Unimas, has also been seen attending PBS events, fuelling speculation she might be aligning with the party. However, she clarified that her attendance was strictly professional, as she had been invited to speak based on her academic research, particularly on youth empowerment and political participation under the Undi18 initiative.
Borneo Post
17-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Velesto, SEDC to hold VIBES Innovation Challenge finals at Unimas May 20
The hackathon-style competition encourages students to develop innovative solutions addressing critical challenges in technology, sustainability, and industrial development. – Photo by Sora Shimazaki/Pexels KUCHING (May 17): Velesto Energy Berhad (Velesto) and the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) are set to host the highly anticipated VIBES Innovation Challenge semi-final and finals from May 20 to 21 at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Hall, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas). According to a statement, the hackathon-style competition encourages students to develop innovative solutions addressing critical challenges in technology, sustainability, and industrial development. Since its launch on March 24, the competition has attracted 151 participants forming 35 teams, all tasked with applying their academic knowledge to solve real-world problems. The VIBES Innovation Challenge offers a dynamic platform for students to transform their ideas into practical, actionable solutions. The initiative reflects Velesto's and SEDC's commitment to elevating educational quality, nurturing future workforce capabilities, and supporting Sarawak's vision for sustainable, knowledge-driven economic growth. Participants have benefited from ideation workshops, mentorship sessions, and expert assessments led by professionals from Velesto, SEDC, and Unimas, enhancing their skills in innovation and problem-solving. This competition is part of the broader VIBES initiatives, designed to cultivate local talent and foster innovation through hands-on STEM learning experiences. It aligns with Velesto's and SEDC's shared goal to strengthen Sarawak's innovation ecosystem by equipping future generations with the skills to tackle tomorrow's challenges. The closing ceremony will be officiated by Deputy Premier and Minister for International Trade, Industry, and Investment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan. Also expected to attend are Velesto President Ir Ts Megat Zariman Abdul Rahim, SDEC General Manager Datu Abdul Hadi Datuk Abdul Kadir, and Unimas Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit. This initiative, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Dec 5, 2023, contributes to Sarawak's knowledge-driven growth. It also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 4: Quality Education and Goal 17: Partnerships, emphasising the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in achieving impactful, sustainable outcomes. hackathon lead SEDC Unimas Velesto VIBES Innovation Challenge
