Bidayuh culture for all to see

By ZORA CHAN
zora@thestar.com.my Photos by ANDRE OLIVEIRO

LOCALS and foreigners had a rare glimpse of the colourful culture of the Bidayuh community from the Singai area in Bau district during the three-day Fifth Gawai Carnival Redeems that ended on the outskirts of Kuching yesterday.

Thousands of people from all walks of life thronged the carnival themed 1Malaysia, Bogo Adat or 1Malaysia, Multi-Cultures organised by the Association of Research and Development Movement of Singai Sarawak (Redeems).

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin was the guest of honour at the opening.

Lovely lasses: Bidayuh girls taking part in the Bitaning Dayung Skora or Gawai maidens contest

He was accompanied by his wife Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and Redeems president and carnival organising chairman Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie.

Redeems is a community-based organisation made up of people from 12 villages of Singai, a predominantly Bidayuh area.

The 12 villages showcased its customs in the form of food, attire, music, folk songs, games, dances, art and crafts, and its languages at a bamboo longhouse aimed at reviving, preserving and promoting the Bidayuh culture in its young generation as well as visitors.

Fun activities: Visitors trying their skills in a blowpipe contest

Among other activities, the locals and visitors sampled Bidayuh food and took part in games such as top spinning, an inter-community football tournament for men and women, and blow-pipe competitions.

Among the highlights was the crowning of Bitaning Dayung Skora, a contest for Gawai maidens of the Bidayuh community.

The carnival also showcased cultural presentations by other ethnic groups in Sarawak like the Melanau, Bisaya, Iban and Orang Ulu to promote the diversity of Malaysia and instill better cooperation, integration, unity and understanding in the nation’s multi-racial society.

It was also aimed at promoting the district as a tourism area and encouraging locals to become entrepreneurs in developing their community.