A cultural performance showcased during the festival.
SIBU (Sept 10): The 23rd edition of the Borneo Dayak Cultural Festival (BDCF) continues to serve as a platform for preserving Dayak traditions while strengthening unity among Sarawak’s multiracial communities.
According to Dayak Stage main coordinator Councillor Augustine Merikan, the festival’s continued staging reflects the Dayak community’s commitment to preserving its cultural heritage for future generations.
“The festival began as a small gathering of Iban and Dayak communities at Rumah Temuai in 1997, ahead of the Gawai Dayak celebration organised by the Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU).
“From a small-scale initiative, it later developed into Borneo Extravaganza before being known as the Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF) in 2004. However, the Dayak community retained BDCF for the festival as an effort to preserve our cultural values and identity,” he said in his welcoming speech for the festival on Tuesday.
He said this year, the festival carried the theme ‘Echoes of Borneo’ to showcase the diversity of Dayak arts and culture.
Augustine said one of the main highlights is the ‘ngajat’ dance performances, held in collaboration with local Dayak non-governmental organisations such as SDNU, Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak, Dayak Bidayuh National Association, and Orang Ulu National Association.
“This year also features the Betaboh Orchestra, involving more than 20 musicians compared with the traditional performance which usually involves only four musicians.
“Traditional Betaboh uses instruments such as gongs, ‘beduk’, ‘engkerumong’, and ‘bebendai’, while the involvement of more musicians in this orchestra offers a different approach to the performance,” he said.
In addition, BDCF also features the Miss Borneo Dayak Cultural Festival pageant, with eight finalists vying for the title.
Augustine said the festival provides an opportunity for the younger generations to learn about Dayak arts and traditions, and understand the importance of preserving the heritage.
“The continuity of this programme is important to ensure Dayak culture remains recognised and is not sidelined amid the development of modern society.”
Meanwhile, Augustine said the Engkuli, or clouded leopard, remained the BDCF mascot this year as part of efforts to raise awareness on the conservation of endangered wildlife.
“The use of the Engkuli as the mascot carries a message on the importance of protecting wildlife and raising public awareness about fauna and habitat conservation,” he said.
Also present were the Premier’s political secretary William Anut, Sibu Municipal Council chairman Clarence Ting, and Temenggong Stanley Geramong Bandar.
