Tourism Board eyes bigger, better Bamboo Art Festival
TAMPARULI: Sabah Tourism Board (STB) is already looking ahead in making the next edition of Bamboo Arts Festival bigger and better, said STB Chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
He said the festival can be developed into a main tourism product not only in Sabah but also in the country.
“This festival is unique and this is something that we want to showcase. When we talk about attracting foreign tourists, we want to display a unique tourism product which is not found in other places.
“We are aiming to do more promotion (on the festival) not only domestically but also overseas so that tourists will know about this festival,” Bangkuai said when met after Bambusia Gala Nite, the highlight of the festival, at Tun Hamdan Hall, here.
He added, promotions will be done through existing channels, like websites and overseas tourism offices as “we want tourists to come to Sabah and be fascinated with our culture.”
“STB will continue its effort in providing support and encouragement so that the festival can be expanded into something bigger and well-known not only in Sabah but also outside the country.”
While there are current efforts in promoting bamboo music, Bangkuai said, there is still room to promote it further.
“Even when we were sitting at our table just now, we discussed what should be done next year…we are already looking ahead.
“I believe with the inputs from our partners, including the organiser, Ombak and also local leaders like Datuk Jahid Jahim (Tamparuli Community Development Leader) and also the sub-district office, I’m sure we will come up with a strategy to ensure next year’s festival will be bigger and more visitors will come to experience its uniqueness,” he said.
The Bamboo Arts Festival ran for two days starting Tuesday and ended with Bambusia Gala Nite.
On Tuesday, six bamboo orchestras from different schools, namely SMK Tamparuli, SK Lingga Baru, SMK Tenghilan, SJK(C) St Philip, SK Koporingan and SMK Kota Marudu performed in pocket shows at various locations around here, Tuaran and Tenghilan.
Telematches were held on Wednesday morning with activities like bamboo-stilt walking and blowpipe contest, followed by a Tamu as well as agricultural, handicraft and cultural exhibitions.
The performances on Bambusia Gala Nite featured 18 musicians and two singers from Orchestra Music Bamboo Kinabalu (Ombak) with special appearances by bamboo saxophone maestro, Philipus Jani, veteran singer Mary Intiang and Reynaldo Pagie and Marlleynney.
The show opened with Philipus strutting his expertise in playing the bamboo saxophone with a rendition of the late P. Ramlee’s evergreen number, ‘Getaran Jiwa’. He was then accompanied by the bamboo orchestra and Art Collection dancers.
A singer from Ombak then took centre stage with an upbeat song, ‘Mesang-Mesang Kadi’, followed by Mary with a Kadazandusun song, ‘Susugali’ and ‘Unchained Melody’ by Reynaldo.
Mary once again performed on stage with an evergreen Dusun song, ‘Sonsomido’, inciting the audience to sing-along with her. A rendition of Christie’s ‘Yellow River’ by Ombak’s singer followed Mary’s performance.
Reynaldo then sang another famous song, ‘Sumandak Tamparuli’, accompanying 2015 Tamparuli Unduk Ngadau Edna Malanjang who made a brief special appearance in the gala night.
The second last part of the evening featured songs like ‘Jambatan Tamparuli’, ‘Saving All My Love For You’, sang by Marlleynney, a Kitaro song and ‘Kurik Kundi’, also by Marlleynney.
The night ended with the audience dancing with the dancers to the singing by all singers Marlleynney with ‘Ampuk-Ampuk Bulan’, ‘Tanak Kampung’ (Mary) and ‘Sayang Kinabalu’ (Reynaldo).
Source: Daily Express
