THE NGAJAT FOLK DANCE AND SAPE MUSIC

 Welcome and hello to you all out there. If you are a person that loves music and dances regardless of any background, we welcome you to have a browsing and see by yourselves in our website http://www.jea.lot.my or e-mail us at elbertdingibo@hotmail.com for any inquiry. As One Malaysia (1Malaysia) concept is popularly gains it ground amongst Malaysian, we are very proud and glad to share the popular dances of Sarawak, particularly the Kenyah dances and their music which has been synonym and popularly become identity of ethnic Malaysians leaving in Sarawak. Who doesn’t know music by the name of sape? That music, the sape is very well-known internationally because of its beautiful and exotic melody sound. Sape is played in various tones and it is very much ancient by the way of its native, indigenous and nature backgrounds. Above and left pictures show a beautiful Kenyah ladies long dance in a festival being held recently. Second picture shows a group of youngsters who are also students that have great interest on how to play sape and perform the ngajat dance.

Sape is beautifully played together with its native dance, the Kenyah Ngajat Dances. The Kenyah dances are danced in various ways and variations which is very much of nature beauties. The Kenyah, which consists of many tribes, have the most colourful costumes. In most of their longhouses, you will find ornaments and accessories, which have been inherited from their descendants, are proudly displayed and jealously guarded by the owners. The skill of beadwork, passed on from generation to generation, has resulted in a kaleidoscopic assortment of colours and designs in their crafts. The important role the hornbills play in the daily lives of the Kenyah also comes to life in their most popular Kenyah dances. The dancers clutch clusters of hornbill feathers in their hands and mimic a bird in flight, swooping and soaring. Movements are graceful and flowing. Picture above shows Kenyah men perform a group dance in a recent festival being held. Second picture shows a lady Long Dance being performed.

The accompanying music which is provided by the sape is the most popular musical instruments in Borneo and international. A lute-type, four-stringed instrument, it produces a rich and delicate tone. It is made and carved out from a single tree trunk. Traditionally, the four strings are made of split rattans. Today, steel wires are being used. Costumes are again elaborate. The rich beadwork of the Kenyah adds a colourful dimension to the dance. Above picture shows a large sape being carried by two men. Perhaps, it’s the world biggest sape. Second picture shows how the sape is being played by two Kenyah men.

VCD MOVIE DISC

VCD – A disc that gives you perfect satisfactory to experience the original fantastic panorama ancient dances and music of the original natives of Borneo. As you listen and watch the VCD, you will definitely being filled with great gratification, a feeling that our paramount and great ancestors had experienced hundred of years ago. The VCD are available in Kenyah Festival Dance; Man Single Dance; Lady Single Dance; Lady Long Dance; and Lady-Man Mix Dance.