Sarawak Ulu Culture Will Hit The Big Stage At Taiwan World Music Festival
Alena Murang will highlight the heritage of Sarawak’s Ulu Culture at this year’s World Music Festival @Taiwan.
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With the world slowly healing from the pandemic, music festivals are also coming back to life with a few accommodating the new normal of online participation.
Of the different types of festivals is one celebrating World Music – music from non-Western countries, including quasi-traditional, intercultural, and traditional music.
In fact, there are so many distinct sounds by a surplus of talented people across the globe that World Music festivals make it great for people to discover the best of the best.
One such festival is the 2021 World Music Festival @Taiwan and this year they’ll be featuring East Malaysia’s award-winning singer-songwriter and sape player Alena Murang.
Discovering the cultural heritage of the Kelabits
(Credit: Sarawak Tourism)
The talented East Malaysian musician will be taking the stage this weekend in a workshop highlighting the cultural heritage of the Kelabits, one of the 27 ethnic groups in Sarawak.
Read More: East Malaysian 101: An Explanation For West Malaysians
The workshop and performance will be held online on Saturday, 30 October from 2 – 3 pm and will also feature her parents Datu Ose Murang and Dr Valerie Mashman.
Alena, who is of Kelabit descent, is known for her music that was inspired by narratives of growing up indigenous in an urban environment.
With a sound described as “distinctive, earthy and fresh”, she has performed in various international music festivals since her EP “Flight” was released in 2016.
Just recently in July 2021, she took home the Best Asia & Pacific Music Video and Honourable Mention for Best Costume awards for her latest music video, “Warrior Spirit” at the International Music Video Awards held in the United Kingdom.
Learn and listen more of the world
Though you should tune in to support Alena, online participants of the festival can also attend several other lectures and showcase performances conducted by speakers from all over the world.
Check out the schedule here:
And if by chance you are in Taiwan, the festival’s physical concert will be held on the 30th and 31st of October with artists from Taiwan, Colombia, Brazil, the US and the UK performing
For more information on the 2021 World Music Festival @Taiwan, visit their website here.
To experience the workshops and performances in all their worldly glory, purchase your tickets for NT$388 (RM57.95) on KLOOK, Pok’elai, or UDN Fun Life.
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