Among the Malays, Melanaus and Kedayans of Sarawak, the "Bergendang" ceremony is kept very much alive. The photos above(taken this evening) shows a "Bergendang" performance that is held at the Kuching Waterfront. Guess what? Anybody is welcomed to participate in the dancing, young and old. Visitors to Sarawak can pick up the dance steps very quickly. But the real fun begins when the ladies playing the drum ( named " Mak Gendang" = Lady Drummer) and singing the "Pantun" ( a four-line verse poetic message) gets response from the men. The men reply back in pantun-style the message or question embedded in the "Mak Gendang" pantun. Thus this answering and replying of pantuns continue for hours on end. Today the " Bergendang" is very much part of a wedding celebration activity and held mainly during the night in many villages through out Sarawak.
3 comments:
It must have been great fun with live music and people dancing!
wow.. mmg best gendang bermukun tuk eh.. lamak dah kmk sik nangga.. :)
This is quiet similar to the Ghazal, isn't it? sadly to say, the ghazal is losing it's appeal among the young.
Post a Comment