By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 2: The first-ever Bengkel Gendang Rayah Saratok 2026 represented a landmark effort to safeguard the increasingly rare Iban musical tradition from fading by passing down its knowledge and techniques to a new generation of Iban practitioners.
According to a press release, the workshop—which was held from July 31 to Aug 2 at Rumah Thomas Sigat, Sungai Brangan, Babas Mali, Saratok—drew 30 participants from various longhouses within the area who passed the final assessment after demonstrating their understanding of Gendang Rayah, playing techniques, rhythm, and ability to perform together as an ensemble.
The programme was funded by the Sarawak Arts Council (SAC), with additional funding from Krian assemblyman Friday Belik. The event was also attended by Datu Dr Neilson Ilan Mersat, who is the head of the Sarawak Council for Native Customs and Traditions.
Founder of Ensera Creatives and programme director, Sydney Augustine Assom, said the initiative was organised in response to declining awareness and practice of Gendang Rayah among younger generations.
“Gendang Rayah is not just music. It is part of our identity, and today, it is slowly fading. I hope the participants will carry this knowledge forward and become the generation that keeps Gendang Rayah alive, not merely as a performance, but as a living part of our culture,” he said.
During the workshop, participants learned about the history and cultural significance of Gendang Rayah, its traditional connection to the miring ceremony, and the fundamental techniques required to perform the music.
The training was led by Assom Lutek, with assistance from Pemancha Thomas Lamit Lutik and Sheldon Assom.
Assom said preserving Gendang Rayah required cultural practitioners and the community to act before the knowledge disappeared.
“If we do not do this, who else will? We have to take action, and I am proud to be part of this effort. Perhaps one day, Gendang Rayah can be performed on the main stage of the Rainforest World Music Festival, so the world can discover it just as it has come to know the sape,” he said.
One of the participants, Ageness Rendan Julin, who is also a teacher at SK Wong Besi in Saratok, said the workshop provided an opportunity to learn Gendang Rayah directly from experienced cultural practitioners.
“The workshop was conducted very well, with clear explanations and lessons taught progressively, step by step, so that we did not feel overwhelmed. It was easy to follow, and there were enough musical instruments for us to practise and master the skills,” she said.
At the same time, Sydney emphasised that the workshop could not have been organised without the funding awarded by the SAC.
“This workshop was only possible because SAC believed in its importance. We are deeply grateful for their support and, most importantly, for the trust they placed in us. Their belief in this programme allowed us to turn an idea for cultural preservation into meaningful action,” he said.
Meanwhile, Friday Belik congratulated all participants for completing the workshop, adding that their commitment to learning about their culture has set an example for the younger generation.
Sydney also expressed his appreciation to the community of Rh Thomas Sigat for providing a place where Gendang Rayah could be taught, practised, and passed on to future generations.
“Let this be not the end of a tradition, but the beginning of its revival,” he said.
Gendang Rayah is ritual music used to summon spirits and gods. — DayakDaily
