BERMUKUN / BERGENDANG / NOPENG
BERMUKUN / BERGENDANG / NOPENG
- Sarawak Malay Culture
"When The Drum Beats, Rhythmic Dance Begins"
A simple poem cited by the women drummers (Seh Gendang) upon the men dancers (Nopeng) representing the beginning of the show.
This is our Malay culture commonly known as 'Burmukun' or 'Bergendang'. Such entertaining piece are usually performed in weddings or as a form of welcoming ceremonies on arrival of dignitaries to villages.
'Bermukun' or 'Bergendang' usually involves a pair of men dancing (bertandak) facing a woman drummer. traditionally, the function would be held in home of Malay villages. Shall one wished to join the dance (bertandak), one must have the ability to spontaneously replies and responds in rhythm to the poem cited by the women drummers (Seh Gendang) to cut the line of other dancers (Nopeng).
The rareness of such traditional cultural performance in Sarawakian Malay villages have witnessed it's lost in time. Sarawakians must preserve and ensure such traditional culture remains in our community in this modern era.
