Borneo Cultural Festival

Last updated

Borneo Cultural Festival
Festival Kebudayaan Borneo
StatusActive
GenreCultural festivals
FrequencyAnnually
VenueTun Tuanku Bujang Square (Sibu Town Square)
Location(s) Sibu, Sarawak
Country Malaysia
Years active2002–2019, 2022–present
Inaugurated2002 [1]
Previous event14-23 July 2023
Next event8-17 August 2024
Participants Dayak, Malay, Chinese, Melanau, and Bumiputera ethnic groups
Organised by Sibu Municipal Council (SMC)
Website Official Facebook page

Borneo Cultural Festival, abbreviated as BCF, is an annual festival of food, music, and dance that places a focus on cultural diversity of Borneo. The festival is held in Sibu, one of the major towns in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia, and was first organised in 2002. The festival regularly takes place in July, and is organised by the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC). [2]

Contents

History

BCF was originally known as Pesta Sibu before going through several name changes, such as Millennium Celebration and Borneo Tribal Extravaganza. [3] Since 2005, BCF is held by Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) in July every year at Sibu Town Square, for a period of 10 days. It is a celebration of traditional music, dances, contests, beauty pageant, [4] food stalls, fun fairs, and product exhibitions. There are 3 separate stages for Iban, Chinese, and Malay performances. [5] [6] It draws around 20,000 people every year. [7] [8] Besides cultural performances, Kumang Borneo Dayak Cultural Festival- a traditional beauty pageant- are held at the Dayak stage of BCF. [9] Beginning 2023 edition, an International Night will be added on top of three traditional signature nights, namely Chinese Night, Malay/Melanau Night and Dayak Night. [10]

Hiatus

BCF was stopped briefly in 2011 before it was resumed in 2012. [11] [12] The festival also went on a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. [13]

Event

View of Sibu Town Square, where the festival is traditionally held. Wisma Sanyan from afar.jpg
View of Sibu Town Square, where the festival is traditionally held.

Historically, the venue of the main event will be held in Sibu town square so as the trade fair and the exhibition will be held on the second phase of the town square. Usually the main town square which is located next to Wisma Sanyan will be utilised by the stages and food stalls.

Dates of the Festival

YearDateVenueAttendance
201621-30 July [14] Sibu Town Square500,000 [1]
201720-29 July [15] 600,000 [1]
201819-28 July [16] N/A
201918-27 July [17] N/A
2020Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic [13]
2021
202218-23 July [13] [18] Sibu Town Square & Sibu Indoor Stadium N/A
202314-23 July [10] Sibu Town SquareN/A
20248-17 AugustTBA
Borneo Cultural Festival with Wisma Sanyan in the background. Pictured in 2024 Borneo Cultural Festival 2024M.jpg
Borneo Cultural Festival with Wisma Sanyan in the background. Pictured in 2024

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarawak</span> State in East Malaysia

Sarawak is a state of Malaysia. The largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak is located in East Malaysia in northwest Borneo, and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sabah to the northeast, Kalimantan to the south, and Brunei in the north. The state capital, Kuching, is the largest city in Sarawak, the economic centre of the state, and the seat of the Sarawak state government. Other cities and towns in Sarawak include Miri, Sibu, and Bintulu. As of the 2020 Malaysia census, the population of Sarawak was 2.453 million. Sarawak has an equatorial climate with tropical rainforests and abundant animal and plant species. It has several prominent cave systems at Gunung Mulu National Park. Rajang River is the longest river in Malaysia; Bakun Dam, one of the largest dams in Southeast Asia, is located on one of its tributaries, the Balui River. Mount Murud is the highest point in the state. Sarawak is the only state of Malaysia with a Christian majority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sibu</span> Town in Sarawak, Malaysia

Sibu is a landlocked city located in the central region of Sarawak, Malaysia. It serves as the capital of Sibu District within Sibu Division and is situated on the island of Borneo. Covering an area of 129.5 square kilometres (50.0 sq mi), the city is positioned at the confluence of the Rajang and Igan Rivers, approximately 60 kilometres from the South China Sea and 191.5 kilometres (119 mi) north-east of the state capital, Kuching.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bidayuh</span> Ethnic group from Borneo

Bidayuh is the collective name for several indigenous groups found in southern Sarawak, Malaysia and northern West Kalimantan, Indonesia, on the island of Borneo, which are broadly similar in language and culture. The name Bidayuh means 'inhabitants of land'. Originally from the western part of Borneo, the collective name Land Dayak was first used during the period of Rajah James Brooke, the White Rajah of Sarawak. At times, they were also lesser referred to as Klemantan people. They constitute one of the main indigenous groups in Sarawak and West Kalimantan and live in towns and villages around Kuching and Serian in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, while in the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan they are mainly concentrated in the northern Sanggau Regency. In Sarawak, most of Bidayuh population can be found within 40 km of the geographical area known as Greater Kuching, within the Kuching and Serian Division. They are the second-largest Dayak ethnic group in Sarawak after the Iban and one of the major Dayak tribes in West Kalimantan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajang River</span> River in Sarawak, Malaysia

The Rajang River is a river in Sarawak, northwestern Borneo, Malaysia. The river originates in the Iran Mountains, flows through Kapit, and then towards the South China Sea. At approximately 565 km long (351 mi), the river is the seventh-longest in Borneo and the longest in Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mukah Division</span> Place

Mukah Division is one of the twelve administrative divisions in Sarawak, Malaysia. It was established on 1 March 2002 and it has a total area of 6,997.61 square kilometres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dalat, Sarawak</span> Town and district capital in Sarawak, Malaysia

Dalat is the administrative town of the Dalat district in Mukah Division, Sarawak, Malaysia. It is situated by the Oya River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melanau people</span> An ethnic from the Rajang River of Sarawak, Malaysia.

Melanau or A-Likou is an ethnic group indigenous to Sarawak, Malaysia. They are among the earliest settlers of Sarawak. They speak the Melanau language, which is a part of the North Bornean branch of Malayo-Polynesian languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisma Sanyan</span> Office, restaurant, shopping mall in Sarawak, Malaysia

Wisma Sanyan was the tallest building in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia from its completion in 2001 to 2019.

Sarawak's population is very diverse, comprising many races and ethnic groups. Sarawak has more than 40 sub-ethnic groups, each with its own distinct language, culture and lifestyle. This makes Sarawak demography very distinct and unique compared to its Peninsular counterpart. However, it largely mirrors to other territories in Borneo – Sabah, Brunei and Kalimantan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sibu District</span> Administrative district in Sarawak, Malaysia


Sibu District is an administrative district in Sibu Division, Sarawak, Malaysia covering a total area of 2229.8 km2. It can be divided into Sibu Town area (129.5 km2) and the rural areas (2,100.3 km2). The satellite township of Sibu Jaya is included in the rural areas. Sibu District is under the purview of Sibu District Office located at Sibu Islamic Complex, Sibu City. There are currently two local authorities namely Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) and Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) that administers Sibu City and Sibu rural areas respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mukah</span> Town and district capital in Sarawak, Malaysia

Mukah (muːkəh), historically known as Muka is a coastal town which has served as the capital and the administrative center of the Mukah Division since 1 March 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Depha Masterpiece</span> Musical artist

Depha Masterpiece is a Malaysian rock musician, songwriter, arranger, and producer from Sarawak. He is best known as the lead vocalist and primary songwriter of the Bornean hard rock band, Masterpiece.

Masterpiece is an Iban rock band, which formed in 2003 as Masterjam in Sibu, Sarawak best known for its hit singles, "Sinu", "Kumang Seari" & "Ngarap Ka Nuan Nikal Pulai". The band comprises vocalist Depha Masterpiece, lead guitarist Willy Edwin, guitarist Kennedy Edwin, bassist Watt Marcus, drummer Harold Vincent, keyboardist Valentine Jimmy and Roslee Qadir. The group was renamed Masterpiece in 2005 after Depha was hired as the band's new vocalist. Drummer Roni, keyboardist Dellender Wilson and Timothy are former members of the band.

<i>Rock & Roll</i> (Masterpiece album) 2013 studio album by Masterpiece

Rock & Roll is the second studio album by Malaysian rock band from Sarawak, the Masterpiece. It was released in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sibu Indoor Stadium</span> Stadium in Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia

Sibu Indoor Stadium is an indoor stadium located in Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. The stadium is located on the Old Airport Road, Sibu.

Culture of Sarawak exhibits notable diversity in ethnicity, cuisine, and language. The Sarawakian culture has been influenced by Bruneian Malays of the coastal areas. Substantial cultural influences also came from the Chinese and British cultures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarawakian cuisine</span> Regional cuisine of Malaysia

Sarawakian cuisine is a regional cuisine of Malaysia. Similar to the rest of Malaysian cuisine, Sarawak food is based on staples such as rice. There is also a great variety of other ingredients and food preparations due to the influence of the state's varied geography and indigenous cultures quite distinct from the regional cuisines of the Peninsular Malaysia. Sarawak is famous for its multi-ethnic population. As the homeland of many unique communities, Sarawak has a variety of cuisines rarely found elsewhere in Malaysia. The uniqueness of Sarawak well depends on its ethnic groups. Every native group in Sarawak has their own lifestyle, traditions, cultures and also foods. Sarawak cuisine is less spicy and has a subtle in taste. It uses fresh seafood and natural herbs like turmeric, lemongrass, ginger, lime and tapioca leaves. These ingredients are not only easily available, but also add a hint of aroma, texture and freshness to the delicacies. Food is one of the most cultural identities for native groups in Sarawak with each ethnic group having their own delicacies. Among the Iban, popular foods include tubu (stems), tuak and pansuh. The Malay have bubur pedas (porridge) and kek lapis Sarawak ; the Bidayuh have asam siok and sup ponas Bidayuh. The Melanau make tebaloi, sagu and umai and the Orang Ulu are known for garam barrio, kikid (broth), tengayen, and urum giruq (pudding).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tebedu District</span> District in Sarawak, Malaysia

Tebedu District is a district in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia. It is a part of Serian Division that consists of Serian, Siburan, and Tebedu districts. Before this, Tebedu District was a sub-district under Serian District which was then fully upgraded to a district in its own right. The majority of the population of this district is from the Bidayuh ethnic group.

Tanjung Manis is a district in Mukah Division, Sarawak, Malaysia. The capital of the district is Tanjung Manis town.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Borneo Cultural Festival 2017 records 600,000 visitors — SMC, The Borneo Post. 8 August 2017.
  2. ↑ Sibu Sarawak, Borneo Cultural Festival. "Borneo Cultural Festival". Sarawak tourism. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  3. ↑ "'Bigger, better cultural festival in Sibu next year'". The Star . 4 August 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  4. ↑ Rodgers, Gregory. "Festivals in Borneo - Seven Festivals in Borneo not to be missed!". about.com. Archived from the original on 11 February 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "About Sibu Tradex @ Borneo Cultural Festival 2013". Sibu Trade and Exhibition Centre (Sibu Tradex). Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Borneo Cultural Festival 2015". Sarawak Tourism Board. Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  7. ↑ Chua, Andy (27 July 2010). "Borneo Cultural Festival turns Sibu into a melting pot of diversity". The Star (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  8. ↑ Tan, Raymond (16 July 2012). "Sibu set to become a city of festivals". The Borneo Post. Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  9. ↑ Othman Ishak (4 July 2013). "Kumang to be crowned at tonight's finals". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  10. 1 2 Philip Wong (27 April 2023). "International Night highlight of Borneo Cultural Festival 2023 in Sibu" . Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  11. ↑ Wong, Philip (28 April 2011). "SMC decides to scrap Borneo Cultural Fest". The Borneo Post. Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  12. ↑ Yeo, Calvin (11 March 2011). "Tourism promo to start with infrastructure upgrading". The Star (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  13. 1 2 3 Danny Wong (31 March 2022). "Borneo Cultural Festival 2022 July 19 – 23" . Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  14. ↑ International performances at 13th Borneo Cultural Festival on July 21-30, The Borneo Post . 30 June 2016.
  15. ↑ All Systems Go For Borneo Cultural Festival 2017, BERNAMA . 18 July 2017.
  16. ↑ Melanaus erect gigantic ‘Itut’ for BCF 2018, The Borneo Post . 16 July 2018.
  17. ↑ Borneo Cultural Festival 2019, Sarawak Tourism Board
  18. ↑ Danny Wong (25 June 2022). "SMC to extend BCF 2022 from July 18 to 23" . Retrieved 5 July 2022.
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