The efforts by the Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) to introduce Dayak Music Awards (DAMA) which was held on 27 September 2008 at Crowne Plaza Riverside Hotel, Kuching in recognition of Dayak musicians – singers, composers and lyricists – were both noble and commendable.Presented after the style of the most prestigious Grammy Awards, DAMA hopes to inject quality and professionalism among the Dayak musicians. Hitherto, some of the so-called Dayak songs lack originality as they are copied from Malay, Indonesian and Hindustani songs with many of them having Malay words used in the lyrics. Let me give an example: “burong punggok nyabak ka bulan” which should have been “burong tunggok nyabak ka bulan” in Iban; “selindang” should have been “selampai”, etc.
There again the Iban and Malay spellings are mixed up. For instance, “baka kucing enggau cit” should have been “baka kuching enggau chit”. And there are many examples of these mixed-up spellings in CDs, VCDs and DVDs. The Malay spelling does not have “ch”, while the Iban spelling maintains the “ch” in order to differentiate between the systems of spelling.
In an attempt to really raise the quality of Iban songs in particular, a body or a committee should be set up to look into all these “impurities” in Iban songs.
If this body can be set up, then the Dayak music is not only an art and a form of entertainment among the Dayaks, but also it is a big money-spinner. Imagine we have eight million Dayaks throughout Pulau Borneo as possible clients. Some non-Dayak businessmen have seen these prospects and have indeed taken advantage of some of Iban singers especially those in Sibu by paying them about RM600 for a recording. While the Iban singers are only interested in making them “famous” and popular, the non-Dayak businessmen have earned millions of ringgit through the sales of their songs. Again a body should be set up to look after the interests of the singers.
As I said the DCCI’s efforts are commendable and should be given all out support. But sadly, there seems to be lack of support coming from the Iban businessmen and Iban ministers and assistant ministers and the absence of William Mawan, James Masing, Alfred Jabu, Joseph Entulu, Sylvester Enteri, Jelaing Mersat, Francis Harden, Gramong Juna, Peter Nyarok and Douglas Uggah were obvious. Only Michael Manyin, Naroden Majais and Joseph Salang were seen around. Never mind Jabu, but what about the rest? We know Jabu has always against the formation of DCCI and its activities.
If Ahmad Shabery Cheek, minister of information, could come all the way from Kuala Lumpur to attend the musical awards, there was no reason why our ministers could not come. That was the time our singers really needed our support and support is like a horse trading. (You scratch my back, I scratch yours). You may not need them now, come elections times, the Dayak singers are the most wanted commodity. Like in USA, as also elsewhere, including Sarawak, the role of singers in attracting audience during campaigning times is now part of democracy.
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Some of DAMA 2008 photos:
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