A musical drama depicting the legendary Iban warrior Rentap is set to take place at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching next month. “Rentap: The Battle of Bukit Sadok” will be one of the highlights of the Sarawak Harvest and Folklore Festival, which will be held on August 18-20. This production aims to bring Rentap’s story to life and introduce it to the younger generation and visitors from outside Sarawak.
Rentap, a 19th-century Iban war chief, was well-known for his bravery in defending his people and country from intruders, despite being labeled a rebel leader by the Brooke regime. State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah highlighted Rentap’s courageous acts during a press conference on July 11.
Abdul Karim believes that the musical drama will not only promote Rentap’s story but also contribute to the development of performing arts in Sarawak. He hopes that the performance will inspire other production companies to showcase Malaysian stories on a larger scale. Abdul Karim aims to establish a center for performing arts in Sarawak to support local artists and provide them a platform to showcase their talents.
The Rentap drama is scheduled to take place on August 18-19 and will be livestreamed on the festival website, https://sarawakharvestfestival.com.my. In addition to the musical drama, another highlight of the festival is the Tribal Ironman Challenge, which will be held on August 19-20 at the Sarawak Cultural Village. Participants will demonstrate their strength and skills in traditional-based activities such as carrying 50kg gunny sacks, mountain climbing, and blowpipe shooting.
Furthermore, the festival will continue on November 3-4 with the Santubong International Folk Dance Competition. In collaboration with the Federation of International Dance Festivals, this event is open to international groups and local juniors aged 12 and below.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
