Sunday, June 18, 2006

'Rentap' comes alive at World Harvest Fest

By Mohd Fadzli Fadhilah

KUCHING - It was about an hour after daybreak and many in the Iban village of Bukit Sadok were still in their slumber.

The village's women were washing clothes while several men were seen spearing the fish at the idyllic Batang Skrang river, oblivious to a flotilla of sampan, junks and barges that moved quietly but swiftly upstream.

Minutes later the village's serene and tranquil atmosphere were rudely disrupted from the cracks of musket fire and cannon blasts.

The cannon balls tore and ripped through the Iban longhouses, wreaking havoc and leaving the wooden structures in smouldering ruins while the musket shots left many villagers bloodied and dead.

The year was 1857, during the reign of James Brooke, known as the Sarawak 'White Rajah.'

Brooke had sent his expeditionary forces to wipe out villages of natives who had refused to bow to his rule.

But the Iban warriors of Bukit Sadok fought back.

Despite being taken by surprise, the Iban warriors fought gallantly. Led by their chief 'Rentap,' they inflicted a heavy toll among the invaders.

However this was only a re-enactment of Rentap's bravery in the struggle of the Iban against colonial rule.

Last May 27, the lakeside at the Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) in Santubong, 40 km from here, was turned into a battle field where a diorama, aptly titled 'Rentap - The Battle of Bukit Sadok' was staged.

The 45-minute show was held in conjunction with the World Harvest Festival 2006 (WHF 2006).

In the diorama, actor Desmond Jumek played Rentap and stood on a 15m-high platform to symbolise the warrior-chief valiant efforts in rallying his warriors to fight against the White Rajah's mercenaries in defence of Bukit Sadok.

The lightings and the background music captivated the audience, making them feel as if they were on the actual battlefield.

This event was among the highlights of the festival, held for three days and two nights and organised by the SCV in collaboration with the Sarawak Urban Development and Tourism Ministry.

Rentap was one of the great Iban chiefs in the 19th century. In the Iban language, Rentap means 'one who makes the world shake.'

Directed by SCV's choreographer Ramli Ali, the 45-minute show took more than one month to prepare and involved 135 actors.

There were also cultural performances from different ethnic groups including the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu.

The Iban with their Selampai dress - a pua kumbu attire where the cloth was weaved in a traditional way, performed the "Ngajat" to welcome the audience.

The male dancers wore hornbill feathers as their headgear to signify their warrior hood. The bigger the feathers, the stronger they are according to the Iban belief. Members of the audience were invited on stage to dance the Ngajat.

The gentle and soothing sound of the traditional Borneo flute, the "sape", accompanied the dance of the Orang Ulu. The performers were clad in beaded attires including colourful headbands, necklaces and wristbands.

The WHF 2006 also drew participation from rice-farming communities in Thailand, China and Indonesia who performed their respective cultural dances.

Source: BERNAMA

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