Gendang Melayu Sarawak: A legacy heritage

KUCHING: In the quiet village of Kampung Jaie, Sadong Jaya, one man is keeping a century-old tradition alive.

Meet Umar Tomik, born on July 12, 1986, a third-generation master of crafting the Gendang Melayu Sarawak, a traditional Malay drum whose rhythmic beats echo in the heritage halls of Sarawak.

Umar, who has devoted his life to this intricate craft, regards the Gendang Melayu Sarawak as more than an instrument.

For him, it symbolises the legacy of his family and the cultural heart of his community.

“I’ve been making these drums since I was young, following the traditional methods my elders used,” he said at his booth during the Borneo Craft Festival (FKB) Sarawak 2024 on Saturday (Oct 26).

“I’m the third generation in my family to make these drums,” he said with pride.

This treasured legacy began with Umar’s grandfather, Dol Uyub, born in 1894, the first in the family to master this art.

Umar’s father, Tomik Dol, then carried the torch, passing it down until his own passing in 2005, leaving Umar to uphold the family’s commitment to this heritage.

“After my father passed away, I took over fully, continuing his orders and work. Since then, I have continued making Sarawak Malay drums,” he said.

With each drum he crafted, Umar revives the unique and almost forgotten art of Gendang Melayu Sarawak, honouring the memories of his ancestors and preserving a piece of Sarawak’s cultural tapestry for generations to come.

“I began exploring how to make these drums in 1988. After grasping the fundamentals, my elders guided me using traditional methods,” he said.

Though grounded in tradition, Umar has embraced modern technology to streamline his craft.

This shift from traditional to semi-modern techniques by incorporating electric tools like saws and others, meant that Umar could now complete a drum in just five days, compared to the month it once took.

“Through adopting modern techniques I can now produce at least six to seven drums a month.

“To make this drum, the materials or tools needed include wood. Many people ask me what type of wood is suitable to make a Malay drum.

“In my opinion, with my experience, you don’t necessarily have to use very hard wood like Belian or Menggeris (better known as Tualang). However, harder wood is better because of its durability,” he said.

He revealed that all wood can be used to create the drums, but what made early generations unique was their ability to make drums from coconut tree trunks.

“Ideally, using hardwoods allows it to last longer. The Belian drum I currently have is over 100 years old. The drum I have in my possession wasn’t made by me, it was made by my grandfather, the first generation in my family,” he said.

The drum in his possession holds sentimental value to him as it is his ancestor’s work, hence he would not sell it including the one made by his father.

Meanwhile, he said that the drumheads are made from goatskin, which he carefully sources during the Qurban season.

“If I run out of skins, I go to Serikin, where I can buy up to 10 pieces or more at a time,” he said.

He explained that unlike cowhide, which is thicker and harder to stretch, goatskin allows for better resonance, creating a rich, melodic sound.

“Cowhide is thick and tight, which makes it challenging to get the right sound because the drum needs to be taut for good resonance.

“A hundred per cent of my drums are made entirely out of goatskin,” he said.

Each drum Umar has crafted are valued for its material and craftsmanship, with prices ranging from RM800 to above RM3,000 depending on the quality.

Although Gendang Melayu Sarawak is his primary craft, he also makes wooden mortars (lesung kayu), walking sticks, ceremonial staff (cokmar mimbar), and beduk, used to signal mosque prayers or in gamelan which is a style of music.

“If someone requests, I can make a beduk in 15 days and I can also make a replica drum in one day.

“Besides the crafting, I also do Hadrah (a performance or dikir accompanied by the Kompang or small hand drum called Rebana), create Kompang drums, Silat drums, and Iban silat drums for special orders,” he said.

For over a decade, Umar has represented Sarawak’s traditional crafts at exhibitions, showcasing his exquisite craftsmanship in events each year.

His dedication to preserving the art of the Gendang Melayu Sarawak, has not only captivated local audiences but also caught the attention of international buyers.

Recently, he received an order from Brunei, and a customer from the United Kingdom even paid RM1,200 for one of his creations.

This British customer, deeply interested in Umar’s process, went beyond the typical purchase.

After searching for him on social media for two months, he finally located Umar Facebook (FB) and through a local tour guide’s help, he visited his workshop in person.

Impressed by Umar’s expertise, he requested a custom drum made from belian wood, Sarawak’s prized timber.

“They even came to my workshop and they wanted it made from Belian wood, the hardest, most durable wood we have, which can make a drum last over a hundred years,” he said.

What makes Gendang Melayu Sarawak stand apart from other drums and attract a lot of attention is its distinct construction and sound, a testament to Sarawak’s rich cultural heritage.

“The difference between Gendang Melayu Sarawak and those from other regions lies in our craftsmanship and the method we use to stretch the skin.

“The Sarawak Malay Gendang uses rotan sega, a specific type of rattan for binding, and materials like goat skin, which give it a distinct resonance and quality,” he said.

As the proud custodian of the Gendang Melayu Sarawak, Umar also voiced concern and hope for the future of this cherished art form.

“So far, there hasn’t been a fourth generation,” he said.

While his children are not uninterested, they are currently focused on other careers and have yet to fully commit to the craft that has defined his family for generations.

“I’m still working and will do so as long as I’m healthy. I’m 68-years-old now,” he said, expressing willingness to pass on his knowledge.

“For those who want to learn, I can teach them the craft of making Gendang Melayu Sarawak.

The time it takes to learn depends on their interest, if they’re passionate, they can master it within three to five months,” he said, stressing that enthusiasm is key.

Umar’s hopes for the Gendang industry are rooted in his desire for educational opportunities.

 “In my time, we didn’t have art or technical schools. My hope is that these schools can teach how to use machinery for making Gendang, not just for metalwork but also for shaping wood.

“This way, graduates can pursue it as a side income.”

Recognised as one of the last remaining masters of this craft in Kuching, Umar is acutely aware of the risks of losing this cultural heritage.

“If there is no successor, the tradition might end,” he said, but remains optimistic that art schools could help sustain the Malay drumming legacy.

“If I’m no longer able to continue, perhaps my younger sibling can carry on this legacy,” he said.