Iban's oral heritage has the potential to generate revenue through creative industries

SARATOK, Sept. 30: The oral heritage of the Iban community has the potential to be developed as a revenue-generating creative industry asset, in addition to continuing to be preserved as a cultural treasure.

The Political Secretary to the Prime Minister of Sarawak, Roselin Neging said that the development of Iban music through radio, social media and digital platforms opened up a wider space for heritage translated into creative works.

He said that the oral heritage of Iban can be a source of inspiration for music production, stage performances, festivals, digital content, publishing and cultural tourism products.

"This development is an opportunity. We can use oral heritage as a source of inspiration for new musical works, stage performances, festivals, digital content, publishing, cultural tourism and various creative industry products.

"Heritage can be culture, culture can be work and work can be an economic resource", said representing Sarawak's Deputy Minister of Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan.

He said this while addressing the closing ceremony of Music Balance Course and Creative Music Workshop Based on Oral Heritage of Iban Society here, today.

Roselin said that the production of contemporary works based on the oral heritage of Iban should continue to be encouraged in order to ensure that the treasure remains relevant and understandable to new generations without compromising its original identity.

"We want to see more contemporary works that take inspiration from the oral heritage of Ibán, not to transform heritage so as to lose its identity, but to bring it to life in a form that can be understood, enjoyed and developed by new generations", he said.