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Members of Tuni Sundatang in action during their segment at the Taiwan World Music Festival 2024.
KOTA KINABALU (Oct 19): Tuni Sundatang, known for their unique blend of contemporary music and indigenous traditions, delivered a captivating performance at the Taiwan World Music Festival 2024, impressing the audience with their revitalized approach to traditional sounds.
Performing alongside global talents in Taipei, the Sabahan band showcased their musical prowess using endangered instruments from the Dusun community of East Malaysia Borneo.
Taking the stage on the festival’s prestigious ‘New Talent’ showcase, the Sabahans’ performance stood out with their signature use of the ‘sundatang’ (a Sabahan boat lute, related to the sape’ of Sarawak), the ‘sompoton’ (a traditional wind instrument), and the ‘kulintangan’ (a set of small gongs).
“This was our first time performing outside of Malaysia, and we are beyond excited to see how well our music resonates with an international audience,” said frontman and ‘sundatang’ maker Gindung Mc Feddy Simon.
“We hope to continue showcasing the beauty of our indigenous culture through our music and inspire others to reconnect with their roots.”
Gindung often performs in face paint inspired by traditional motifs and patters from Sabahan craft, to celebrate and present traditional culture on stage.
Their performance was not only a musical display, but a celebration of Sabah’s rich heritage.
Gindung’s sundatang, an instrument once on the brink of extinction, echoed across the venue, paired with modern guitar riffs, drums and keyboard harmonies.
The band’s dedication to preserving and reimagining Sabah’s cultural identity has earned them recognition as trailblazers in the world music scene.
Band member Adrian Johnny, who plays the ‘sompoton’ and flute, reflected on the significance of their Taiwan debut.
“The festival gave us a platform to show how vibrant and versatile our indigenous instruments can be in contemporary music.
“We are proud to represent our Sabahan heritage on a global stage.”
The six band members, all hailing from Ranau at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu, are making waves with their unique and innovative blend of contemporary and traditional music, blending ancestral knowledge with modern music.
Tuni Sundatang’s performance at the Taiwan World Music Festival marks their growing prominence beyond Malaysia. Following their successful performance at this year’s Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) in Kuching, the band is rapidly gaining international recognition for their ability to seamlessly merge traditional sounds with modern elements.
With their sights set on future collaborations and international tours, Tuni Sundatang continues to expand their audience, while keeping their roots firmly planted in Sabahan soil.
Tuni Sundatang band-mates get to spend some time jamming with Taiwanese traditional musicians after the festival. — Photo by Straw Lim
Tuni Sundatang’s international debut was made possible through the support of several key agencies, including the Sabah Tourism Board, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah (KePKAS), Pertubuhan Kolektif Seni Budaya Sabah, and the federal Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.
Reflecting on this support, bassist and MIDI keyboardist Max Elvin said: “Sabah has so much unique traditional knowledge and heritage for young people to embrace and explore.
“Our culture has the potential to create new economic opportunities, from tourism to the arts. We’re grateful that these ministries and organizations see this potential and are supporting creative industries like ours.”
For fans eager to experience Tuni Sundatang live, the band will be performing a number of shows throughout Malaysia in the coming months, and are currently preparing to launch their debut album at the end of the year.
English (US) ·