Sarawakiana Festival, Sibu

The Sarawakiana Festival, (formerly known as Sarawakiana Carnival) is held at Sarawak State Library, once in every two years. This festival focuses on a specific theme which includes a variety of activities on history, arts and culture in Sarawak.

Sarawakiana Festival 2021

Dates: 1-30 September 2021

Objectives

• To promote the role of Pustaka and its Knowledge Partners as catalysts for lifelong learning culture towards better understanding of our own unique identities
• To support and trigger more research on Sarawak biodiversity, history, culture, arts and indigenous knowledge on Sarawak
• To assist in the enrichment of local content resources through various compiled information on the programme
• To strengthen and intensify collaborative initiatives between Pustaka and collaborating partners

Festival Theme

Each year, Sarawakiana Festival will set a specific theme to be applied in the activities throughout the program.

As for the theme for 2021's festival is simply “Daun” in Malay or “Leaf” (noun) or leaves (plural) in English. It was chosen to reflect the significance and use of local Leaves, especially to the many indigenous groups in Sarawak. The knowledge exemplifies the way of life of its people, culture and arts, history, customs and traditions, continuously being practised and preserved for sustainability to future generations as laid out under UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 11).

The Sub-Themes

• Arts & Crafts | Seni halus & kraftangan
• Traditional food and beverages | Makanan tradisional dan Minuman
• Modern and traditional medicine | Perubatan moden dan tradisional
• Ceremonial performance during Religious rites; cultural; tradition and custom | Upacara keagamaan; budaya; adat istiadat
• Building structure or carving | Binaan bangunan atau ukiran
• Traditional games | Permainan tradisional
• Traditional music | Muzik traditional
• History | Sejarah

COVID19 and Sarawakiana Festival, Sibu 2021

Due to the COVID19 outbreak, most of the programs were pre-recorded and were uploaded according to the date of each program to Pustaka Negeri Sarawak online platforms including Facebook and YouTube Channel.

Expected Output

Sarawakiana Series publication based on the theme: Daun to be published in 2022.

Compilation of resources on Sarawak local recipes, medicinal treatment, health and skincare based on local Sarawak leaves (2021).

Documentation of content in the form of print and Audio Visual publications (books, videos, photographs etc.) created during Sarawakiana Festival 2021.

Impacts and Benefits

• Improve understanding on the importance of Sarawakiana Festival appreciating our own unique identity as Sarawakians and how it could be conveyed and made important to audience.
• Learn and share best practices in managing cultural activities with various collaborating agencies.
• Strengthen and intensify initiatives between Pustaka and collaborating partners.
• Assist in the enrichment of local content through the creation of documented resources for the future.
• Portray a profound image of Pustaka as the focal point for collaborative initiatives and source of Sarawakiana resources at local and international level.

Activities by Pustaka Negeri Sarawak Sibu

• Cooking Demonstration Iban Ethnic with Sarakup Indu Dayak Cawangan Sibu
• Cooking Demonstration Chinese Ethnic with United Chinese Association Sibu Division Sarawak
• Cooking Demonstration Melanau Ethnic with Persatuan Melanau Sibu
• Sarawakiana Talk - Cara Hidup Masyarakat Matu dengan Daun with UNIMAS
• Visual Exhibition - Seraong@Terendak Melanau with Kampung Tanam, Dalat
• Visual Exhibition - Exhibition on Leaves, Local Artists with Sibu Contemporary Arts Association, Sibu
• Visual Exhibition - Kegunaan Daun Bemban dan Rumbia with Sarawak Biodiversity Centre
• Visual Art Exhibition on Leaves (Virtual)
• Cultural Performance - Adat Melanau Selepas Bersalin
• Cultural Performance - Gendang Pampat with KEMADA
• Permainan Mensia Marek - Permainan Sambung Daun Melabu dan Pucuk Kelidang

Smart Partnership

1. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
2. Divisional Resident Offices Sarawak Craft Council
3. Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Cawangan Sarawak
4. Jabatan Kesenian dan Kebudayaan Negara (JKKN), Sarawak
5. Jabatan Pertanian Sarawak
6. Persatuan Kesenian dan Warisan Melayu Kuching (KEWARISMA)
7. Lembaga Pelancongan Sarawak
8. Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Sarawak (MTAC)
9. Kelab Budaya Mukun Selendang Sutera, Brunei Darussalam
10. Muzium Negeri Sarawak
11. Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM)
12. Sarawak Biodiversity Centre
13. Sibu Municipal Council (SMC)
14. IFLA Indigenous Matters Section Swinburne University
15. University Malaya
16. Persatuan Berawan Sarawak
17. Persatuan Saban Sarawak
18. Amanah Khairat Yayasan Budaya Melayu Sarawak (AKYBMS)
19. Kuching Skills College
20. Sarawak Cultual Village
21. University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS)
22. Kolej Komuniti Sibu
23. Persatuan Jatti Miriek, Miri
24. Kesenian dan Kebudayaan Dayak Sibu (KEMEDA)
25. Persatuan Melanau Sibu
26. I-Concept Event Agency
27. Doh kayan Telan Usan (DKTU)
28. Sape Movement
29. Sarakup Indu Dayak Cawangan Sibu
30. United Chinese Association Sibu Division Sarawak
31. Sarawak Craft Council
32. Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak (MAIS)
33. Kumpulan Cabik Geronong
34. Institut Perguruan Guru Kampus Sarawak
35. Perbadanan Kemajuan Film Nasional (FINAS) Cawangan Sarawak
36. University College of Technology Sarawak
37. Sixteen Twentynine Sdn. Bhd
38. SMK Riam, Miri
39. Kumpulan Cenderawasih
40. Kampung Tanam, Dalat
41. Sibu Contemporary Arts Association, Sibu
42. Kesenian dan Kebudayaan Dayak, Sibu (KEMADA)