As the leading musical instrument, it has been played in almost all occasions in feast and fiesta alike. The only occasion where it may not be played is mourning ceremony. A more sombre instrument like a flute may be played to soothe the solemn mood. Perhaps, as of now, a flute may be played to mourn for the loss, sufferings and the grieve of the Orang Ulu community except for the elite few in the elite circles.
But why the Sound of Sape?
Sound of Sape is chosen for the purpose of awakening and raising the alarm from our slumber of 45 years. It is sounded to remind our people that sometimes, long ago, we were happy people. We were freedom people. We were adventurous people. We were once the rulers of Borneo with our heads held up high in our own right. We were never oppressed. Whenever, inturders or invaders appear on the horizon on the boundary of our respective countries the war council are call. Once decision is made, the warriors are then sent our for war. Win or lose will determine the existence of the tribe concerned.
In the process many tribes became extinct while the conquerors displace the conquered. The victors then ensalve the vanquished.
Since the time of the Raja Brookes, war has taken a new dimension. Now, war has been transform into a new force altogether. But the aim is still the same- wealth and space. Now that the new war force is politics. Political parties are formed to replace to old war party.
Now in Borneo, the war parties have staked their grounds and boundaries. The war booties are the native customary rights lands, business deals, finance, rights and privileges and so on.
Caught in the midst of the war are the poor natives who just came out of the jungle and have to learn the tricks of the trade of life from nil and compete with the global community.
Suddenly, the natives of Sarawak realised that all these while they have been duped by the so-called trustees of their native rights and privileges. They are awakened now and have discovered that they have lost all their wealth and living space. They are treated as aliens in their own lands which their forefathers would not have surrendered easiliy.
God given opportunity is sweeping across the nation from the West to the East. It is over the horizone along the shores of Borneo. Can we Sarawakians place hope it that golden opportunity? YES WE CAN. WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN? WE MAKE IT HAPPEN. Not our leaders, because they are our very oppressors. Their war party is called Barisan Nasional [BN].
Our hope now is in Pakatan Rakyat which comprise of Parti Keadilan Rakyat [PKR], Democratic Action Party [DAP] and Parti Isalm Malaysis [PAS]. The wind is blowing fast. The rivers are flowing rapid. The storms are brewing. The fault line has been triggered under the sea for the tsunami. Get ready for the wind, rivers, storms and tsunami to come and storm Borneo.
String all the Sape. Get all the musicians ready. Get the maiden dancers with their gears on, their graceful hands beautified by the hornbill feathers. Get the warriors dancing gear on.
The moment victory strikes the leading Sape player must strum his first beat. The dancers must stretch they hands to begin the new order of government.
The Sound of Sape give Hope to the Orang Ulu community. It can never go wrong because the sound is the manifestation of joy and peace in the land.
WHERE THERE IS NO WAY, GOD WILL MAKE A WAY. WHERE THERE IS NO HOPE, GOD WILL GIVE US HOPE.
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