Who are we without stories? In the indigenous cultures of Malaysia, oral history is passed down in native languages – but these are fast disappearing. On a quest to preserve these dialects and the heritage they carry is musician Alena Murang.
Murang’s family is rooted in Sarawak, a coastal state of Malaysia. As a child, Murang became a student of the sape’, a stringed wooden instrument traditionally associated with and used by shamans in ceremonies. She’s become one of the few women ever to learn this sacred instrument and the first to play it professionally.
Determined to protect her ancestry, Murang connected with elders to revive her people’s music in the increasingly rare Kenyah and Kelabit languages. “In these songs are our stories of the past,” she says. By recording them, she is capturing the rich essence of generations before her. Murang has also reimagined some of these melodies, blending her 21st-century self with history.
While Murang’s mission to save Kenyah and Kelabit is urgent, she is hopeful for the future. “Music has the power to keep languages alive,” she says. To date, Murang has performed these indigenous songs in countries and festivals around the globe. Reaching people in a fresh and accessible way, Murang is ensuring the preservation of her heritage. “The world would be boring without diversity,” she says.
