Renewed interest among younger generation for the sape

Sarawakian sape player Nurul Syafiqah Yusop is focusing on making the traditional musical instrument popular again, particularly among the younger generation.

Syafiqah, 34, has been in the music scene for quite some time now. She is part of Sarawak’s first female sape group called Ilu Leto, which means “we, the ladies” in the native Kenyah language. Syafiqah herself is of Chinese and Iban descent.

Ilu Leto has performed in shows and events not just in Sarawak but other states in Malaysia, too. The group has also played in shows overseas, including at the 2018 World Music Festival in Taipei, Taiwan.

Syafiqah’s passion for playing the sape began when she heard the Iban song Flora by popular Sarawakian artist Jerry Kamit some time in 2012. She loved how the instrument made the song sound unique, so she decided to learn how to play the sape by ear.

It was fairly easy for Syafiqah because she had already known how to play the guitar and ukulele, so it was just a matter of getting used to holding and plucking another stringed instrument.

Once she got the hang of playing the sape, she was invited to perform at a wedding, and this sparked her interest further.

“Sape is my soul,” says Syafiqah, who wrote the song Our Dreams in 2017.

“I would upload videos of me playing the sape and receive great support from people. The next thing I knew, I was invited to join Ilu Leto, a group which names renowned musician Alena Murang as a member, as well as four other talented women,” she shares in an interview in Kuala Lumpur during the recent Borneo Native Festival at Central Market.

Syafiqah and Ilu Leto were among the list of musicians from Sarawak and Sabah who performed at the three-day event, held in conjunction with both states’ Harvest Festival celebrations.

Sape lessons

If you’ve never heard of a sape, then perhaps it’s time to find out. A sape, Syafiqah says, is a traditional stringed musical instrument of the Orang Ulu ethnic community in Sarawak. Initially only played during healing rituals, the sape later became a social instrument to accompany cultural dances and played during festivities.

The lute takes the shape of a sampan (boat), and is believed to have been around for a few centuries.

“The delicate craftsmanship of every sape is what’s unique about it. It’s carved from a single wood bole or tree trunk,” she explains.

Although bearing close resemblance to the guitar, the sape carries a distinctive sound that, today, is representative of Sarawak and her people.

There are two types of sape: traditional and contemporary. They can be differentiated by the number of string each one has. A traditional sape has either two, three or four strings, while a more modern one may have up to six strings. Interestingly, Syafiqah has taught herself to play both types.

“People who want to take up sape should first learn to pluck the traditional instrument before getting on the modern one. This is so that the original sape sound can be preserved,” she says.

She adds that the lute was traditionally only played by men in the past, but of course, things have changed over the years. Unfortunately, interest in the sape as well as its music has waned, even within the communities. This is something that musicians like Syafiqah and Ilu Leto are trying to change, they want the music and instruments to not only be preserved, but to thrive in the future too.

“We want to re-introduce people to our heritage, and for musicians like myself, we do it via the sape and our traditional songs,” she says.

Syafiqah adds that the sape seems to have gained a renewed interest, especially among the younger generation. More people are trying to learn how to play the instrument, while parents are starting to send their children to sape classes or workshops.

This was unheard of in the past, she says.

Having received a handful of awards in recognition of her musical talent, Syafiqah has definitely taken her hobby to greater heights.

“Being able to do what I love truly brings me joy,” she says.

“I dedicate most of my time to learning new songs. I spend at least one to three hours practising every day. There’s still so much to explore, and my goal is to discover as many sape tunes as I can and better myself along the way,” she concludes.