Malacca - It was a memorable night of sight and sound at the 11th Archipelago Drum Festival held here recently to commemorate the Malacca Historic City Day.
The four-hour show saw 24 traditional cultural drum troupes and 601 performers thumping and dancing their way into the hearts of an estimated 15,000 spectators who had gathered to witness the event.
Held at the open-air Dataran MBMB fountain-courtyard in Ayer Keroh, the event was almost ruined by a downpour.
However, many came well prepared with umbrellas and the rain tapered off just as the show was about to start.
Taking the lead for the night was the colourful performance by the cultural troupe from the National Arts and Heritage Academy or Aswara.
They put on a splendid display showcasing traditional rhythms and dance performances of the various local communities.
The other various drum troupes and performers were then invited up on stage for a joint unity performance as a gesture of their comradeship. A total of 13 foreign cultural troupes were specially invited to take part in the festivities.
The Nanjing Cultural delegation from China was among the big hit with their traditional drum troupe made up of entirely women who were dressed in bright red Chinese costumes.
Also whipping up a catchy rhythm was the Hosila Folk Dance troupe who came all the way from Uzbekistan. Their performance included a harmonica player to liven up their music.
Closer to home but still as unique were the performances by drum troupes from Singapore and Sumatra, Indonesia, who thrilled the crowd with more than 12 performances.
The night ended with a fireworks display that lit up Dataran MBMB`s beautiful landscape and its surrounding to the delight of spectators.
Present at the event were Malacca City mayor Yusof Jantan and dignitaries who included Spanish ambassador Jose Ramon Barano, Netherlands ambassador Lody Embrechts, India`s high commissioner Ashok K Katha and Pakistan`s high commissioner Lft Gen (Rtd) Tahir Mahmud Qazi.
Earlier in his speech, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said that the event was significant as it brought together the various cultures of the region while promoting unity.
He expressed delight at the growing popularity of the annual event as a tourist attraction including the increase in the number of foreign participation.
Source: thestar.com.my (5 Mei 2008)
