Greetings, graceful viewers, and welcome to A Journey through Aesthetic Realms on Supreme Master Television. Today, we will travel to a tropical paradise, the Sultanate of Brunei, to meet members of the Traditional Arts Organization of the Bisaya Tribe, and have the opportunity to appreciate their traditional music and dances.

Awang Limbun bin Yaba: Good afternoon! We thank Supreme Master TV for coming to our village. Thank you for coming here. And, I am Awang Limbun bin Yaba, the deputy chairman of the Traditional Arts Organization of the Bisaya Tribe.

Among the seven ethnic groups in Brunei, Bisayas live along the northwestern coast. Indigenous Bisayas are also found in the Sabah and Sarawak states of Malaysia. According to a Bornean Bisaya legend, when the Sultan of Brunei first saw the land of Bisaya, he exclaimed, “Bisai-yah!” which means “How beautiful!” Thus the residents of this blessed land were named.

As followers of the Muslim faith, Christianity, or their own indigenous religions, Bisayas are a harmonious and confident people.

Awang Limbun bin Yaba (m): Bisaya tribe is our own tribe. In the olden days, we believed and obeyed whatever were the decrees of our kings. We believe in ourselves. So the olden rulers also believed in us.

Bisayas came to Borneo Island several thousand years ago. They are well known for their expertise in growing rice, yam, sago, banana, coconut, ginger, pepper, amongst other plants. During the annual thanksgiving harvest celebration, the cheerful men and women in ethnic costumes sing and dance to their folk music. Let’s listen now to a song played with traditional instruments, entitled “Gendang Perang.”