KOTA KINABALU: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry has taken an effort to revitalise the creative industry in Sabah under a new norm and concept following the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.
The ministry through the National Culture and Arts Department Sabah organised the Rhythms of Kinabalu (ROK) @ Online 2021 programme starting today and tomorrow through the JKKN TV Social media channel.
ROK @ Online 2021 aims to invigorate and preserve the art of dance and music in Sabah, disseminate arts activities and further increase the appreciation of music and dance art of the local community.
The programme themed "Musical Land Below The Wind" was organised in collaboration with the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation Sabah branch and Sabah's Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS) Ministry.
Also on board was Radio Televisyen Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia, Sabah Cultural Board, Sabah Tourism Board, Universiti Malaysia Sabah and the Academy of Creative Arts and Technology (ASTIF).
For the record, the ROK was organised from 2011 to 2017 and revived this year amidst the pandemic where JKKN Sabah has improved the programme by diversifying the activities to suit all ages and families as well as different audiences.
Among the contents of ROK 2021 are the musical performance of "Musical Land Below The Wind" which includes the north west coast division, west coast division, upper interior division, lower interior division, Sandakan division and east coast division such as singing, dancing, choir, music orchestra, promotion of Sabah cultural arts and tourism products.
The programme will be enlivened with the performance of local artistes such as Jimmy Palikat, Francis Landong, Fauziah Gambus, Razali Kulintangan, Dyana, Aziz Omar, Siti Fairuz, Razip@Anip, Sabah JKKN Arts Group, Sabah State Cultural Board Arts Group and Group Tagap Dance.
Also making appearance are Pratama Dance Group, D'Step Group, Sabah Traditional Local Music Group, Modern Orchestral Music Group (UMS), Sabah State Cultural Board Traditional Music Artist, In Unity Chorale Choir and Maya Hejnowska who is the state Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan Champion 2021.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri in her speech said the organisation of this programme was expected to give a new impact in the efforts to revive the country's arts and tourism industry, especially in Sabah.
"I am sure that the Rhythms of Kinabalu @Online 2021 programme can promote Sabah's cultural tourism to attract more domestic and foreign tourists when the international tourism sector reopens", she said.
More information on ROK 2021, can be found via website www.jkkn.gov.my or social sites www.facebook.com/mysenibudaya and www.facebook.com/jkknsabah.