7th Sabah International Folklore Festival 2012

Some of the Scarecrow

The Sabah Cultural Board is organizing the International Folklore every year and this year, 2012, the Sabah Cultural Board is organizing the 7th Sabah International Folklore at the Sabah Cultural Centre, Penampang for about 2 weeks (8-17 July 2012). Before the Folklore festival begin, there is a scarecrow making contest held at the Sabah Cultural Centre Penampang organized by the Sabah Cultural Board. The contest are open to public and students. All the finished scarecrow created by contestants will be keep by the Sabah Cultural Board and used to display around the Cultural Centre for the tourist's view.

The Sabah International Folklore Festival intends to promote culture tourism among 18 participating countries as well as to celebrate cultural diversity. This festival also acts as a platform to promote unity through music and dance where all countries with different cultural backgrounds come together to share their own pride and joy. This festival is such an enjoyable entertainment especially to those who are interested in cultural of the world. I have never know about the uniqueness and attracting music and dances of the culture of the people from different world until have put myself in front of the people that participating in the folklore. Every country entertain their own cultural dance and music. Some of the country's cultural dance makes me feel like "WOW!" because their dances are "happening" and fun. I never know that some of the country have such a great music and dance and they have strength in performing their dances and make all the audience satisfy and enjoy. Unfortunately, i am late to be there at the Sabah Cultural Centre, Penampang and i have to sit at the back and not able to capture the nice picture of the dances. However, i still happy and satisfy because i have the chances to witness the cultural diversity of the people around the world. 

At the entrance of the Sabah Cultural Centre,  there are sells of Sabahan crafts and souvenir for the tourists that participate in the festival and also for the visitors. When i reach there, one of the tourist or the international dancer is still looking at the souvenir and let me took her picture. I have experienced the colorful and unique traditional customs of the people around the world.

 

All the dances and music and culture of the participants from 18 countries are really entertaining and the most cultural dance that i really like and enjoy is the cultural dance of the Timor Leste. They have their strength in performing their dance and show the history of their dance which is "freedom". This picture is taken at the place where is sit, therefore i am not able to take the nice picture.  There are many more dances performed by each country such as Czech Republic, Finland, Indonesia, Poland, and many other international country but as i mentioned just now, the pictures are not clear and far. Next year, the Sabah Cultural Board will organize the 8th Sabah International Folklore festival. If i have the chance, i will go to the festival again and enjoy the festival and witnessing the diversity of cultural dances and music and surely i will come earlier and capture the nice and clear picture.