BAU: Music, laughter and cultural pride filled the air as the inaugural Bau Cultural and Tourism Festival (BCTF) 2026 ended on a vibrant and memorable note on Saturday night.
The two-day festival, held from May 8 at the REDEEMS Centre Bidayuh Cultural Village (BCV) in Singai, concluded with a lively stage concert that drew between 3,000 and 5,000 visitors from across the region.
Young and old gathered shoulder-to-shoulder before the brightly lit stage, creating an electric atmosphere as the night’s entertainment unfolded with colourful performances, rhythmic music and thunderous cheers from the crowd.
The concert featured popular entertainers including Malaysian dangdut sensation Baby Shima, Sarawakian world music band At Adau, Depha Masterpiece and several local acts.
As the evening progressed, festivalgoers packed the concert grounds, many waving their phones in the air while singing along to familiar tunes.
Food stalls remained crowded late into the night while families, youths and visitors from neighbouring villages mingled in a festive atmosphere reflecting the spirit of togetherness promoted throughout the festival.
The loudest cheers of the night erupted when Baby Shima was announced as the final performer.
The singer, known for her energetic stage presence and close connection with Sarawakian audiences, immediately ignited the crowd as she opened her set with “Masuk Lagi”.
Dressed in an “effortless” stage attire and backed by energetic dancers, she kept the momentum going with her recent single “Stecu Stecu 2”, before delighting the audience with her popular Iban number “Bujang Sarawak”.
The audience enthusiastically sang along to the “Bujang Sarawak” chorus, with many fans recording the performance on their mobile phones while others danced near the front of the stage.
Primarily known as a dangdut singer with hits such as “Pura-Pura Bujang”, Baby Shima has earned strong support from Sarawakians for her willingness to embrace local culture through her Iban-language songs.
Her 2024 release “Bujang Sarawak” significantly boosted her popularity in the state, and she has since become a familiar crowd favourite at performances in places in other parts of Sarawak including Miri and Sibu.
Many in the audience praised her efforts to connect with local communities respectfully while celebrating Sarawak’s cultural identity through music.
Earlier, At Adau mesmerised the audience with their signature blend of traditional and modern sounds.
The seven-member band from Kuching, comprising Ezra Tekola, Jackson Lian Ngau, Meldrick Bob Udos, Alfonso Mckenzie, Luke Wrender, Cerdic Riseng and Juju Lee, delivered an immersive performance combining the soothing sounds of the sape, tabuh Iban and perotung with contemporary drums, bass and electric guitars.
Their ambient world music performance brought a distinctly Sarawakian flavour to the concert and showcased the richness of Bornean musical traditions.
Formed in 2014, At Adau is widely recognised for representing Sarawakian culture on international stages, including appearances at the renowned Rainforest World Music Festival.
Beyond the concert, the festival featured various activities including traditional sports competitions, a Gawai open house at the longhouse, handicraft exhibitions, food sales and a mass Zumba session.
The programme was organised in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 to promote Bau as a tourism destination rich in culture, heritage and natural beauty.
The concept of gotong-royong formed the foundation of the event, with communities from Bau and Lundu working together to make the inaugural festival a success.
Besides highlighting the culture and customs of the Bidayuh sub-ethnic groups — Jagoi, Singai, Bratak, Serembu and Krokong Tringgus — the organisers also invited participation from the Salako community in Lundu District as well as Malay and Chinese communities in Bau.
Speaking earlier during the closing ceremony at Datuk Peter Nansian’s Hall, Deputy Minister for Transport (Riverine and Marine) and Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Henry Harry Jinep described the festival as an important first step in positioning Bau as a cultural tourism destination.
He expressed hope that, with support from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the festival could eventually grow into a major annual tourism event.
The opening ceremony on Friday was officiated by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who also attended the cultural performances at the BCV alongside Henry.
