SERIAN: Secondary school students have been urged to take the lead in preserving Bidayuh cultural heritage by documenting traditions, oral histories and indigenous knowledge for future generations.
Delivering the keynote address during ‘The Tebakang Show 2.0’ at SMK Tebakang on Saturday (July 11), Dr Clarence Jerry said the responsibility of safeguarding the community’s cultural identity begins with every family, school and young person.
Speaking on the topic ‘Warisan Budaya Bidayuh: Pemeliharaan, Cabaran, Prospek dan Inspirasi kepada Generasi Muda’, he said the Bidayuh community possesses a rich cultural heritage reflected in its languages, traditional music, dances, oral traditions, customs, handicrafts, architecture and indigenous knowledge.
“Every elder who passes away without sharing his or her knowledge represents the loss of a priceless library,” he said, stressing the urgency of documenting cultural heritage before it disappears.
Clarence said rapid modernisation, urban migration, changing lifestyles and the declining number of cultural practitioners continue to threaten the survival of Bidayuh traditions, particularly oral histories and indigenous knowledge that remain largely undocumented.
Despite these challenges, he said the future of Bidayuh culture remains promising if communities, educational institutions and young people work together to preserve and promote their heritage.
He encouraged students to use digital technology to interview elders, record oral histories, document traditional songs and dances, produce documentaries and build digital archives for future generations.
“Technology should not replace culture but should instead serve as a bridge connecting tradition with the future,” he said.
Clarence also called on schools, families, community organisations and cultural institutions to work together to ensure Bidayuh cultural heritage continues to thrive in an increasingly globalised world.
