Museum mulls campaigns on uses of beads

Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Museum is ready to hold public educational campaigns on the history and uses of beads in view of their growing popularity, said its Director Joanna Kitingan."The beads are very much part of our culture as indigenous people. From this (the carnival), I hope the public can deepen their knowledge on beads and its usage," she said after delivering the key note address at the Borneo Beads Carnival seminar and workshop at the G.C Woolley Hall here, Friday.

"The antique beads, especially the carnelian semi-precious stones, are not easy to get and we hope with the exchange of knowledge (with the Borneo island museums), exchange of ideas would begin and we could find our similarities. I have already been to a few exhibitions in Sarawak, Brunei and Kalimantan," she said.

Joanna said the beads played deciding roles in the community which comprised around 30 different indigenous groups. However, she said, the sale of the once highly cherished object for commercial purpose indicated the changing value of the beads.

She added that the museum started acquiring the beadworks since 1965, when one of the museum's first curator E.J.H Berwick donated a bead garland which originated from Taiwan, created by the aborigines there.

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Since then, Joanna said, the museum had expanded its collection, especially beadworks from the Murut and Rungus, Kudat communities.

The beads are the cultural symbol of one's ethnic identity, are passed on as heirlooms, acts as collateral (sogit) or currency, and even as indicator of wealth and prominence in the society.

"For the Murut tribe (also known as hill people), the heirloom in the form of beadworks called 'sulimpok' was passed on to the son or the male line of the family and is exchanged between the groom and the father-in-law during a wedding ceremony.

"The togkol, a necklace made from semi-precious carnelian gemstones and bells, is seen as the most valued form of bead accessory by the community," Joanna, who donned a Rungus beads garland complete with Mindanao beadwork beltwork.

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"Those who notice the Mindanao artwork would be curious to know of the origin of the artwork, hence it could inspire them and make them more creative with their own designs," she said, adding that the beads craft-making had the potential to attract tourists.

"It could be an economic activity as these beadworks could be sold to tourists as traditional art pieces that can be integrated as modern, trendy fashion items. Beads are very versatile artefacts and I have revived the beads craft-making in Tambunan," Joanna asserted, saying the dying art was recovering through tourism and cultural activities such as Unduk Ngadau.

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