Alena is seen in a screenshot from the award-winning video ‘Warrior Spirit’.
KUCHING (July 5): Alena Murang and Sarah Lois Dorai have been praised for winning the Best Asia and Pacific Music Video at this year’s International Music Video Awards (IMVA) in the United Kingdom.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the duo, who also received an honourable mention for the IMVA’s Best Costume category, made Sarawak proud by raising Sarawak and Malaysia’s profile in the international music scene, which is very competitive in nature.
“Both had shown to us that Sarawakian artistes are capable of using music as well as creative film making as the platforms in showcasing our rich traditional Sarawak and Borneo heritage,” he said when extending his congratulations.
The music video entitled ‘Warrior Spirit’ was released on YouTube on May 27 and has so far attracted over 149,000 views worldwide, while winning the hearts of the IMVA judges, who were from various countries.
Abdul Karim commended the music video, which was produced by the same team behind Alena’s other award-winning music video ‘Midang Midang’, was directed by Sarah and co-produced by Kanid Studio and Project Room.
He said Sarawak’s unique history, culture, arts, and traditions had always captivated the imagination of people from other countries simply.
“The music video was wonderfully done and the storyboard was mesmerising to the viewers while capturing their imagination on how wonderful the state of Sarawak is, especially where its past history, rich culture, arts, and traditions are concerned. It is still a wonderful place like no other!
“Thumbs up to their creativity in taking inspiration from the diverse ethnic cultures, traditional dances, and colourful costumes found in Sarawak, which were showcased in the entire video that had related the spirit of local warriors, their strength, and courage in fighting together for a bigger cause,” he added.