MIRI: The Cultural Night held in conjunction with the 2025 KEBANA Sports and Cultural Festival successfully brought together hundreds of Kenyah Badeng community members from across Sarawak in a vibrant celebration of heritage and unity at the National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN) Miri on Sunday.

The event was officiated by Mayor of Miri City and Pujut Assemblyman, Adam Yii Siew Sang who represented Sarawak Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew.

In his speech delivered by Adam Yii, Datuk Sebastian expressed appreciation to the Sarawak Kenyah Badeng Association for organising the annual festival, which he said not only preserves cultural heritage but also strengthens communal bonds.

“KEBANA is a proud symbol of the Kenyah Badeng community’s identity, successfully uniting members from across Sarawak, including from Miri, Sibu, Kuching and Bintulu.

“This festival reflects holistic human development through a fusion of sports, culture and spirituality,” he said.

He acknowledged KEBANA — officially established on 12 January 2004 — as a strategic partner to the government in empowering rural communities through grassroots-based initiatives.

Datuk Sebastian also encouraged youth to remain active in the association to ensure the continued preservation of Kenyah Badeng culture and identity for generations to come.

The evening featured a series of captivating traditional performances and received enthusiastic response from the audience.

The Cultural Night formed part of the three-day KEBANA Festival from May 31 to June 2, which also included open and veteran sports tournaments (Leko Dadu’c), women’s futsal, badminton, volleyball, and an award ceremony for outstanding students.

The festival continues to serve as a meaningful platform to deepen ties and instil a strong love for heritage within the Kenyah Badeng community throughout Sarawak. -UKASnews