Revitalizing the Pratuokng: Innovation, Authenticity, and Cultural Transmission Among the Bidayuh of Annah Rais

Abstract

This communication examines the revitalization of the pratuokng, a traditional Bidayuh bamboo tube zither from Annah Rais, Sarawak, through a qualitative ethnographic case study. A pratuokng is an idiochord tube zither, a musical instrument consisting of one drum and seven strings. Data were collected through interviews with cultural practitioner Arthur Borman, observation of teaching and performance contexts, and review of relevant ethnomusicological literature. The study analyzes how instrument knowledge, tuning practices, and performance techniques are transmitted and adapted in response to contemporary social change and strategies used in encouraging younger generations to performed with pratuokng. Particular attention is given to Borman’s innovations in instrument configuration and musical range, and to how these developments generate debate regarding authenticity, legitimacy, and cultural authority. Previously published acoustic data are referenced to contextualize sound behavior; however, the analytic focus of this paper remains interpretive rather than experimental. Theoretically, the study contributes to discussions on cultural sustainability by framing tradition as a negotiated, evolving process rather than a fixed object. Findings indicate that context-sensitive innovation, community-based pedagogy, and selective global exposure can support continuity of endangered musical heritage while maintaining cultural integrity.