Sarawakian, Alena Murang has earned another international accolade after her original Kelabit-language song, “Sekunuh Kamih”, won a Silver Medal at the prestigious Global Music Awards.
Alena, known best as a musician and cultural advocate is no stranger to the world music scene for her talent in playing the sape and belting out popular hits Bejugit Betanda Menari, Sky Songs, Nadi and Flight.
The recognition marks another significant achievement for Alena Murang, whose music has consistently highlighted the languages, traditions and stories of Sarawak’s Indigenous communities.
The Silver Medal recognises outstanding artistic achievement, with the Global Music Awards honouring independent musicians from around the world for creativity, musicality and cultural impact.
About “Sekunuh Kamih”
“Sekunuh Kamih”, which means “Our Stories” in the Kelabit language, is a deeply personal work centred on Indigenous identity, ancestral knowledge and the importance of preserving oral traditions.
The song combines the distinctive sound of the sape’, a traditional lute associated with the Indigenous communities of Borneo, with contemporary musical production.
One of the most meaningful elements of the song is the inclusion of voices from three generations of the Kelabit community.
The recording begins with an archival cassette recording of Alena’s father from the 1980s. In the recording, he asks his uncle who told him the story, with the elder responding that the stories came from the elders long ago.
The song also features Alena’s grandaunt reciting an ancient epic about two warriors, further strengthening its central message about passing stories and knowledge from one generation to the next.
The track was produced by Malaysian music director, producer and multi-instrumentalist Melina William, who also has Orang Ulu heritage.
Aside from “Sekunuh Kamih”, Alena had also won several other awards for her songs namely Silver Medal honours at the Global Music Awards in 2021 for “Warrior Spirit” in the Best Concept and Best Music Video categories.
“Sekunuh Kamih” was released as a single on May 21, 2026, and is now available on major music streaming platforms including Apple Music and Spotify.
You can listen to this award winning song below.
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