ANAABU EID: SUKMA, TANAH & AIR (VIDEO & CATALOGUE COPYWRITING)

March 2023

Di mana bumi berpijak,

di situ langit dijunjung.

We are made of history.

Spirits of ancestors flowing through bodies

our flesh and blood

our sweat and tears.

We are the borrowers.

Carrying stories on our back

lessons of love and light

inherited from generation to generation.

We come from a long line of travelers,

migrating from past to future

passing down words of wisdom and prayers

a transition ever in motion.

Bulat air kerana pembetung,

bulat manusia kerana muafakat--

air jugalah dicincang tiada putus.

The colour of our skin

the curve of our physique

the wrinkles on our hands

the lines on our faces

- we are so different

yet so similar.

It is within these contrasting thoughts and beliefs that we unearth our shared values and reasoning. As it takes water, air, and sun for seeds to grow into plants -- without these different forces put together, we won’t be harvesting any fruits of labour. If there’s one thing that our motherland has taught us, it is this: The only way to rise against all odds, to march through life no matter what’s thrown at us, is to embrace unlikeness and empower realness.

Biduk lalu kiambang bertaut--

sakit sama mengadu,

luka sama menyiuk.

Celebrating courage demands finding agreement in disagreement. Because courage is moving forward despite faults and flaws. Courage is pushing on and making progress despite the imperfections. Our lineage traces its origin from exactly this. Our forefathers didn’t stop. They stayed grounded, their notions preserved, yet they didn’t stop. Where they came from were never forgotten. They forged ahead. Hence here we are. In their spirit. Semangat. Jiwa. Sukma. Dancing and versing through the same chorus, all in the name of our motherland.

Duduk sama rendah,

berdiri sama tinggi.

Serumpun bak serai,

sesusun bak sirih.