Negri’s Bunga Lado songket blooms again
AFTER a gap of 26 years, the Negri Sembilan songket is set for a revival, featuring the iconic Bunga Lado (pepper flower) motif, an iconic heritage from the state.
Spearheading this cultural resurgence is Mohd Khairil Hisham Mohd Ashaari, the curator of Tuanku Ja’afar Royal Gallery, who underscored the significance of this initiative to honour and preserve Negri Sembilan’s art and culture.
Around 1998, the Adat Perpatih state’s songket gained notable recognition for its motifs inspired by carvings and plants.
In the latest initiative, there is a heightened commitment to highlighting the distinct identity of Bunga Lado through a collaboration with the Prisons Department, aimed at crafting high-quality songket.
“The inspiration for this concept emerged during the Movement Control Order (MCO). It was during this period that we conceptualised a distinctive pattern featuring pepper flowers.
“Taking the idea further, I reached out to a contact in Terengganu, seeking collaboration to produce a songket adorned with this unique floral motif.
“Following that, we visited a Kelantan prison to gain insights into the craft of songket-making. We plan to produce it at the Jelebu Prison, as we want the songket to be made in the state,” he said.
The smooth songket’s texture exhibits distinct patterns on the front and back, he added, making it suitable for various styles, whether for day or night.
He said there were plans to create a unique songket pattern inspired by the four ‘luak’ (clans) the state, incorporating the distinctive Bunga Lado motif.
“Each ‘luak’ in this state has its own identity, but the basic motif remains Bunga Lado. So the design is based on the carvings and identity of each luak.”
Khairil said the Bunga Lado motif, characterised by its white colour, petals, five stamens and stigma, serves as a symbolic representation of the state’s uniqueness, particularly its association with spicy cuisine.
The leaves symbolise the people of the state, while the five petals represent the five pillars of Islam and the five pillars of the nation. The five stamen, or 'benang sari', symbolise
the Undang Yang Empat — Undang Sungai Ujong,
Undang Jelebu, Undang
Johol, Undang Rembau — and Tuanku Besar Tampin, while the stigma represents the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
He said the gallery is also actively promoting other heritage, such as women’s traditional clothing, which is the Baju Kebaya Setengah Tiang, comprising a long top and a batik sarong.
He said this baju kebaya and the Bunga Lado songket will be exhibited at the Tuanku Ja'afar Gallery on Feb 23 for the prison products sales.
Khairil said the state’s nine identities are the Adat Perpatih, traditional long-roofed house, Gulai Kuning (traditional cuisine), Bunga Lado, Gasing (traditional games), Cak Lempong (music), Tarian Piring Lambung (dance), six songs published by the state's Tourism Board and Baju Cekak Musang Melayu (traditional men’s attire).