Cultural HeritageMalaysia's 24 Festive Drums: A Cultural Journey
Embark on a cultural journey through Chinese heritage, where each drumbeat echoes stories of resilience and unity.
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Cultural HeritageEmbark on a cultural journey through Chinese heritage, where each drumbeat echoes stories of resilience and unity.
The establishment of the 24 Festive Drums Association Malaysia in August 2015 marked a significant development in the drum culture of Malaysia. As a registered organization in Registry of Society, it built upon the longstanding efforts of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) in promoting the 24 Festive Drums. The association's inaugural president, Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew, was succeeded by Mr. Bernard Goh Seang Heong in 2021, while Mr. Tan Chai Puan, the co-creator of the 24 Festive Drums and an eminent cultural personality and Master Siow Ho Phiew have been serving as the Advisor since the association's inception.
The association's initial focus encompassed organizing regional competitions across the nation to complement the National Elite Competition in Johor Bahru and conducting coaching, certification programs, and professional judging training. In 2021, it published the "24 Festive Drums Textbook," elevating the standard of drum instruction nationwide.
In 2018, the association celebrated the 30th anniversary of the 24 Festive Drums by hosting a large-scale "Drum Feast" at the Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall, drawing widespread attention in the capital.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the association introduced online courses, virtual exchange programs linking Malaysian and Chinese drummers, and webinars to foster a global community among drummers.
In a move towards post-pandemic recovery, the association undertook the hosting of the 6th International Drum Festival and National Elite Competition in 2024. Alongside organizing six regional competitions across Peninsular Malaysia within six months, it plans to hold the grand International Drum Festival and Elite Finals on September 28, 2024, at the KLCC Plenary Hall in Kuala Lumpur. This event commemorates the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the People's Republic of China and supports the Malaysian Cultural Heritage Department's endeavour to nominate the 24 Festive Drums for inclusion in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List by 2026.
There are around 400 24 Festive Drums teams worldwide, including 250 in Malaysia. Teams span across Asia, North America, and Australia, with over 30,000 drummers and at least 7,000 active performers.
To gather information on the development of 24 Festive Drums since the COVID-19 pandemic, and conduct relevant training camps and competitions, we are conducting a nationwide drum teams census from now until December 31, 2023.
We kindly ask for the support and participation of all teams across the country.
1) Please fill in the team information accurately, as it reflects your team's identity and credibility. The data will be stored in the 24 Festive Drums Association of Malaysia's database to support cultural promotion efforts
2) Ensure that the information provided reflects the current situation as of 2023/2024.
Initiate|24 Festive Drums Association Malaysia
Please fill and submit the form below. We will contact you after reviewing.