KUCHING: Two icons in the Dayak music fraternity – Andrewson Ngalai and Jenny Tan – were awarded the most successful male and female singers respectively in the inaugural Dayak Music Awards (Dama) 2008, Saturday night.

Ngalai, popular for his song ‘Biar Bekikis Bulu Betis’ and the main figure in Miri-based ANP Music Production, beat two other big names namely, Jennarino Jeraki and Wesley Blaja, to win the award. What husband Jennarino failed to get, Jenny, popular for the song ‘Lelaki’ and who owns the Kuching-based Golden Pearl Recording Studio, won.

She was the sole nominee in the most successful female singer category.

As recipients of Dama’s most prestigious award, both Ngalai and Jenny received their ‘Grammy’ trophies and prizes from guest-of-honour, Minister of Information Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

The most successful male and female singer also offer the highest cash prize – RM5,000, compared to the RM1,500 for the other 29 categories.

Jennarino, Golden Pearl’s leading composer, made up for his loss in the most successful male Dayak singer after his classic song Endena won the best Dayak song (male) in the Iban section.

His beat two other vastly popular songs Flora by sape player Jerry Kamit and Seribu Satu by renowned tattoo artist Ernesto Kalum Umpie.

Elsewhere, the father-daughter combination of Jimmy Geres Sinju and Claudia Geres succeeded in winning two awards in the Bidayuh section through the song Menu Menu Rindu.

Jimmy who composed the song, won the Best Dayak Composer for Bidayuh section, while Claudia who sang the song was adjudged the Best Dayak Singer (Female) for Bidayuh.

In the Orang Ulu section, Kenyah lady Rosiana Urai, also known as Mama Rock among her fans, dominated by winning three awards – Best Dayak Patriotic Song (Orang Ulu) for the song Telang Usan; Best Dayak Song (Orang Ulu Female) for the song Anak and Best Dayak Song Composer (Orang Ulu Female), again for the song Telang Usan – to complete the hattrick.

Ernesto, the most recognisable tattoo artist in Sarawak, also did not go home empty handed after he took the Best Produced Album of the Year for his album ‘1001’.

Several songs recorded even as far back as 10 years ago were also nominated, as the organising committee accommodated them especially for this inaugural occasion. The same privilege however would not be accorded for future Damas, The Borneo Post was made to understand yesterday.

As such, Nai Dinamik also won an award for his classic hit Lelenggau despite this song being recorded almost two decades ago.

This was achieved after he won the Best Dayak Singer (Male Iban) for that song.

There were altogether 87 shortlisted nominees out of the 186 entrants for the 28 categories.

There were no nominees for Best Dayak Song (Orang Ulu Male) and Best Promising New Singer (Bidayuh Female).

Dama organising chairman Dato Sri Celestine Ujang, who spoke at the ceremony, hoped Dama will eventually lead to the long-awaited formation of an association for the recording artistes, musicians, composers and all those involved the Dayak music fraternity.

“We need to be together in an association to protect ourselves, protect our music and as a platform to voice ourselves to the authorities,” he said.

Bintang RTM 2005 winner Felicia Gek, Akademi Fantasia 6 contestant Stanley David, Dayak performers from Indonesia and some of the nominees also performed at intervals during the award presentation.

Everybody, including Shabery, stayed on until the end of the awards ceremony.