Kerinci to participate in archipelago drum festival in Malaka

Kerinci district will send a team to Malaka, Malaysia, to participate in the 14th archipelago drum festival that will take place in April, a local official said,

The festival is every year in Asian countries with populations of Malaysian stock on a totaing basis, Arlis Harun, head of Kerinci district`s youth, sports, tourism and culture office, said said here Wednesday.

"The archipelago drum festival will be participated in by a number of racially Malay countries and a number of provinces in Indonesia," Arlis said.

The Asian countries to participate in the archipelago drum festival in Malaka include Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia and Madagascar.

A number of areas in Indonesia that belong to the Malay family such as West Kalimantan, South Sulawesi and all provinces in Sumatra will take part in the festival.

Kerinci district would send 25 drummers and dance teams who will perform two dances, namely the Sike and Italau.

Arlis said Kerinci district`s participation in the festival was for the first time representing Jambi province.

Kerinci district`s participation in the drum festival in Malaka was a matter of pride for the local administration as it would promote Kerinci as a tourist destination.