Alena Murang is a young artist from Borneo, working to preserve her Dayak Kelabit indigenous roots. She has become synonymous with the sape, a lute instrument of the highland tribes of Borneo, traditionally reserved for male healers.

The first woman to professionally perform and teach this instrument, she sings in the endangered languages of Kelabit and Kenyah and her work to preserve intangible cultural heritage has been recognised by UNESCO, where she has acted as a youth representative.

She told us about her journey into music, her deep connection with her indigenous roots as well as the challenges of being a mixed race child, and all about the significance of the sape.

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Original music that appears in amplifyHER is included with the kind permission of the artists. All rights reserved.