Drum Up Jb Backs Unesco Bid For Festive Drums

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- Award-winning cultural troupe Drum Up JB will return to the Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House in Johor Bahru from Nov 14 to 16, supporting Malaysia’s official nomination of the 24 Festive Drums to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List 2026.

Panel adviser Lee Sheah Liang said the troupe is proud to stage its thunderous 70-minute production ‘Drums: A New Beat Beckons’” in support of the nomination.

“24 Festive Drums was formally recognised in 2009 on the Malaysia National Heritage List’s ‘Intangible Object’ category, and we are also very excited to support the Malaysian government’s nomination of 24 Festive Drums on the 2026 UNESCO Intangible Heritage List,” he said in a statement today.

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The Malaysian-born artform has since inspired over 600 troupes worldwide, including the homegrown Drum Up JB. The November production will once again be directed by Yeo Lyle, with hopes of establishing Drum Up JB as a permanent cultural fixture at the Opera House.

“Just like Broadway has The Lion King or London’s West End has Les Misérables, we want Johor to be known for Drum Up JB — something all Malaysians can proudly call their own,” Lee added.

 ‘Drums: A New Beat Beckons’ is a Malaysia MADANI initiative supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), MyCreative Ventures, Digital Districts, the 24 Festive Drums Association Malaysia, and Cloudjoi.

-- BERNAMA