Post-Script #5: Reviving the Legacy of Gambus in Malaysia (Pt.2) – The First International Gambus Festival in Kuala Lumpur

by Dr. Raja Zulkarnain “ The Post-Script Project revisits selected key moments and stories—from personal experiences to features in newspapers and magazines—that shaped my journey with the oud (gambus) from 2003 to 2024. Each reflection offers fresh insights, connecting past experiences to the present while exploring the oud’s cultural and personal significance. ” In revisiting the Kosmo! article “Petikan Tali Gambus” (July 31, 2012), I am struck by how deeply the oud—or gambus, as we call it in Malaysia—has resonated across cultures. The second part of the article highlights the dedication required to master the instrument, featuring musicians such as Sherine Tohamy, a passionate Egyptian oud player, and Abbas Naji Kassamany, a Lebanese virtuoso, both of whom emphasized the technical and emotional depth of the oud. It also sheds light on the insights of Majid Nazampur, an Iranian researcher, who noted the cultural adaptations of the instrument acros...