George Albert Nuli making a sompoton at his home in Kampung Tempasuk 1, Kota Belud.
For many years, his craft has sustained him and his family, but he worries about what will happen when he is no longer around. “I don’t think all of them will take it up,” he adds, referring to his four children. “But I am hopeful that at least one of them will.” “Anyone can play the guitar or other modern instruments, but only a few can play the sompoton. That makes you stand out.”
“The secret to making good solid sompotons is picking the right bamboo shafts of a certain thickness, and the bark of a tree called polod – the reed – that is cut into small pieces to produce the sound.”His grandfather taught him that bamboo can only be collected when there is no moon in the sky, while the palm trees must face the direction of the sun.“Maybe that’s also why the young are not interested. Nowadays, they want everything instantly, at the click of a button.
“I’m sure there are other sompoton makers out there, but the fact that I don’t know any shows you the kind of industry networking we have, which is sad.”