Uwang Ahadas | |
---|---|
![]() Uwang Ahadas in 2017 | |
Background information | |
Born | February 15, 1945 |
Origin | Lamitan, Basilan, Philippines |
Died | October 29, 2022 | (aged 77)
Genres | Folk |
Instruments |
|
Awards:
![]() Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan |
Uwang Ahadas [1] (February 15, 1945 – October 29, 2022) was a Filipino folk musician of the Yakan people who was a recipient of the National Living Treasures Award. [2]
Uwang Ahadas was born on February 15, 1945. [3] He went near blind when he was five years old. People in his community believed that this was due to retribution of nature spirits which lived in Bohe Libaken, a creek where Ahadas frequently bathed in. Ahadas along with his sibling musicians were taught how to play Yakan traditional instruments as children. He first learned how to play the gabbang, a wooden bamboo instrument similar to the xylophone then learned how to play the agung [4] an instrument traditionally played by Yakan men. [2]
By age 20, Ahadas had already mastered the kwintangan which is considered as the most important Yakan musical instrument despite the instrument being traditionally reserved for women. [2] He could also play the tuntungan. [5]
Ahadas taught his children how to play Yakan traditional instruments, including Darna who would later become a teacher of these traditions herself. Ahadas went on to promote these traditions outside his native town of Lamitan, Basilan. [4]
Ahadas was recognized as a National Living Treasure by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in the year 2000. [6] He died on October 29, 2022, at the age of 77. [7]
Uwang Ahadas | |
---|---|
![]() Uwang Ahadas in 2017 | |
Background information | |
Born | February 15, 1945 |
Origin | Lamitan, Basilan, Philippines |
Died | October 29, 2022 | (aged 77)
Genres | Folk |
Instruments |
|
Awards:
![]() Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan |
Uwang Ahadas [1] (February 15, 1945 – October 29, 2022) was a Filipino folk musician of the Yakan people who was a recipient of the National Living Treasures Award. [2]
Uwang Ahadas was born on February 15, 1945. [3] He went near blind when he was five years old. People in his community believed that this was due to retribution of nature spirits which lived in Bohe Libaken, a creek where Ahadas frequently bathed in. Ahadas along with his sibling musicians were taught how to play Yakan traditional instruments as children. He first learned how to play the gabbang, a wooden bamboo instrument similar to the xylophone then learned how to play the agung [4] an instrument traditionally played by Yakan men. [2]
By age 20, Ahadas had already mastered the kwintangan which is considered as the most important Yakan musical instrument despite the instrument being traditionally reserved for women. [2] He could also play the tuntungan. [5]
Ahadas taught his children how to play Yakan traditional instruments, including Darna who would later become a teacher of these traditions herself. Ahadas went on to promote these traditions outside his native town of Lamitan, Basilan. [4]
Ahadas was recognized as a National Living Treasure by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in the year 2000. [6] He died on October 29, 2022, at the age of 77. [7]