1992
A small group of writers, artists and film makers established a base in the jungles of Pertak with the intention of setting up a community arts project. They called themselves Magick River. Antares (aka Kit Leee), who was living in Pertak full time, began interacting with the local Temuan tribe and discovered there were still some of the elders who remembered their ancient tribal songs and mythology.
1993
Antares and Rafique Rashid began collaborating with ceremonial singer Mak Minah to record some of the Temuan songs. The songs are traditionally performed as vocal chants accompanied by the hypnotic beat of bamboo poles. They recount the ancient mythology of the Temuan people. The songs used to be performed annually at the Sawai - an earth healing ritual designed to appease the nature spirits that the jungle dwellers believe they depend on for their existence.
Antares and Rafique realised these songs were worth preserving and that they also had commercial appeal especially since the world music genre was gaining in popularity. They arranged the traditional song Burung Meniyun putting it into a more contemporary setting as part of a musical score for a dance performance by Chandrabhanu at the PJ Civic Centre. Mak Minah appeared on stage for the first time.
Members of the Magick River group obtained sponsorship from the Rotary Clubs of Rawang and Seremban and organised a short holiday in Port Dickson for the Pertak tribe. This was the first time most of them had ever seen the sea.
1994
Drawing on their extensive contacts with local musicians, Rafique and Antares developed a new way of presenting the Temuan sacred songs. The band Akar Umbi was born with Mak Minah as lead singer. They made their debut at the mammoth Shah Alam stadium as part of a fund-raising concert for Bosnian refugees. The concert was carried live by national broadcaster RTM.
1995
Antares married into the Temuan tribe. Akar Umbi were invited to perform at Out in the Open - an arts festival organised by Instant Cafe Theatre at Carcosa Seri Negara. They have subsequently performed guest spots for Dr. Wan Zawawi’s “Dayung” concerts in Kuala Lumpur, Bangi, Ipoh and Kuching, Sarawak.
1996
Logging began at Bukit Kutu - one of the Temuan’s sacred sites. Magick River members alerted the press and enlisted the help of Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Friends Of the Earth) The logging was eventually stopped and several of the tribe began to realise:-
· the value of the media and how they could use it to communicate to a wider audience.
· that they could get support and encouragement to bring about positive change.
· that they had friends and allies in the non-Asli population.
1997
February: Two of the major sources of Temuan mythology, Diap Anak Ketum and Nadi Anak Empok, died within a week of each other.