To celebrate Taiwanese American Heritage Week, Taiwan's aboriginal Amis Kakeng Musical Group presented highlights of its repertoire to audiences in the greater Washington, D.C. area at Tysons Corner May 29-30.
The Amis Kakeng Musical Group, formed by members of Taiwan's largest indigenous tribe, the Amis, has been asked by the Taiwan government to serve as a cultural ambassador and to introduce Taiwan's culture to friends across North America. Wearing traditional Amis clothing, the troupe performed rousing traditional Amis songs using the kakeng (a percussion instrument made of bamboo) and other traditional Amis instruments, including bamboo nose flutes.
This year's festival also featured Taiwanese puppet shows from the Taiwanese Student Association of University of Wisconsin, performances by a local Taiwanese Language School and dances by the local Taiwanese American Cultural Dance Association. In addition to authentic Taiwanese arts and crafts such as paper folding, dough sculpting, tea art, and fortune telling were demonstrated as well.
Taiwanese American Heritage Week, held every May since 1999 as part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, has become one of the most important events for Taiwanese organizations in the United States.
The festival was organized by the Taiwanese Association of America- Greater Washington Chapter, and sponsored by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States, Taiwan's Overseas Chinese Commission, Taiwan's Tourism Bureau, and other Taiwanese community members.
