Asmah, the wau-maker lady

KUALA PERLIS, June 19  -- Twenty years ago, her love for wau had led Nor Asmah Daud to travel all the way from Ipoh, Perak, to Kampung Tok Kaya in Kuala Perlis here, to learn the art of making the traditional kite from Pak Non, the Master Craftsman of wau-making.

Now, the 45-year-old lady, and mother of seven, is probably the only female wau-maker and player in the country.

Sharing her story with Bernama, Nor Asmah said she was not only attracted to the intricate art of wau-making but also the gentle way the kite soars in the sky.

“I will be mesmerised every time I looked at a beautiful flying wau in the sky,” said Nor Asmah who spent a year to learn the art of wau-making, especially of Wau Sobek, from Pak Non whose real name is Samat Man.

“In making Wau Sobek, the maker must have a high level of patience because it was not easy to carve the motives, it could take a month depending on the size and the type of the wau,” she said, adding that her favourite motives are the bean leaf and black pepper.

“I love manoeuvring Wau Lang and Wau Merak the most because it was such a stunning view to watch the wau in the air, especially when you personally and emotionally involved the process of making and flying it,” quipped Asmah, who hoped more women would be interested in learning the art, which is slowly being forgotten by the society.

Asmah, who is now married to Pak Non’s son Amran, also said she is willing to guide any women who are keen of learning to become wau makers and hence, preserve the art for future generations.

Meanwhile, Perlis Kraftangan Malaysia director Ahmad Said said they will register Nor Asmah and her husband, Amran Samat, as wau makers in the state, together with Pak Non’s other students.

-- BERNAMA