When research informs art, the results can be unexpectedly revealing. What was initially a study on architectural heritage has ignited discussions that transcend buildings and historical progress – they touch on identity, belonging and the evolving definition of being Bruneian.
From the aerial expanse of the nation’s landscapes to the bridges that symbolise its development, and the cultural markers that distinguish its communities, these elements narrate a familiar story.
Yet, beneath them lies a more personal, unfiltered narrative – one shaped by contemporary voices navigating what it means to exist within this space.
Local documentary Wujud, directed by former assistant professor at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Rui Oliveira Lopes, and Bruneian director and producer Syafi Halim, emerged from a broader research project funded by the local university.
This initiative also produced seven publications, five conference papers, and engaged several undergraduate students as research assistants.
Additionally, it amassed and digitised approximately 150 historical photographs, forming a photographic database that contributes to a deeper understanding of Brunei’s visual heritage.
Difficult topics, once left unspoken, find quiet acknowledgment. The stateless community, long existing on the periphery, is considered with a deeper sense of humanity.
The legacy of intermarriage, evident in the generations raised in the water village above the Brunei River, reflects a cultural identity that is at once diverse and intertwined.
Language and belonging emerge as defining themes. Some hold a yellow IC yet struggle with their mother tongue. Others, raised beyond Brunei’s borders, speak of the challenge of reconciling their sense of home. In these reflections, there is uncertainty, but also resilience.
And as the National Day approaches, these questions feel more present than ever – reminding us that identity is not static, but constantly shaped by time, experience and perspective.
“In the beginning, the documentary was about architectural heritage, created alongside a research paper by Dr Lopes and myself,” said Syafi.
“But during one of the interviews, an interviewee spoke about how the loss of her child strengthened her connection to Allah the Almighty. That moment of raw emotion was when Dr Lopes and I decided to take a more conceptual and deeply human approach.”
The result is an exploration that extends beyond the physicality of heritage, offering a space for introspection – on what has been built, what has been lost, and what continues to evolve in the Bruneian experience.
Divided into different segments, the local documentary explores the different facets of what is inherently Bruneian, from the country’s history way back to the legendary Awang Semaun, brother of the first Sultan, to scenes of our current monarch ascending the throne.
The documentary flows from the more formal aspects of our identity to the more everyday aspects that often go unnoticed. Members of different ethnicities in the Sultanate proudly showcase their languages, from the Lun Bawang to the Dusun, while other residents share how Islam, the national religion, has shaped and strengthened them.
“My favourite part has to be the chapter Manusia, when each person talks about their own identity. It was not just about what makes them Bruneians but it made us think, ‘What is a Bruneian?’” shared Syafi.
“To have others’ perspectives on your own culture, and seeing the diversity of not just Brunei but essentially the people in Borneo, really opened my eyes to cultures that I have been ignorant about,” he added.
In his part, Lopes shared how nuanced and layered the concept of identity can be, even from a small country as Brunei Darussalam.
“Then I understood that even Bruneians themselves have different perspectives on what is a Bruneian identity. That triggered something in me – I began questioning if they see themselves as Bruneians or as Muslims, or through which lens they see their own identity.”
No longer in Brunei, as he now serves as the Director of the Museums of Convergences in Portugal, Lopes expressed his hope that the documentary would inspire positive change both within and beyond the Sultanate.
Ultimately, he believed that the film “brings things into perspective and offers audiences the opportunity to build their own narrative based on their own life experiences, their own thoughts, and their own ideas”.
“It is a film of reflection,” he added. – Wardi Wasil
