Meet the Original Singer of the Folk Song Wan Lebo
Wan Lebo is one of those folk songs that is not only popular in the state of Perak but is also widely known throughout Malaysia. We often hear this folk song used as background music in television dramas and programs.
Have you ever wondered who the voice behind this popular and beloved folk song belongs to? Exclusively for you, the editors from the orangperak.com team have successfully tracked down the heir of the original singer of Wan Lebo to bring you this fascinating information. For our loyal readers at orangperak.com, the original singer of the folk song Wan Lebo is none other than Sufian Mohd Gamat. He was also known as Tok Pian by the locals around the Teluk Bakong area. The first question our editor asked Tok Pian's nephew was: who exactly is Wan Lebo? Did she really exist, or was she just a figment of Tok Pian's imagination? According to Zamree, Tok Pian's nephew, Wan Lebo was a real person and her story is quite unique.
Sufian Mohd Gamat (wearing a white skullcap) with Zamree's father
According to Zamree, the name Wan Lebo in the song's lyrics was actually Tok Pian's female cousin. The song was inspired by an incident where Wan Lebo wanted to follow Tok Pian across the Perak river by boat to see softshell turtles, only to fall face-first into the sand. However, the full details remain unknown as the story was never passed down by Tok Pian. During his lifetime, Tok Pian often performed with a band called Seri Nada, led by the late Din Cerit. Whenever they were invited, they would liven up events by singing traditional Malay songs around the Perak Tengah area near Telok Bakong.
The Seri Nada group (the man in the white shirt & black hat is the late Din Cerit)
Besides singing, Tok Pian, the original singer of Wan Lebo, was also skilled at playing instruments like the gambus and violin. Every time he played, he would leave his listeners mesmerized by the beauty of the music. Among the many songs composed by Sufian Mohd Gamat, Wan Lebo is the most popular and well-loved. The lyrics and rhythm were created by Tok Pian himself, and he often sang it casually at weddings. Every living soul must eventually return to the Creator. Sufian Mohd Gamat passed away at the age of 70 around 2008 due to heart disease and was laid to rest in his birthplace, Teluk Bakong.
Lyrics to the song Wan Lebo
Stopping for the night at Uncle's house Eating rice with taro leaves Even if poor, act with style As long as there is peace in the heart
Fermenting bananas Bananas ripen and wither Falling into the mud Caught by the father of the catfish
Coconut shoots, grasshoppers hopping Whoever makes a fuss Will surely get pinched
From Lambor going to Bota Stopping for the night at Wan Lebo's house Intending to propose to a maiden Ended up with a widow whose hair was falling out
Fermenting bananas Bananas ripen and wither Falling into the mud Caught by the father of the catfish
Coconut shoots, grasshoppers hopping Whoever makes a fuss Will surely get pinched
Jumping from the Bota bridge Got a durian that was already unripe Thought it was water in the puddle Fell face-first onto the sand
Fermenting bananas Bananas ripen and wither Falling into the mud Caught by the father of the catfish
Coconut shoots, grasshoppers hopping Whoever makes a fuss Will surely get pinched
From Lambor going to Bota Stopping for the night at Wan Lebo's house Intending to propose to a maiden Ended up with a widow whose hair was falling out
Fermenting bananas Bananas ripen and wither Falling into the mud Caught by the father of the catfish
Coconut shoots, grasshoppers hopping Whoever makes a fuss Will surely get pinched
Today, Tok Pian's heir, his nephew Zamree, who is also from Telok Bakong, has recorded a new version of Wan Lebo. He included the song in his debut album, which features 4 traditional songs in the Perak dialect.
Zamree, nephew of Sufian Mohd Gamat
Zamree, who is Tok Pian's nephew (the older brother of Zamree's mother), has been active in the arts and film industry since 1981. Among the films he has been involved in are Sesejuk Air Mata Ibu, Abang, and Bukit Kepong. Zamree also appeared in the drama Ta'in 3T.
Looking ahead, the 60-year-old Zamree intends to release folk songs related to the Ikan Tapah and Tok Kadok. If you enjoy the song Wan Lebo, you can purchase the CD album for only RM25, featuring the song re-recorded by the original singer's heir, by messaging 019 598 2601 (Zamree) via WhatsApp. Latest update: It is with great sadness that we announce that Zamree, the nephew of Sufian Mohd Gamat, passed away on March 24, 2020. May his soul be placed among the righteous.
