GEORGE TOWN: It was sweet recognition for musician Jimah Chin when she won the Lifetime Achievement Award (Mastery of Skills) during the George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) Heritage Recognition and Awards Ceremony.

       The 71-year-old has been in the field for 45 years, having dedicated her life to pursuing and sharing her knowledge in music, and plays a variety of instruments including the gambus, guitar, accordion and flute.

       The gambus is a stringed instrument shaped like a pear, commonly played in Malay folk music, and is the lead instrument in ghazal party, a presentation that combines music, songs, comedy, and dancing that is popular in the northern region of the peninsula, especially Penang.

       Jimah, who is a wheelchair user, said she fell in love with music when she was 13 years old.

       “From then onwards, I picked up skills and mastered a range of instruments along the way. In 1972, I started my first ghazal party team, and went on to perform as well as share my knowledge and skills with peers.

       “Since then, we’ve been playing and performing a variety of Arabic and Malay folk music,” she said when met at the ceremony here on Monday.

       Ghazal party songs have elements of Arabian rhythm, with Arabic and Malay lyrics, and are commonly performed at weddings or official events.

       Jimah was among 22 recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award category who were honoured at the ceremony here on Monday.

       Each recipient received a plaque made of teak and copper, a certificate, a set of photo albums and a RM5,000 cash award during the ceremony.