February

Nusantara Night 2025 : Where Cultures Unite, Memories Ignite

Our month of February kicks starts with LUMSoc’s exciting brand-new flagship event, the first of its kind: Nusantara Night! On the 2nd of February 2025, the Riley Smith Theatre was transformed into a vibrant celebration of culture as LUMSoc, PPI Greater Leeds, and Bruleeds came together to host Nusantara Night 2025. This spectacular evening brought together the rich traditions of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei in a beautiful display of unity and heritage.

Guests were treated to a feast of flavours, with each nation serving its most iconic dishes —Malaysia presented nasi lemak, curry chicken, and pasembur, Indonesia delighted everyone with martabak manis, bakwan jagung, martabak telor, and es buah, while Brunei showcased nasi katok/pusu, ambuyat, and kueh mor.

Beyond the incredible food, the night was filled with exciting activities, including interactive booth exhibitions featuring a henna booth, photobooth station and an Indonesian snack booth. The highlight of the night was the stunning fashion show, which showcased traditional attire such as baju melayu, baju kurung, cheongsam, kurta, kebaya, batik, and churidar, emphasising the cultural similarities between the three nations. The event also featured captivating performances, including the singing of iconic traditional songs, a syair recital, a folk song medley, and the energetic Maumere dance.

The evening was a true testament to the power of cultural unity, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the traditions and elegance of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. A heartfelt thank you goes out to Education Malaysia London (EML) for their generous support in making this event possible, as well as to everyone who attended and contributed to an unforgettable night filled with music, performances, fashion, and an appreciation for the diverse beauty of our Nusantara heritage.

Chinese New Year Celebration : Give it A Go!

On 9th February 2025, LUMSoc brought the warmth of home to Leeds by hosting the Chinese New Year (CNY) GIAG, uniting Malaysian students to celebrate the festive occasion. The Chinese New Year event was a heartfelt reminder that even far from home, traditions thrive when shared together.

Creativity blossomed at the Ang Pao decorating and lantern-making stations, where participants poured their hearts into crafting symbols of prosperity. Laughter echoed through the room as friends exchanged ideas and admired each other's work. The festive photo booth added to the lively atmosphere, capturing moments of joy and friendship that will be cherished long after the celebration.

A comforting spread of Garlic Butter Fried Rice, Spring Rolls, Chrysanthemum Tea, and sweet Mandarin oranges brought everyone together, offering a taste of home that warmed both hearts and stomachs.

The celebration reached its peak with the Prosperity Toss, or Yee Sang. As ingredients were tossed high into the air, wishes for happiness, health, and success filled the room. In that shared moment, strangers became friends, and the distance from home felt a little smaller.

"Though distances may separate us, in every smile, shared meal, and hopeful wish, we found that home is not just a place – it is the bonds we create together."

Unplugged 2025 : Throwback Hits 

On the 15th of February 2025, Unplugged took centre stage at Pyramid Theatre, marking yet another unforgettable night in LUMSoc history!

This flagship singing competition featuring a thrilling Throwback Hits theme, brought together music lovers from the University of Leeds and beyond, celebrating the best of the 1980s to 2010s. With cash prizes up for grabs: £60 for first place, £40 for second, and £20 for third, the competition was fierce, the performances electric, and the nostalgia real.

Before the battle of voices began, the night kicked off with an open karaoke session, where anyone could grab the mic and belt out their favourite tunes. The energy was buzzing as the crowd warmed up, enjoying light refreshments and snacks before the main event. As the competition started, contestant after contestant took the stage, each delivering their own spin on classic throwback hits, captivating the audience with raw talent, passion, and charisma.

Then came the moment everyone was waiting for the winners! Jayden and Soul stole the show and claimed first place with their soulful and heart-melting renditions of Can’t Take My Eyes Off You and Just the Two of Us. In second place, Lucas Paw wowed the crowd with his emotional performance of Linger by The Cranberries, even surprising everyone with an original song. Securing third place, James Brown gave a heartfelt and mesmerising rendition of Dedebu Cinta by Misha Omar, proving that music transcends language.

But the night wasn’t over just yet! Before closing the curtains on Unplugged 2025, the audience was treated to a high-energy special performance by Rumah Kayu. Their setlist featuring Tanpa by 6ixth Sense, Reminisensi by Insomniacks, and Situasi by Bunkface had the entire theatre singing along, making for the perfect grand finale.

None of this would have been possible without the incredible support from Education Malaysia London (EML), whose partnership helped bring this event to life. A massive thank you to all the talented contestants who shared their voices, to the enthusiastic crowd who cheered them on, and to everyone involved in making Unplugged 2025 a night to remember. Congratulations to the winners, and we can’t wait to see you next year for another show-stopping edition of Unplugged!

MGames 2025 — Medium for Unity

On the next day — 16th February 2025, LUMSoc hosted the 2025 Malaysian Games (MGames) together with LUUMASSoc at The Edge, University of Leeds from 10am to 6pm. The MGames is both societies’ annual flagship event that intends to give opportunities to all kinds of sport lovers to participate in games and enjoy the exhilarating moments! A variety of tournaments were held including badminton, volleyball, netball (the first-ever in Leeds MGames), basketball and football with hundreds of participation from students all across the UK especially from the West Yorkshire and Midlands.

Overall, the winners for each sport categories are:

Football

1st BCSOC   2nd Leeds Unitedz   3rd Monster Peach

Netball

1st Kopitiam   2nd MSSM   3rd Sheffield

Basketball

1st BCSOC   2nd ULaw   3rd TBC

Badminton

Men Doubles:  

1st Bonk   2nd kuat ka?   3rd Yellow Midgets

Mixed Doubles:   

1st La Ferrari   2nd keosha+ajim   3rd Siampura

LUMSoc was delighted to hear from our players, volunteers, and spectators’ experiences during the event. We hope to see you again in Leeds MGames 2026!