RWMF 2015
The RWMF 2015 will take place from 7-9 August at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching, and this is also the 18th year of the world-renowned Rainforest World Music Festival. Do you also know that every year, more and more new international and local acts are brought in to perform for world music lovers? And for this year’s RWMF 2015, the list of performers or artists is pretty amazing, with some rare and unique groups performing on stage.
In total, there will be 24 different performers throughout the three-day festival here. One to look out for is our own Malaysian Mah Meri ethnic group, one of the oldest ethnic groups in the country and very little is known about them. Other highlights would also be the Ndima, a rare pygmy tribe from Congo, Africa and a Kecak group from Bali, Indonesia.
List of Performers for RWMF 2015
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| Some of the 2015 RWMF Performers. |
1Drum.org (Malaysia)
1Drum.org is a wonderful celebration of rhythm and spontaneous percussive beats, where everyone, young and old, is invited to participate in a musical experience that is second to none. 1Drum Circle is a great way to meet like-minded people and reconnect with your inner rhythm. Drums will be provided for 100 pax per session.
Alaverdi (Georgia)
The four-piece ensemble Alaverdi from Georgia has specialised in traditional Georgian folk music and church chants, which are hailed as one of the most distinctive musical traditions in the world. Performing on the most traditional folk instruments, such as string, wind and percussion instruments, the band brings back the original sound of Georgian music and creates a mystical atmosphere.
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| Bargou 08 from Tunisia at the RWMF. |
Bargou 08 (Tunisia)
The band BARGOU 08 from Tunisia brings back the almost-forgotten music of a region in the northwest of the country, isolated between the mountains and the Algerian border. Their music is the gateway to old Tunisian traditions and stories, embedded in the lyrics, melody, and dance.
Culture Shot aka La La Li La Tam Pong (Penang, Malaysia)
This six-headed band from Penang, Malaysia, combines diverse musical traditions and instruments into a multiracial musical style rooted in old Hokkien music. Using instruments such as Er-hu, Lang Tin Tang, Rebana, Gongs, and a Gendang, they mix sounds from different regions and create a new sound representing the diversity of their country.
Driss El Maloumi (Morocco)
The talented artist from Agadir, Morocco, blends Arabic and classical Western music and has not only worked with renowned musicians from around the world, including Montserrat Figueras and Omar Bashir, but also composed music for shows and films, including “La Source Des Femmes”. In 2013, Driss El Maloumi released his album “Makan”, which he recorded in a trio with two percussionists, Said El Maloumi and Lahoucine Baquir.
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| Enkh Jargal or EPI from Mongolia. |
Enkh Jargal Danfarvaanchig aka EPI (Mongolia)
Epi is a Mongolian Moorin Hoor (Horse Fiddle), a traditional Mongolian instrument, a player who grew up in the countryside and is therefore deeply rooted in the traditional and nomadic way of life that his people live in Mongolia. He studied the Moorin Hoor at the Music-Conservatorium of Ulaanbaatar and has performed all over the world, and also on TV, to bring back awareness towards Mongolian traditional music.
Harubee (Maldives)
Harubee is a group of 16 young men, exploding with energy. Boduberu music evolved from the 11th century, brought in by sailors travelling from parts of Africa. It is the relief found in dance for the common people. The songs are about everyday life, often heavy with satire. The drumming and dancing are frenetic, building to immense, passionate climaxes.
Kapela Maliszow (Poland)
Kapela Maliszów is a family band of three members, led by the multi-instrumentalist Jan Malisz and inspired by the traditional music of Beskid Niski and Pogorze in South Poland. Family members have played their instruments since the early 20th century and have won a variety of prizes for performing folk songs and dance music from Gorlice County using their traditional instruments (violin, basolia, and drum).
Kenwy Yan-Qin Ensemble (Sarawak, Malaysia)
The yangqin, or the hammered dulcimer of China, originally came from Persia, and it’s characterised by its bright tones and extreme expressive range. Ken Wy is a master at this instrument and has established a Music & Arts Academy in Kuching. He brings an impressive ensemble of yangqins and percussion to the festival, playing a range of traditional Chinese songs.
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| Kobagi Kecak from Indonesia. |
Kobagi Kecak (Bali, Indonesia)
The sixteen-headed band Komunitas Badan Gila was formed in 2008 in Bali, Indonesia and has developed a special performance style they call Angga Suara Murti, which is a mixture between Balinese masked dance, puppetry, the processional ensemble balaganjur, and contemporary music. Kobagi combines Western body percussion with Balinese music, using their own bodies as primary instruments, accompanied by bamboo stamping tubes.
Kobo Town (Trinidad/Tobago)
Kobo Town was founded by the Trinidadian Drew Gonsalves, who spent half of his childhood in Canada and was inspired by Calypso music from an early age and consists of a few Trini ex-pats from Toronto and some of Gonsalves’ old band members. Since feeling a strong boundary towards his home country, Trinidad, he has developed a unique calypso style inspired by Jazz, Funk and Disco music as well as other elements that he performs with his band to bring back the old sounds of Caribbean music.
Korrontzi (Spain)
The Spanish band Korrontzi has specialised in traditional Basque music, merging with styles from different cultures and countries, such as Flamenco, Fandango, Portuguese fado, arin-arin, Italian sounds, and others. They have reached No. 6 on the “European World Music Charts” and gained international fame.
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| Solomon from Lan E Tuyang. |
Lan E Tuyang (Sarawak, Malaysia)
Led by Sarawakian Mathew Ngau, a master sape player and storyteller, this band has toured Europe several times over the last couple of years. Mathew Ngau Jau, leader of Lan E Tuyang, has been playing the sape, which is a boat-shaped lute of Sarawak, since he was little. This is the music of the Kenyah from the Orang Ulu tribe in Sarawak – the lonely strains of the boat lute with the dances of the warriors.
Le Blanc Bros Cajun Band (Australia)
This Australian band performs the music and language of the Cajuns, who traditionally come from southern Louisiana and whose popular dance music has French influence. This would be an interesting act to catch for those who love traditional Cajun music.
Lindigo (Reunion Island)
The band members of Lindigo from Reunion Island have always been passionate about traditional Maloya music and dance, characterised by complex percussion rhythms. Their lyrics tell Reunion’s symbolic stories of complex sentiments and personal experiences, which the band spreads through performances all over the world.
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| Mah Meri from Selangor, Malaysia. |
Mah Meri (Selangor, Malaysia)
The Orang Asli are the indigenous people of Peninsular Malaysia who have lived there since at least 1000 BC. They were traditionally animists led by their shamans, and the Mah Meri show their reverence for this from their carvings of spirit animals. They come to the festival with their fearsome masks, log drums, and ladies in mengkuang skirts, bringing with them the ancient rites and folklore they still maintain in their community on Carey Island.
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| Ndima from Congo. |
Ndima (Congo Brazzaville)
NDIMA is a group consisting of members of the pygmies, aka a tribe in the forests of the Republic of Congo, who still live in their traditional way and whose culture is endangered nowadays. Their traditional music is an important part of their cultural heritage, as it is played every day to accompany certain rituals. To preserve their culture and raise awareness of it, Ndima performs in countries all over the world, allowing their audience to experience the magic of this spiritual music.
Sangpuy (Taiwan)
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| Sangpuy from Taiwan. |
This musician from an old tribe in Taiwan sings songs from ancient ceremonies dedicated to the gods of the natural world. Sangpuy’s forceful, penetrating voice can teleport audiences from urban settings to a place where Aborigines believe the wind is their friend and can be summoned by whistling. When the musician talks, he frequently uses natural metaphors, such as insects, rivers, and trees, to get his point across.
Sarawak Cultural Village Group (Sarawak, Malaysia)
‘Penjan Kasih’ dance group has performed internationally, and award-winning cultural dancers led by the choreographer, Mr Othman Hassan. The artists are the resident dancers and musicians of the internationally acclaimed living museum, the Sarawak Cultural Village, East Malaysia.
Sayu Ateng Echoes of Borneo (Sarawak, Malaysia)
In Borneo, among the Orang Ulu people, Sayu Ateng means “welcome”. Sayu Ateng, an eight-piece band, cuts a cool swathe with a touch of contemporary pop textures and World Beat while never straying far from its principal roots in Sarawak. Taking ancient and modern sounds and fusing them with their own infectious character, the original sound and lyrics are based on Sarawak’s historical makeup.
Shooglenifty (Scotland)
Shooglenifty from Scotland combines traditional sounds of their homeland with devilish rhythms and an international flavour.
Son De Madera (Mexico)
This trio from Mexico has specialised in interpreting and composing a traditional genre of Southern Mexico called Son Jarocho and is hailed as a top band in its genre.
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| Sona Jobarteh from the Gambia. |
Sona Jobarteh (Gambia/United Kingdom)
This woman has broken through the traditions of her patriarchal environment and is the first female Kora virtuoso from a West African Griot family. The Kora is an African harp traditionally played only by male members of these families; Sona is an exceptional talent trained in Europe and performing with many famous artists.
Ukandanz (France/Ethiopia)
uKanDanZ plays a unique style. It’s an unusual meeting between an electric quartet from France and Asnake Guebreye’s terrific voice. This charismatic lead singer originates from the vibrant music scene in Addis Abeba. With impertinence, they rock it wildly. Traditional and popular Ethiopian songs inspire their music. uKanDanZ is a blast of real energy and emotion. Ethiopia meets rock, jazz, and noise.
The above are 24 performers from around the world and also locally, who are scheduled to perform over three days here at the Rainforest World Music Festival 2015. For the full performance schedule and detailed information about the festival, please visit the official RWMF website.
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| The Sarawak Tourism Board CEO (4th from left), staff, supporters, and performers at the media preview in Kuala Lumpur on the 13th of July. |
Recently, in Kuala Lumpur, the Sarawak Tourism Board held a Rainforest World Music Festival media preview at No Black Tie on 13th July. At the preview, two of the Malaysian performers – the Mah Meri and Lan E Tuyang- gave a special performance to members of the media for the upcoming RWMF 2015.
If you are attending the Rainforest World Music Festival 2015, you should have already secured your accommodations and transport in Kuching. Note that it takes about 45 to 60 minutes of travel time from Kuching to the Sarawak Cultural Village in Santubong.
There is a shuttle service to and from the festival at a cost of around RM5-RM8 one way.
Hotels Near Rainforest World Music Festival
There are, in fact, quite a few hotels near the RWMF, but you need to check and see which of them have available rooms, as it is most likely that all are fully booked. There are several guesthouses in Petrajaya as well, but I would safely say that you would stand a better chance of finding a hotel in the Kuching city area.
If you are staying in the Kuching area and have extra time, you may also want to know what to do in Kuching, as there are many attractions and activities. A must-try is taking a Sarawak River Cruise from the Waterfront area. And for those who are into food, a recommendation is to try eating the local food in Kuching, as it is one of a kind, too. The famous Sarawakian dishes are Kolo Mee and the Sarawak Laksa.
Conclusion
Other than that, at the Sarawak Cultural Village, where the venue is, there are ample activities for adults and kids, a craft bazaar, and various food stalls and souvenirs for festival-goers. Remember, the festival is held over three days, and I will most likely be there. One of the main reasons is also to see the many interesting world music artists, bands and groups perform for this year’s RWMF 2015.
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