HELD in Sarawak Cultural Village in Santubong, Rainforest World Music Festival to many of its attendees and go-ers, is merely an international music festival showcasing the traditional music of people, bands, troupes from all over the world aside from Malaysia. What they know about the festival is mostly on what is written on the paper and media but unbeknownst to them, the festival is so much more than celebrating the unity between musicians with their traditional instruments. A brief explanation taken from the festival website itself describing what the festival is all about. “The Rainforest World Music Festival is an annual event celebrating music from global artists, international indigenous peoples as well as Sarawakian tribal triumphs too of course.
The three days of festivities present music that not only shakes the surrounding leaves and trees, but also world opinion on the importance of worldwide rainforest preservation. And what a place to do it. Taking place in the island’s Sarawak Cultural Village, at the foot of jungle bedecked Mount Santubong, the festival site is described as a living museum for the rest of the year.
And as workshops, music seminars, jamming sessions and dancing echo around the mountain during the festival days, and live acts boom through the beautiful biome afternoon and evening, this certainly is living” From what you can see, the festival title holds a lot more than what is shown as the festival revolves around three other main aspects aside from music which is Food, Forestry, and Arts & Culture. As of 2017, Rainforest World Music Festival has managed to once again hold up to its promises towards the intended theme for the festival in conjunction with the festival’s 20th Anniversary.
Music
As the name suggest, RWMF is a music festival which revolves around promoting or reviving the traditional music carved deep within the culture and lifestyle of the people in their respective home country. Imagine, people hailing from parts of Africa, Japan, Switzerland, France, Germany, USA , China, and basically from all over the globe gathered in a spot to share the sound of their music and what makes them unique in a way listeners would be curious to discover the origins of the music. During the festival itself, local musicians and international musicians stand side by side to learn the wealth of each other’s art and presentation, and to present a new context for the traditional music of Sarawak, so it could survive well into the future. The performances showcased is not limited to the Jungle Stage and Tree Stage where the main event is held during night time.
There are also mini-sessions at the Bidayuh Longhouse, Dewan Lagenda, and Iban Longhouse which usually combines music with dancing to reunite the express the fiery passion one has for music. Guest performers can be also seen playing at the Theatre Stage during daylight consisiting of a solo performer or a duo at most.
Forestry
Hence the name, RWMF has a vocal message in saving and preserving the rainforest. RWMF aims for the enlightenment of the matter towards the festival go-ers. Every year a day or two before RWMF begins, the board members of RWMF along with invited guests will head over to one of the national parks in Sarawak to conduct a tree planting session as a torch to commence the beginning of the festival. During the festival, there are workshops which specialises in the biodiversity of rainforest such as for example, Sarawak Biodiversity Centre educates the attendants in how the rainforest is able to sustain its habitants on a daily routine, how the preservation of the rainforest can be done, and what effort can be made to help spread the ideology of the matter. At times, they also demonstrate making rainforest material based items from scratch.
Food
RWMF had always bare that one hidden theme among the shades, and quite frankly it’s FOOD and over the year the festival have implemented a much more broad selection of meals which is based on the concept of main theme but in a gastronomy manner. The first thing you want in any festival is the best meals in the house and apparently in RWMF, the craving for such is high. With a variety selection of menus from traditional local Sarawakian dishes to Western and Asian cuisines, who could ever say no to the first bites for every meal?
Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture had always been a core part of RWMF as without it, RWMF would not be what it was intended to be.
Local vendors are brought in to scenery of RWMF to be ones who will promote and educate curiousity induced foreign travelers in the history and culture of the Sarawakian tribes via the arts & craft and the lifestyle of the “orang ulu” in their respective area. The highlight of Arts in RWMF is usually showcased in a designated bazaar which houses several local vendors with different backgrounds where they sell their art for different reasons.
There are vendors whose sale are to promote the artistic work of their etnics while there are some who sells their work as part of their contribution in saving the forest or the habitants in the rainforest in which the money goes to the corresponding associated foundation. For local culture, it is usually represented in their respective etnic houses as for example for local etnics, there are the Iban Longhouse, Malay Townhouse, Melanau Tallhouse, Bidayuh Longhouse, Orang Ulu Longhouse, Chinese Farmhouse, and the Penan Hut.
Sometimes, people from different tribes in the globe collectively gather to share what their culture looks like, feels like, and be like in a manner where both the audience and performers may connect. On the other hand, there are also item creation demonstration for things such as Sape making, Orang Ulu sword making, and tribal wear.
All in all, the RWMF is so much more than just a music festival. It is a gathering of people from all over the world to share, learn, experience and exchange informations on their cultures’ identities, types of traditional music, traditions, food and so much more.
While enjoying the festival atmosphere, the RWMF also instills the awareness and the importance of conservation and preserving the rainforest. It is a brief moment of unity, but it will give a lasting impression. Mark your calendar next year as the annually-held RWMF is surely something that you should not miss.
