Rainforest World Music Festivals

Each year, the Rainforest Music Festivals bring many peoples of every culture to celebrate. Singers and musicians from all corners of the world play using one of the world's oldest rainforest as their stage.

Some of the events include musical workshops, mini concerts, jam sessions, ethnomusicology lectures, dance workshops and children workshops by musicians from around the world. The workshops, lectures and mini recitals will be very informal and highly interactive, with world musicians demonstrating and explaining their instruments and styles to the public and jamming together with musicians from other areas. Food stalls selling local Sarawakian delicacies were spread all over the Sarawak Cultural Village to tantalize the visitors' taste buds. Stalls selling souvenirs, handicrafts and the performers' CDs were set up for those who wanted to bring back mementos of the festival. Those who were into adornment got to visit Setona, who was doing henna hand tattooing in her own stall. In addition to that, there was also a stall that did permanent Iban tattooing. That was definitely not a thing for the faint hearted!

The Rainforest World Music Festival is about exploring one's own ethnicity, sharing insights into the musical heritage of other cultures, and preserving and celebrating musical artistry, regardless of race, religion and region. Some of the bands that have played at these festivals include Setona, Shooglenifty, Badenya, Les Freres Coulibaly, Los Llaneros, Boerte, OK! Ryos. Rajery, Kanenhi:io, Sayu Ateng, Jerry Kamit and Friends, Sarawak Percussion Openings, Gamelan Gemar Bakti, and Sarawak Ethnic Music.

The 2001 Music festival was held in July in Sarawak. Sarawak is known to be a place of history, mystery, romance and exotic adventures. It is the land of the fabled white Rajahs, the hornbills and the orangutans. Its rainforest houses the world's richest and most diverse ecosystem. Home to 27 ethnic groups with their own distinct language, culture and lifestyle, their ancient cultures may differ but they have one thing in common, their warmth and hospitality. Each of the groups are very friendly and are more than willing to offer their help. You can visit caves that were inhabited 40,000 years ago, learn how Indian and Chinese merchants traded for Sarawak's exotic products centuries before the first Europeans came here and hear stories of princes and pirates, of headhunters and explorers.

Prices tend to run fairly high, ranging from $559 per person to $648 per person, but it is well worth the money. It ables you to get a chance to experience a great event and to enjoy the celebration of many different cultures.

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