EVERYBODY,
DANCE: Visitors to the musical workshop, one of the daytime programmes
at the Rainforest World Music Festival (RMWF) in Santubong near Kuching
yesterday just could not refrain from dancing to the beat of the music.
The festival proper kicked off last night. – Photo by Mohd Rais Sanusi
KUCHING:
The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) is slated to be bigger in
the near future as efforts are being made to upgrade it into a premier
international event. Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chief executive
officer Datuk Rashid Khan said efforts included making the event a
platform to create awareness on environmental preservation.
“We are looking at ways to turn the event to include partnerships to champion environmental issues,” said Rashid. He
also highlighted RWMF’s success for being listed as one of the top 25
best music festivals by Songlines, a United Kingdom world music
magazine.
ETHNIC
TRANSMISSION: Gramong (second left) strumming the sape during the
opening ceremony. Also in the photo are Rashid (right) and Assistant
Minister of Tourism Datuk Talib Zulpilip (centre). — Photo by Mohd Rais
Sanusi
“RWMF has been recognised as among the
top 25 best
music festivals for three consecutive years and we are deeply honoured
by the acknowledgement,” he said at the opening ceremony of RWMF at
Sarawak Cultural Village near here on Thursday night.
Rashid also
drew attention to the new direction taken by the festival, saying plans
in the next five years might see the event being held in other cities in
Sarawak. Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Tourism (Local Events
and Products) Datuk Gramong Juna, in his welcoming address to delegates,
performers and members of both local and international media said RWMF
is the best opportunity for outsiders to indulge in everything related
to Sarawak.
“I would also like to call for first timers to the
festival to discover the wonders of Sarawak and discover why people keep
coming back for more,” said Gramong. He said that apart from
enjoying the festival, visitors should not miss the opportunity to
indulge in the warm hospitality of the local people, which is what they
are known best for. The festival kicked off last night with Le Trio Joubran, String Sisters, La Zikabilo and Zee Avi among the performers.
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