The Rainforest World Music Festival was established in 1998 as a joint initiative by the Sarawak Tourism Board and French music producers. It has since become one of the top three rainforest music festivals in the world. The festival aims to preserve the cultural heritage of Borneo’s indigenous people while providing a platform for the exchange of local arts and world music.
Held annually in June at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, the festival spans three days. Each year, it adopts a unique theme and invites performing groups from around the world. The event masterfully blends the raw beauty of the jungle with modern sound, lighting, and visual effects to create a spectacular musical experience.
During the festival, the Sarawak Cultural Village hosts various themed workshops, vibrant cultural markets, and an array of food and snack stalls. Visitors can learn traditional crafts such as bamboo weaving and nose flute-making while indulging in the distinctive flavors of Sarawak and Malaysian cuisine.
As night falls, the festival’s highlight begins, with captivating vocal performances taking center stage.
Sarawak is a land of mystery, home to 31 indigenous tribes, each with its own culture, history, music, traditional instruments, and stories.
The music of Sarawak’s indigenous people fills the air, with the deep, rhythmic beats of the Beduk (long drum) echoing like the heartbeat of the rainforest. The Selingut (nose flute), Jatong Utang (xylophone), and Sape (traditional lute) join in, weaving melodies that tell the ancient yet familiar stories of this land.
Then, music transcends borders as performers from around the world take turns on stage, bringing the sounds of their homelands to Sarawak and the heart of the rainforest.
The festival reaches its peak during the exhilarating “Rainforest Improv Night,” where musicians from different countries spontaneously form teams to create music. The fusion of diverse sounds and styles has led to many unforgettable performances.
Beyond the music, the nighttime light show is another must-see. Using 3D projections on the rainforest canopy, mythical Bornean scenes come to life, blurring the boundaries of time and space and making the evening truly magical.
Festival tickets must be purchased in advance, with options for one-day, two-day, or three-day passes. Popular workshops have limited availability and also require prior reservations.
For those wishing to stay overnight, unique accommodations such as traditional longhouses or treehouses offer an immersive rainforest eco-lodging experience.
Given the festival’s rainforest setting, visitors are advised to come prepared with essentials such as a foldable raincoat, waterproof shoe covers, mosquito repellent, a portable seat cushion, and a headlamp.
