KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is expecting a massive array of musical diversity for the Rainforest World Music Festival to take place in Kuching's Sarawak Cultural Village this weekend. Already signed on to perform is the 78-member Sarawak Percussion and Ensemble, which hopes to push the more traditional side of Sarawak culture for the festival-goers. Also on tap will be music ranging from Iban to Bidayuh to Orang Ulu and Melanu, festival organizers have announced. The festival is led by local music director Narawi Rashidi and hopes to give local artists and musicians the opportunity to showcase their talents in the large festival, which will also include a number of dance performances. “Their music and instruments are as diverse, lush and poly-layered as the Sarawak's rainforests and, other than showcasing the famous warrior dance, seldom-heard tunes such as ethnic chanting and melodies from various communities will also take place,” said a statement issued by the event organizer, the Sarawak Tourism Board. According the organizer, the festival will also showcase other bands from all across the world, including Mamadou Diabate from Burkina Faso, Le Trio Joubran from Palestine, Khusugtun from Mongolia, Raiz De Cafezal, a group of Brazilian Amazonian Indians, Oreka TX from Spain, La Zikabilo from France, String Sisters comprising fiddlers from the Scandinavian countries, Scotland, Ireland and the United States, Kanda Bongo Man from Congo, Cankisou from the Czech Republic, Daniel Waro from the Reunion Island and HATA, comprising musicians from Malaysia, South Korea, Turkey and Taiwan.
