From left – Yusfida Khalid, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Datu Sherinna Binti Hussaini, Permanent Secretary to Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Puan Sharzede Datu Salleh Askor, CEO of Sarawak Tourism Board, Datin Sri Zuraini Abdul Jabbar, wife to YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Yb Encik Dennis Ngau, Chairman of Sarawak Tourism Board.
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Rainforest World Music Festival 2023 Captivated Global Audience with Stellar Performances & Sustainable Initiatives
The festival also achieved a remarkable feat by setting a new record in the Malaysia Book of Records as the “Most Percussionists in a Music Festival” this year.
The festival also achieved a remarkable feat by setting a new record in the Malaysia Book of Records as the “Most Percussionists in a Music Festival” this year.
KUCHING, 26 June 2023 – The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) made a spectacular comeback this year with ticket sales surpassing 2022 figures.
On the opening night of the Rainforest World Music Festival 2023, spectators were treated to captivating performances by Rastak from Iran, At Adau from Sarawak, and the talented Sarawakian artist, Zee Avi.
Within the Sarawak Cultural Village, which served as the venue for the RWMF, captivating performances took place on both the ‘Jungle Stage’ and the ‘Tree Stage,’ alongside insightful workshops hosted at the Bidayuh, Iban, Chinese, and Malay houses. Moreover, the festival grounds were enlivened by additional performances, creating a vibrant atmosphere throughout.
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The festival had another notable moment when the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, YB Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, inaugurated the ‘Market @ RWMF 2023’. This vibrant market displayed a wide array of offerings from more than 200 local vendors, encompassing crafts, fashion, lifestyle, and wellness services.
Additionally, the second day of the festival delighted the crowd with a captivating performance by the Grammy Award-winning Gipsy Kings, featuring Tonino Baliardo, renowned for their chart-topping hit ‘Bamboleo’.
As the festival progressed, the excitement reached its peak with the presence of internationally acclaimed musicians, ‘Big Mountain,’ renowned for their hit song ‘Baby, I Love Your Way,’ who brought the festival to a grand finale on Sunday.
“The overwhelming responses have exceeded our expectations and proven the strong appeal of our festival’s content, ‘beyond music’ – with culture, food and overall strong camaraderie among local and international performers and visitors. We continue to advocate Responsible Tourism creating awareness on the importance of planetary health, which has further fueled a defining zeitgeist movement of sustainability among our audience extending the spirit of RWMF beyond the traditional music-based festival,” according to Sarawak Tourism Board CEO, Sharzede Datu Hj Salleh Askor.
In line with the dedication towards Responsible Tourism, the RWMF has taken further strides this year to minimize its environmental impact. One notable initiative involved the introduction of seed paper for festival tags, which are made from biodegradable materials embedded with seeds that sprout when planted in soil. This innovation not only emphasizes the festival’s strong connection to nature but also contributes to its ecological responsibility.
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Furthermore, the festival maintained its prohibition on single-use plastics by actively encouraging attendees to bring reusable water bottles and providing convenient on-site water refill stations. Additionally, to mitigate carbon emissions and promote greener transportation, the festival offered a complimentary shuttle bus service to and from the festival grounds. These initiatives form part of the festival’s comprehensive strategy to promote sustainability, clearly illustrating that their commitment to the environment extends well beyond the stage.
RWMF 2023 was supported by sponsors namely Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia Ride, TV Sarawak, Carlsberg, PEPSI, Plaza Merdeka & Waterfront Hotel, Spin Sportwear, Petroleum Sarawak Berhad, SACOFA, Midvalley Megamall Kuala Lumpur, Hornbill Skyways, Sarawak Timber Associations and ATS Global Travel & Chapter Sdn Bhd.
