Music lovers, mark your calendars from June 20 to 22, 2025! The Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak invites you to experience Grammy-winning legends, Siberian throat singers, and Borneo’s finest artists in one of the world’s most breathtaking jungle settings.
Now in its 28th year, this internationally acclaimed festival at Sarawak Cultural Village has evolved into a transformative celebration of global harmony. The Earth, Wind & Fire Experience by Al McKay headlines with timeless funk classics, while Siberia’s Otyken transports audiences with haunting throat singing and rare traditional instruments.
Local favourites At Adau complete the trifecta, showcasing Borneo’s living cultural heritage through contemporary sape lute music. These performances don’t just entertain; they create bridges between continents, with spontaneous jam sessions often breaking out between artists from different traditions.
Between performances, the festival grounds come alive with opportunities for deeper connection. Morning workshops invite attendees to learn directly from the musicians, whether mastering Siberian jaw harp techniques or trying their hand at traditional dances.
The expanded “Taste of Borneo” food trail offers authentic flavours from Sarawak’s 34 ethnic groups, while cultural demonstrations reveal the stories behind intricate crafts like Iban beadwork. New this year, the Jungle Jam Stage encourages everyone, regardless of skill level, to join in creating music with performers and fellow attendees, embodying the festival’s spirit of shared creativity.
The festival’s “One Earth, One Love” theme translates into meaningful environmental action, from the ambitious 10,000-tree planting initiative to plastic-free policies and carbon footprint stations. Practical details enhance the experience, and extended 10am openings allow time to explore both the festival and the surrounding rainforest.
What makes RWMF extraordinary are the unscripted moments – a sunrise meditation with Siberian musicians, a rain-soaked dance party to classic funk or a chance conversation that becomes a lasting friendship.
As returning attendees know, this is more than a festival, it is a life-affirming celebration of our shared humanity. Don’t just hear about the magic; come and experience it for yourself!
Secure your early bird tickets at www.rwmf.net and prepare to be transformed.
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
