KUCHING: Under the towering trees of Santubong, where music mingles with mist and culture echoes through the rainforest, the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) once again drew together musicians and travellers from across the globe, each finding connection in rhythm, heritage, and Sarawak’s unforgettable charm.
Among the musicians was Django Lancaster Thomas, a 39-year-old drummer from Cardiff, Wales, performing for the first time in Sarawak.
“It’s just stunning — the scenery, the culture, everything. We got in after a 26-hour journey, but the moment we stepped outside, it was worth it,” he said.
The band, a fusion of West African Mandingue rhythms with Western jazz and funk, is built around the electrifying stage presence of N’Famady Kouyaté, a master balafon player from Guinea who now calls the United Kingdom home.
“He moved to Wales about six years ago”
“He had a vision of combining traditional African music with modern sounds, and it just clicked,” said Django.
Timmy Boomer, the band’s 25-year-old keyboardist from Ireland, agreed that performing at RWMF felt like a surreal and special experience.
“This place is beautiful. I stepped out this morning and thought, ‘I can’t believe this is real.’ I feel immense gratitude to be part of this,” he said.
Boomer, a jazz-trained pianist who started in Irish fiddle, has been performing with the group for three years.
The group’s performance is set for the RWMF main stage this Sunday, but even before the spotlight, they’re soaking in the festival atmosphere and the culture.
“We’ve heard about tuak — Iban rice wine. We’re definitely going to try it,” Django added with a grin.
For Anna-Katri Raiha, a travel influencer from Finland, the RWMF was also a first-time experience and a highlight of her two-week journey through Sarawak.
“I found out about the festival at a travel fair in Helsinki earlier this year.
“The Malaysian Tourism Board had a booth and introduced it to me. It immediately caught my interest,” she shared.
Anna-Katri, who arrived a week before the festival, has already explored Kuching, Mulu National Park, and Batang Ai.
“Kuching is such a pleasant city for tourists. The riverside is beautiful, and I love that you can walk almost everywhere.
“And the food. I’ve tried almost everything! But my favourite is kolok mee, more than laksa,” she said.
Despite the tropical humidity, she said she’s adapted well.
“It was hard the first few days. I was sweating constantly! But now, I love it, especially the riverside in the evening. I even did a river cruise during sunset. It was magical,” she added.
Would she come again?
“Yes, of course. Sarawak is one of the most unique places I’ve visited,” she said, without hesitation.
As global rhythms pulse through the rainforest and languages blend in harmony, the RWMF continues to prove itself not just as a musical event, but as a meeting point where culture, community, and connection thrive.
And as Django put it: “It’s the kind of festival that reminds you why you fell in love with music in the first place. If we’re ever invited back — we’re there.”
