KUCHING, May 27: World music fans will be in for a treat at this year’s Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) from June 17 to 19, where they will be introduced to the unique sounds by performers from more than 15 countries, including Madagascar and Finland.
According to Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), in a media release, Clément Randrianantoandro, also known collectively as Kilema, a musician from Madagascar that blends a fusion of traditional and world music is one of the line-ups representing the island country in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Southern Africa.
Influenced by his upbringing living among string instruments and African rhythms, the early days of Kilema started when its founder met Justin Vali, one of the great Malagasy musicians established in Europe. Together, they toured with the renowned WOMAD Festival, founded by musician Peter Gabriel, to perform ethnic music from all over the world.
Described as a “mix between Asia and Africa with a melody from one continent and rhythm from the other”, Kilema is not only music but a concept too. With Malagasy instruments like the Marovany, Kabosy and Katsa, along with guitars and percussions, the sound blends rich and rhythmic heritage with his world experience, drawing from diverse musical styles to produce a sound entirely his own.
With over 20 years in the world music circuit and three records released, Kilema has graced some of the most prestigious festivals in Sweden, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, France, Portugal, Finland, Sardinia, Taiwan, Spain and now Malaysia at the RWMF 2022 at the Sarawak Cultural Village.
Also, at RWMF 2022 is Timo Väänänen, Finland’s most influential and famous soloist of the Kantele, a traditional Finnish lap harp and is also the national instrument for the Northern European nation. He plays both traditional and modern versions of the Kantele.
“Sophisticated and emotional, but also strong an expressive” is a way to describe Timo’s music. With the electric Kantele, he branches out towards an ethno-ambient genre. He also performs together with dancer Paivi Jarvinen who uses movement to express the feelings of the music.
Timo has toured extensively in over twenty countries in Europe, America and Asia. He was a featured soloist in the Disney film ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ in 2005, and in 2009 he performed the Kantele Concerto by Gillian Stevens with the Mikkeli Symphony Orchestra. The concerto was later produced into an album in 2015.
Festival-goers are urged to grab the tickets at pre-sale prices with Adult 1-Day Pass at RM165, Adult 3-Day Pass (RM405), Child 1-Day Pass (RM85), Child 3-Day Pass (RM195) and 1-Day Family Package Pass- 2 Adult and 2 Children (RM440). The virtual tickets are priced at RM25 per one-hour block. — DayakDaily
