Kobagi Kecak, which means Crazy Body Community, is a 16-strong band that uses their own bodies as primary instruments.
The ‘miring’ ceremony performed before the first night performance kicked off on Friday.
KUCHING: Music-lovers from the world over swayed to the rhythm of harmonious beats with the start of the first night performance of the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2015 on Friday.
The night started off with a traditional ‘miring’ ceremony before Sangpuy, the first performer, took to the stage. An aboriginal singer from Taiwan, Sangpuy Katatepan Mavaliyw enchanted the audience with his beautiful voice and slow melodious tunes of the Pinuyumayan tribe, celebrating life and ancient traditions.
What made Sangpuy even more gripping for local festival goers were the similarities between the traditional costumes, dance and language of his tribe to Borneo’s own natives.
From smooth and easy, the night’s ambience then escalated to a more frenzied beat with Kobagi Kecak, which is short for Komunitas Badan Gila (Crazy Bodies Community).
Formed in 2008 in Bali, Indonesia, the band of 16 people developed a special performance style they coined ‘Angga Suara Murti’ which sees the group creating beats and sounds with nothing but their own bodies and voices as primary instruments.
Scottish fusion band Shooglenifty which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year was last to perform.
This is their fourth appearance at RWMF after their first back in 1997.
Infusing the traditional sounds of their homeland with contemporary music sensibilities, among the songs performed by the six-piece band was one sung in Gaelic, proving that music was a common language enjoyed by all.
Others that performed on Friday night were Le Blanc Bros Cajun Band from Australia and New Zealand and Bargou 08 of Tunisia.
Held at Sarawak Cultural Village, this year’s RWMF will run from Aug 7-9.
In the lush setting of Sarawak’s rainforest, cosmopolitan crowds soak in the music from all over the world as they sway to the rhythm.
Scottish fusion band Shooglenifty celebrates their 25th anniversary this year.
Le Blanc Bros Cajun Band of Australia and New Zealand.