The World of World Music

A page about some of the musicians featured, their instruments, the musical genres in these pages, artists’ concerts, World Music festivals around the globe and news about the World of World Music

Featured Festival: Rainforest World Music Festival

Coming Soon! : the Rainforest World Music Festival in Santubong near Kuching in Sarawak, on the Borneo side of Malaysia

Dates: 5 to 7 August 2016 (held yearly at the same iconic Sarawak Cultural Village in July or August)

Website: http://rwmf.net/   

The Rainforest World Music Festival is a unique festival that brings together on the same stage renowned world musicians from all continents and indigenous musicians from the interiors of the mythical island of Borneo.

 

Its formula of afternoon informative workshops, followed by evening performances on the main stage has proven to be a hit with the audience, who come from near and far.

 

The festival site also sets up a variety of food and drink stalls, an arts and crafts area as well as a counter for festival memorabilia, Sarawak souvenirs and CDs by the performing artists, all this contributing to a fun filled, wholesome festival experience. World Music plus a country fair atmosphere in the midst of lush greenery.

 

The Rainforest World Music Festival, a not-to-be-missed occasion, guarantees a smashing time in the heart of the Borneo Jungle.

 

 

Rainforest World Music Festival promotional video...if you miss it this year, plan for next J !

Featured Artist: Ras Muhamad from Indonesia    |   Genre: World Reggae

Ras Muhamad, real name Muhamad Egar, was born in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1982 and is the self-proclaimed Reggae Ambassador of Indonesia, though certainly the most internationally active and recognized Reggae artist among the fine crop of Indonesian Reggae bands and singers.

 

The son of an acupuncture doctor and a diplomat, he moved to the USA at age 11 following his mother’s posting to New York, where he completed his studies and graduated in Liberal Arts before returning to Indonesia in 2005.

 

Influenced while in the USA by Reggae music and culture, as well as Dancehall, Ska, Hip Hop, World Music and Indonesian traditional and pop music, Ras Muhamad released in 2005 his first album Declaration of Truths while still in New York, followed in 2007 by Reggae Ambassador, his first Indonesian release.

 

The next few albums cemented his position on the Indonesian Reggae music scene, with his latest release Salam on Germany based Oneness Records bringing his unique sound to a wider international audience, involving collaboration with several artists from Jamaica and elsewhere for a truly global Reggae vibe with lyrics in English, Jamaican Patois, German and Bahasa Indonesia, and incorporating in some titles traditional Indonesian instruments.

 

With strong social messages, frequent collaborations with Indonesian, Jamaican and international artists, a cool philosophy about shared cultures through the power of music and the message of love associated with Reggae, Ras Muhamad’s music bridges Asia, Africa, Jamaica, Europe and the global Reggae lovers community in true One World spirit.

 

Cutting a striking figure with his very long dreadlocks, which he began to grow in 1999, Ras Muhamad is also a published author with his book Negeri Pelangi (Rainbow Country) about his travels to Ethiopia and views on Rastafari, Reggae and how it relates to Indonesia being a national best seller. He is active as well in radio and television while regularly performing around Indonesia.

 

With his aim to inform his international audiences about his homeland through his music, and with his travels often featured on his video clips, as well as with his unity and global messages, Ras Muhamad is one artist that exemplifies the spirit of the Travel With Your Ears website, and you can enjoy his music here below, on the World Reggae page in the Focus on Indonesian Reggae section and on the World Reggae playlist where many of his titles are included. Check him as well on YouTube, Spotify and Deezer for more titles.

 

For a more complete bio on Ras Muhamad, his releases, latest album review and interview, please visit the Reggaeville.com page on him.

Musik Reggae Ini, Ras Muhamad's first single on the Reggae Ambassador album released in Indonesia in2007

Lion Roar, one of the hits on Ras Muhamad's latest album Salam, released internationally in 2014

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