Rainforest Fringe Festival returns to showcase Sarawak's culture

KUCHING: The third edition of the Rainforest Fringe Festival (RFF) on July 5-12 will showcase Sarawak's rich culture and heritage through an all-inclusive programme for both locals and visitors of all ages.

Sarawak Tourism Board chief executive officer Sharzede Datu Salleh Askor said the festival serves as a prelude to the annual Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) and Borneo Jazz Festival.

"We are proud to showcase that Sarawak can be a hub of music tourism, unique cultural and arts experiences, and world-class festivals that are the best in the region. Rainforest Fringe Festival will showcase music, arts, crafts, photography, food and culture, both local and foreign, throughout Kuching city.

"It is a major cultural event in the region towards expanding Sarawak's repertoire as a music tourism destination, bringing attention to our potential not only as festival location but as a destination that sees cultural preservation as one of our priorities,” she said during the announcement of festival dates and the programme yesterday.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the festival was introduced to make RWMF livelier.

"It was supposed to be held one week or 10 days before RWMF. The last two RFF have managed to create a lot of interest to those music lovers who had come earlier for RWMF," he said.

The programme includes ‘Asas Melayu', produced in collaboration with Amanah Khairat Yayasan Budaya Melayu Sarawak, which will feature ‘Lembaran Emas – Songket and Keringkam of Sarawak' in a fashion show featuring designs by acclaimed designers Datuk Seri Bernard Chandran and Sarawak's own Datuk Tom Abang Saufi, as well as Tanoti House of Kuching.