CULTURAL ENCOUNTERS
As evening settles over the rainforest, Malaysia’s rich artistic heritage comes alive. Traditional ‘Caklempong’ rhythms and resonant gamelan melodies set the tone during the welcome cocktail and Langkawi-themed night. Taste of the Rainforest is accompanied by ‘Meruked’ – a six-piece ensemble from Sarawak, blending rhythmic chants, bamboo percussion and melodic breathwork in harmony with nature’s soundscape. A Mystical Night by the Beach brings island legends to life through storytelling, ‘Wayang Kulit’ (shadow puppetry), acoustic music and poetry under the stars. The festival concludes with a soulful finale by Alena Murang, acclaimed singer-songwriter and ‘sape’ player, whose music weaves together tradition, rock and folk, drawing inspiration from her Bornean heritage. These performances are not only entertainment – they are living heritage, shared and celebrated.
Malaysia’s Rich Artistic Heritage
Alena Murang | Singer
The first professional female sape player, Alena Murang sings in the endangered Kenyah and Kelabit languages — original songs alongside those passed down through generations. Rooted in Sarawak and shaped by rock and folk, her performances trace the Baram River from Borneo's coast to its highlands, through the world's oldest rainforest. A journey through past and present, carried by a voice determined to keep her people's stories alive.
Meruked | Musicians
Six musicians from Kuching, Sarawak, Meruked take the ancient sounds of Borneo and wrap them in atmospheric texture — something that feels both deeply rooted in place and impossible to pin down.
Fusion Wayang Kulit
Wayang Kulit — the ancient Malaysian art of shadow puppetry — might seem an unlikely home for Star Wars, DC superheroes and Japanese mecha anime. But that collision of tradition and pop culture is precisely what makes this award-winning team so compelling. By bringing modern icons into an ancient form, Fusion Wayang Kulit keeps the craft alive and relevant — and holds the distinction of creating the world's first transformable wayang kulit, inspired by Macross, the Japanese sci-fi franchise.