He is the most well-known singer of Maloya, the blues of the plantation workers in La Reunion. Maloya is a traditional music dating back to the slave days, integrating strong African influences, slave chants and work songs and had almost died out, only surviving thanks to a few families. He comes as a 4 piece band to Rainforest with his mesmerizing voice, singing in the Creole language, and all the traditional instruments from his country – the kayanm, (flat instrument made from cane flower stems and filled with saffron seeds), bob (a musical bow attached to a calabash for resonance) and rouler (big drum made from barrels with a cowskin head).
Indeed, his songs border on poetry. He speaks of love, death or politics, using a popular, peasant vocabulary that his urban listeners have often forgotten. He creates unexpected, beautiful and powerful imagery and, most importantly, feels the convergence between words and music that makes great songs. His music evokes welling emotion, spiritual intensity and ecstatic rhythmic trance.
In October 2010 Danyel Waro went to Copenhagen to receive the prestigious 2010 Artist’s Award at Womex, the international world music professional event. He also received the Charles-Cros Academy Grand Prix. The awards not only recompensed his musical talents, but also his commitment to promoting and disseminating maloya throughout the world.
Take the chance to listen to this almost extinct music. If you have not bought your tickets to the festival, do so now either at our Visitors’ Information Centres(VICs) in Kuching, Miri and Sibu as well as online at www.rwmf.net/v2. Tickets are priced at RM110 for one-day pass and RM300 for three-day pass each for adult while tickets for children between three and 12 years old is priced at RM55 for one-day pass and RM150 for three-day pass each.
Currently Enrich members (Malaysia Airlines) will be able to enjoy 30% discount for purchase of tickets at all VICs.
The Rainforest World Music Festival has again been voted for the third consecutive year as one of the top 25 international festivals by Songlines. The festival will be held from the 13 to 15 July 2012 at the Sarawak Cultural Village. There will also be a food and village mart at the festival and you will have the chance to bring home something as a keepsake of the good times you will have.
Issued by:
Corporate Communications Unit
SARAWAK TOURISM BOARD
T : +6 082 423600
F : +6 082 416700
