It’s the local talent that
makes the Rainforest World
Music Festival unique. Meet
three of the musical acts
bringing their traditional
dance, chanting and array
of inimitable instruments to
the stage this summer at the
Sarawak Cultural VillageLEO MUA MOKO
Leader, Suku Menoa
If there’s one thing that will truly bond the
members of a band, it’s shared ancestry. Leo
Mua Moko and his four bandmates in Suku
Menoa are connected through Sarawak’s
Iban tribe, also known as Sea Dayaks or the
headhunting tribe of Borneo. It’s this shared
heritage they want to continue through their
music, and the Rainforest World Music
Festival presents the ultimate opportunity
to meet with other indigenous peoples over
great music. The best thing about it, he says,
is “the gathering of tribes, no matter where
on the planet they’re from, to share, tell,
preserve, dance, play, bless and unite.”MEET THE
BANDS
The band formed in 2019 with a focus
on traditional ritual music, dancing and
chanting about their tribe and the land.
Their name combines two words: suku
meaning ‘native’ or ‘indigenous’ and menoa
meaning ‘land’ or ‘island,’ Between them
they play a mixture of instruments from
small and large gongs to traditional drums,
lute string, jaw harp and brass percussion.
Suku Menoa may not have been together
long, but they have big dreams and hopes
for the future: “We want to preserve our
culture and carry on tradition,” says Menoa.
He hopes to visit other places that have their
own tribal festivals someday, such as New
Zealand or any South Paciic Island.PARTNER CONTENT FOR SARAWAK TOURISM