FASCINATING CULTURAL FUSION AT TORAJA INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL 2016

Unveiling the beauty of the sacred highlands of Toraja in South Sulawesi Province, the Toraja International Festival (TIF) will be held again this year on 17th to 19th August 2016. Entering its 4th edition, the festival will be centered at Pallawa’ and the Ancient Village of Ke’te’ Kesu in Rantepao, North Toraja Regency.

If in 2014, the festival was highlighted with Mabua -a ritual tradition that put women on the highest spiritual level, and in 2015 followed by Mabugi -a unique colossal dance and song theatrical performance, this year the festival will feature a special Toraja Opera in a colossal performance combining all national and international artists participating in the festival.

Showcasing their spellbinding talents, this year the festival will feature performances by participating artists from other countries including the Vieux Cissokho & Maryam Kouyate from Senegal, Helga Sedli from Hungary, Tony Jayatissa from Malaysia, and Kuweit Tune from the Middle East. Meanwhile, one of Indonesian most renowned singer Glenn Fredly will also perform with his group The Bakucakar.

As always, the festival will also be highlighted with Toraja’s own unique and sacred traditional attractions such as the Pompang, Manganda, Manimbong, Madandan, Pagelu, and Tomina. The festival will also showcase other fascinating traditional art of other parts of Indonesia such as Pepe-pepe Fire Dance from Gowa, South Sulawesi, and Dayak Hudoq Dance from East Kalimantan. Aside from various art performances, there will also be Choir Competitions and Handicrafts Exhibition in Palawa’ Village.

Aside from continuously spreading the splendors of Toraja, TIF 2016 also aims to bring various groups as well as art from all over the globe to these wonderful Highlands. As a place that perfectly fuses amazing natural landscapes with well preserved unique cultural tradition, the Toraja highland is expected to be an icon where the unique cultures from all across the archipelago and over the world can converge and fuse in harmony. Over the years, the festival has seen significant growing numbers of attendance, where last year the event recorded a daily attendance at 7,000.

TIF 2016 is presented by the Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the North Toraja Regency. The festival is designed and produced by Lokaswara, Led by Franki Raden, prominent Indonesian composer, ethno-musicologist, cultural critic, and festival organizer who has worked in local and international art scenes for the past 30 years.

More information available at: http://torajainternationalfestival.com/