HAKODATE, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN — August 2026 — Sabah-based experimental Borneo ethnic fusion band Tompuvan – The Sound of Borneo has successfully represented Sabah and Malaysia at the prestigious World Music and Dance Festival (WMDF) 2026 in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan, marking another significant milestone in the band’s mission to bring the musical and cultural heritage of Borneo to an international audience.
The participation placed Sabah’s indigenous musical heritage alongside diverse artistic traditions from around the world, creating an important platform for cultural exchange, artistic collaboration and international exposure.
A Global Celebration of Music and Culture
The World Music and Dance Festival (WMDF) is a prestigious international arts and cultural festival held annually in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan, since 2008.
The festival brings together musicians, dancers and cultural performers from different countries, providing an international platform for artists to share their cultural heritage while building connections through music and the performing arts.
With more than 30,000 local and international visitors each year, WMDF has grown into one of Japan’s prominent world music festivals and an important platform for international cultural exchange.
Organised by Worlds Meet Japan, the festival has developed a strong international network involving artists from different cultural backgrounds, particularly within the world music and ethnic dance communities.
For the 2026 edition, approximately 33 international artists and groups participated in the festival, representing countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Costa Rica, France, Australia, Poland, Argentina, the United States and the United Kingdom, alongside performers from Japan.
Tompuvan was among the international representatives, bringing the sound and cultural identity of Sabah to the festival’s diverse international stage.
Sabah’s Borneo Sound Captivates International Audiences
During its participation in WMDF 2026, Tompuvan performed a selection of its contemporary Borneo music, incorporating traditional instruments, indigenous musical elements and modern arrangements. The band’s performances attracted enthusiastic responses from audiences throughout the festival. For Tompuvan, the experience was particularly meaningful because its music was received not only by international visitors but also by Japanese audiences who were experiencing the sounds of Borneo for the first time. Daniel Filex James, a member of Tompuvan, said the response from the audience was beyond the band’s expectations.
“We were honestly surprised by the response we received in Hakodate. We came with the intention of sharing our music and culture, but we did not expect the audience to connect with our sound so strongly.”
He said the warm response demonstrated that Sabah’s traditional and ethnic music has the potential to connect with audiences beyond Southeast Asia.
“Seeing Japanese and international audiences enjoying our music, moving to the rhythm and showing genuine interest in our traditional instruments was an unforgettable experience for us.”
According to Daniel, the experience also reinforced Tompuvan’s belief that cultural music does not have to remain confined to its traditional setting.
“Traditional music is our identity, but it can also continue to grow. We believe we can preserve the roots while exploring new sounds and arrangements that are relevant to today’s generation.”
More Than Just a Performance
For Tompuvan, the journey to Hakodate was about more than performing on an international stage.
The band viewed WMDF 2026 as an opportunity to introduce the cultural identity, musical heritage and creativity of Sabah to a wider international community.
The band’s objectives included promoting Sabah’s culture internationally, introducing the uniqueness of Sabah’s ethnic music to global audiences, highlighting ethnic music as a living heritage and demonstrating how traditional music can evolve while maintaining its cultural identity.
Tompuvan also hopes to encourage greater recognition of Sabah and Borneo as an important part of the world’s cultural and musical landscape.
“Our mission was to promote Sabah at an international level. We wanted people to know that Sabah is not only known for its beautiful nature, but also has a rich cultural heritage and incredible traditional musical instruments.”
“We want to show the world that Borneo has its own sound, its own identity and its own story.”
Preserving Heritage Through Innovation
One of Tompuvan’s core principles is to ensure that traditional Borneo music remains relevant to future generations.
Rather than treating traditional music solely as something from the past, the band explores ways to integrate traditional instruments and musical elements into contemporary compositions and live performances.
This approach allows the band to introduce Borneo’s musical heritage to younger audiences while creating opportunities for cultural music to develop within the modern music landscape.
Tompuvan believes that preservation and innovation can exist together.
“For us, preserving heritage does not mean keeping it frozen in time. We want to keep the spirit and identity of the traditional music alive while allowing it to evolve.”
A Meaningful Cultural Exchange
Beyond its performances, Tompuvan’s participation in WMDF provided the band with an opportunity to meet musicians and cultural practitioners from different countries.
The festival environment allowed artists to exchange ideas, share musical traditions and discover different approaches to presenting cultural heritage through contemporary performance.
These connections, according to Tompuvan, are among the most valuable outcomes of participating in an international festival.
“We came to Japan to share our music, but we also came home with new experiences, new friendships and a deeper appreciation of other cultures.”
The band hopes these relationships will lead to future international collaborations, performances and cultural exchange projects.
A New Chapter for Sabah Music
Tompuvan’s appearance at WMDF 2026 represents another important step in the band’s growing international journey.
Following its participation in the festival, the band aims to continue expanding its international network and explore opportunities to perform at more world music and cultural festivals.
The band also hopes its international activities will create greater visibility for Sabah’s musicians and demonstrate the potential of Borneo’s traditional music within the global music industry.
“We hope our journey can inspire more young musicians from Sabah to be proud of their roots and to believe that our traditional music can travel far beyond Borneo.”
“There is a place for Sabah music on the international stage. We just need to continue creating, performing and sharing our culture with the world.”
Gratitude to Hakodate
Tompuvan extends its sincere appreciation to the WMDF organising committee, Worlds Meet Japan, festival crew, volunteers, fellow international artists, local performers and the people of Hakodate for the warm welcome and hospitality throughout the festival.
The band also expressed its gratitude to everyone who attended its performances, supported the group and showed genuine interest in the music and culture of Sabah.
“To everyone in Hakodate who came to our shows, supported us, danced with us and welcomed us with open arms — thank you so much. You have given us memories that we will carry with us for a very long time.”
“Arigato, Hakodate. We hope to see you again.”
Looking Ahead
With its participation in WMDF 2026 now part of its growing international journey, Tompuvan intends to continue developing its musical identity while remaining deeply connected to its Borneo roots.
The band sees international festivals such as WMDF not only as performance opportunities, but as important platforms for cultural diplomacy, international collaboration and the promotion of Sabah’s living heritage.
Tompuvan’s journey from Sabah to Hakodate demonstrates how music can cross borders, connect cultures and create meaningful relationships between people from different parts of the world.
As the band continues its journey, Tompuvan remains committed to one simple belief:
Borneo has a sound. Sabah has a story. And music can bring the world together.
