Festival helps village tune into wider audience

Guangxi ethnic performers and ASEAN bloc musicians exchange musical culture, establishing bonds, report Xing Wen and Shi Ruipeng in Nanning.

Under the soft patter of a light drizzle, bands hailing from Chinese ethnic groups, such as the Lahu and Zhuang, along with musicians from across the ASEAN bloc, serenaded audiences with mesmerizing melodies produced by traditional instruments, while bustling food stalls served up an array of delectable cuisines.

This hometown-themed music festival was held in Guyuepo village, Nanyang town of Nanning, capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, from May 13 to 14.

The opening band was the Mumian ensemble (mumian meaning kapok), formed in 2012 and consisting of five Zhuang musicians.