Rentak MalaysiaKu brings culture and rhythm to GMBB

As Malaysia gears up to mark Malaysia Day, GMBB, the creative community mall in Kuala Lumpur, is preparing to host a four-day cultural festival, Rentak MalaysiaKu, from September 13 to 16, 2025. The celebration promises to transform every corner of the mall into a living showcase of music, dance, art, stories and flavours that reflect the nation’s multicultural identity.

“Community is at the heart of GMBB. With Rentak MalaysiaKu, we want to honour the everyday rhythms that make up Malaysian life — not just in music or dance, but in the way we act, interact, write and speak with one another,” said Lim Ying Hui, General Manager of GMBB. “Malaysia Day reminds us that even in our differences, there are shared rhythms that bring us closer together and make us uniquely Malaysians. By giving space to artists and cultural communities to #MakeMore, we hope our visitors will always walk away with new discoveries.”

Honouring tradition in contemporary ways

The festival opens a window into Malaysia’s diverse indigenous and traditional practices. Audiences can immerse themselves in the soulful sapeh melodies of Anderson Kalang at the Echoes of the Earth Exhibition, or marvel at the intricate beadwork of Borneo Sparkle. Bidayuh artist Dr. Kendy Mitot adds a reflective dimension with an installation on memory and storytelling during the Gawai festival.

From Peninsular Malaysia, the Mah Meri cultural group, Tompoq Topoh, will collaborate with Gerimis to present a symbolic bunga jering installation, alongside a sacred Main Jo’oh dance and workshops on bunga moyang weaving. Orang Asli artistry will also shine through Temuan artist Leny Maknoh’s Jelai Beads accessories. Meanwhile, Fusion Wayang Kulit reimagines shadow puppetry with modern narratives, and heritage collective Ayayu will guide visitors in batik painting on traditional waus.

Voices and flavours across communities

The festival also highlights the cultural voices of Malaysia’s Chinese and Indian communities. The Miniature Calligraphy Exhibition by Venerable Chi Chern brings delicate artistry into focus, while Cantonese Opera Grandmaster Madam Kam Sin Kiew revives an age-old performing art form with live performance and backstage insights into costume and make-up.

Culinary traditions take centre stage through hands-on workshops, with Jiak Kopi offering Pumpkin Ondeh-Ondeh making, and the Melaka Chetti Heritage Association introducing participants to heritage kueh and a lively joget dance session. Visitors can also step into history through Seeds of Resistance, curated by writer Raja Ahmad Aminullah, which features newspapers and artefacts from the 1900s, including Malaysia’s Declaration of Independence.

Art, storytelling and shared imagination

Art and literature find a strong voice at Rentak MalaysiaKu. The Di Bawah Langit Yang Sama group exhibition, curated by ARTO Movement, brings together over 90 Malaysian artists and poets in a powerful showcase of diversity and unity. Hikayat Fandom reintroduces folk tales and legends for families, while the Duke Museum’s exhibition To Know Malaysia is to Love Malaysia celebrates picture-book culture as a bridge across generations.

Adding to the experience, filmmakers behind Araro Ariraro and Santosh.L will lead audiences in storytelling, music sharing and a traditional Kummi Dance, blending cinema with participatory cultural exchange.

With such an extensive line-up, GMBB’s Rentak MalaysiaKu seeks not only to celebrate Malaysia’s artistic and cultural diversity but also to invite visitors to rediscover the everyday rhythms that define the nation’s spirit.

Curate your Malaysia Day experience at GMBB from September 13 to 16, 2025. For updates, follow @gmbb.kl on Facebook and Instagram or visit gmbb.com.my.