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The Fête de la Musique, which finds its origins in Paris France, is now a global celebration of diversity in terms of beats, melodies and harmonies. Yet, all of us are united by how music is a universal language. In 1981, The then French Minister of Culture Jack Lang along with music composer Maurice Floret, and a radio producer and music journalist had the idea for a day exclusive to music. The first World Music Day took place in 1982 with over a 1000 performers in Paris.

Both amateur and professional musicians would head to public spaces, the streets and cafes, parks, and plazas where they can express themselves and showcase their talent, music genres, and performance styles. Interestingly, 21 June was chosen because it coincides with the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, allowing for bands, instrumentalists, musical artistes and singer-songwriters to hold outdoor/open-air shows, since it is also the day with the longest hours of daylight.

Today, the 21st of June is a celebration for those people from more than 120 countries. Thanks to technology and the Internet, virtual concerts and livestreaming are possible, making performances and music more accessible to those who can attend such events via a distance, due to differences in timezone and commitments.

For those in Malaysia, the Alliance Française de Kuala Lumpur (AFKL) will hold a version of the Fête de la Musique on the 23rd of June 2024. The event will be held at the Titiwangsa Park in Kuala Lumpur where you can enjoy a picnic (provided you have your own picnic mats and enough food and drink). Artistes you can expect include An Honest Mistake, Dani Komari, David Pray, Suehaila, and Amrita Soon. These artistes are slated to perform and bring their own twists to World Music Day. You may enter from opposite Stadium Titiwangsa. The free event, approved and backed by the Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), is to begin at 3pm and end at 9.30pm. Other supporters and sponsors include L’oreal Paris, Cartier and the French Embassy in Malaysia.

So, sing and dance along to the rhythm then!