Cultural organisation, PUSAKA have a delightful December planned for us, with two performances coming up. Firstly on the 3rd of December, they are presenting the Kompang Jawa Showcase in Kuala Lumpur, which is part of a larger project that aims to revitalise and enhance the sustainability of the authentic Kompang Jawa (Teruntung and Hadaro) traditions, which are older forms of Kompang that are becoming increasingly rare in Malaysia. Then on the 15th of December, they are bringing us Tinariwen, poet-guitarists and soul rebels from the Southern Sahara desert, for a one-night only performance called Tinariwen Returns to Malaysia. All Tinariwen's songs are sung in their native Tamashek language, and expresses the aspirations of their people - the Kel Tamashek or 'Touareg' of the southern Sahara desert - specifically about the need for reconciliation and dialogue in Mali, where political tensions and threats of war are still high. Pauline Fan, the Creative Director of Pusaka, joins us to discuss both the upcoming performances.

Image Credit: Seni Pusaka