Malang Folk Foundation

Malang Folk Foundation (MFF) is a cultural organization based in India, committed to preserving, promoting, and revitalizing the country’s diverse folk traditions. Established in March 2024 as a Section 8 non-profit organisation, MFF serves as a vibrant platform where the rich legacy of folk music, dance, craft, theatre, storytelling, and traditional lifestyles is not only safeguarded but also reimagined in contemporary contexts.

At the heart of the Foundation’s vision is the Malang spirit - a metaphor for timeless wanderers, mystics, and storytellers who carry generational wisdom in the form of oral traditions and living arts. MFF works closely with folk artists and grassroots communities across India, organizing immersive festivals, artist residencies, research-based documentation, educational workshops, cultural retreats, and curated heritage tours.

One of its flagship initiatives is the Rajasthan Kabir Yatra, a traveling music festival that celebrates the poetry of mystic saint Kabir and other Bhakti-Sufi voices through live performances across rural Rajasthan. The Yatra is not just a cultural event but a transformative journey that brings together musicians, scholars, and seekers from across India and abroad, creating a unique space for spiritual music, dialogue, and community building.

Building on the success of this model, MFF recently curated and co-hosted the Osaka Kabir Yatra in Japan in collaboration with the Indian Ocean World Studies Program at Osaka University. This international edition featured Rajasthani folk musicians performing Kabir bhajans alongside traditional Japanese instruments, creating a cross-cultural dialogue through music and mysticism. The program included performances, lectures, university exchanges, and impromptu street jam sessions, leaving a deep impact on local audiences and furthering MFF’s goal of global cultural exchange.

With an ever-growing commitment to bridge traditional wisdom with contemporary relevance, Malang Folk Foundation continues to create meaningful platforms for folk artists, foster intercultural collaborations, and ensure that the voices of India's oral and intangible heritage are heard, celebrated, and passed on.