31/05/2026
Proud to be a part of this beautiful event ❤️
🎥 - official videography partner
What a historic night for Christchurch’s multicultural community!
The World Drumming Festival brought together the vibrant rhythms, dance traditions, and cultural expressions of Sri Lanka, Ghana, West Africa, Indonesia, New Zealand, China, Japan, the Cook Islands, and India in a truly unforgettable celebration of diversity.
The festival showcased how rhythm, drumming, and dance can connect people across cultures, languages, and backgrounds. Through every performance, the stage became a powerful symbol of unity, bringing communities together in a shared celebration of music, heritage, and friendship.
This landmark event was proudly hosted by the New Zealand Sri Lanka Cultural Foundation in partnership with the University of Canterbury School of Music and the Christchurch Multicultural Council. It would not have been possible without the dedication and support of our performers, sponsors, volunteers, technical and media teams, and the many audience members who joined us for this sold-out celebration.
Our heartfelt thanks go to all the outstanding performers who shared their talent and culture with us:
• Dekaworwor West African Drum Group & Mundi Dancers
• Dzidzor
• Christchurch Zhong Hua Chinese Society
• Takumi Japanese Drumming Group
• Ngā Puāwai
• Chenda Melam
• Prasanna Ru Sri Lankan Dance Ensemble
• UC Gamelan Ensemble
• Avaiki Ou
• New Zealand Sri Lanka Cultural Foundation
We are deeply grateful to our sponsors for their generous support and belief in this vision:
Platinum Sponsors - ACLO Travels, Laser Plumbing Christchurch East
Gold Sponsors - Office Road Real Estate Sha Jega, K T Law Ganeshan Sathiyatharshiny and WorX Real Estate
Silver Sponsors - Shivam Arora - NZ Insurances, Ari Bains - Mortgage Adviser, Squirrel South Island and Zealand Immigration
Gift Packs Sponsored by Dilmah Tea
A special thank you to our Masters of Ceremony, Saumya Amarasinghe and Nilan Sajith Perera, for guiding the evening with professionalism and enthusiasm, and for also changing attire to beautifully reflect and celebrate the different cultures represented throughout the night.
Thank you to our technical crew - Methsi Balasuriya, Vajira Lasantha, Gihan Panapitiya, and the Aurora Centre team for ensuring a seamless production behind the scenes.
Our appreciation also goes to CT Studio NZ and Pixelstoriesbysanka for capturing the event, and to Risandu Salman and Gayan Jayathilake for their dedication in managing social media and keeping our community connected throughout the journey.
Most importantly, thank you to everyone who attended and supported this sold-out event. Your presence, energy, and encouragement helped make the inaugural World Drumming Festival an unforgettable success.
Together, we created more than a festival. We created a milestone for Christchurch's multicultural community celebrating diversity, fostering connections, and proving that rhythm is a universal language that brings people together.
Thank you
