Sabah band Tompuvan wins Asian Folk award at 2026 ICMA
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah-based Borneo ethnic fusion band Tompuvan has won The Best of Asia — Asian Folk award at the 2026 InterContinental Music Awards (ICMA) for their original song, “The Last Warrior”.
KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia — The ethnic fusion band Tompuvan from Sabah, Malaysia, has been awarded The Best of Asia — Asian Folk award at the 2026 InterContinental Music Awards (ICMA). Their song "The Last Warrior" is a fusion of traditional Borneo sounds with contemporary music, delving into themes of survival, identity, heritage, and unity. "The Last Warrior" serves as a musical connection, bringing the spirit of ancestors into the present day.
Tompuvan's lead Daniel Filex James expressed his gratitude, stating that this recognition is a significant honor for the band, both as a music group from Sabah and as artists dedicated to presenting Borneo's identity, heritage, and traditional sounds on the global platform. Daniel co-wrote the award-winning song with Mohd Azmin Ibrahim.
Tompuvan shared the accolade with Malaysian artist Elica Paujin, whose song "Oh Huminodun" also earned a place among the five winners in this category. The other winners included Aco Takenaka from Japan, Pooja Goswami Pavan from the United States, and Sharon Shobana Vasudevan from Singapore.
The 2026 winners were revealed during the 14th Annual InterContinental Music Awards Online Awards Ceremony on August 23. The event, attended by artists and music professionals from 122 cities worldwide, celebrated the diversity and talent of global music.
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