Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Showcase of Sabah culture

This year’s Sabah Fest promises to be an exciting month-long celebration of fun, food, music and dance.

NOW is the time to visit Sabah as the state welcomes visitors to its annual Sabah Fest, a month-long celebration of fun, food, music and dance that culminates in Tadau Kaamatan or harvest festival.

Tadau Kaamatan is a thanksgiving festival to the rice god or bambaazon by the Kadazandusun and Murut.

The festival brings together all 32 ethnic groups in the state. Lihing or rice wine, brewed over the last one year, is freely consumed while dance, song, food and beauty contests complete the merriment.

Like previous years — Sabah Fest has been held over the last 20 years — this year’s festival kicked off with a music and dance extravaganza at the the Grand Ballroom of the Magellan Sutera Harbour Resort and Spa. It was launched by Sabah Governor, Yang Di Pertua Negeri Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah. The two-night event also included a handicraft exhibition and sales which featured local handicrafts such as bamboo musical instruments, pandanus baskets, wooden boats, beadworks, woven material and weaponry. Various indigenous groups in colourful traditional garbs welcomed visitors to the exhibition in the foyer.

This year’s music and dance performance titled The Legend Of Arung Salamiah involved 500 performers and musicians from the Kadazandusun, Bajau, Orang Sungai and Murut ethnic groups.

The stage was a dizzying display of lights, sounds and musical beats as the dancers, musicians, actors and actresses played out their parts.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Showcase of Sabah culture
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