The annual Bagandang Festival in Beaufort celebrates some of Sabah's well known traditional musical instruments such as Kulintangan and mini brass gongs played during weddings. This year, the Festival was held between 22nd and 25th November.
The four-day festival with the theme ‘United in Upholding Culture’ was launched by the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman Hj. Aman on the 24th of November.
Commenting on the festival the Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs, Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun, said that the Bagandang Festival was intended to unite people of different races in Sabah, to promote arts and cultures and to instill better appreciation of local cultures among Sabah's youths.
“The civilization of a nation is embodied in its cultural heritage, which should be maintained to preserve the nation's own identity. We need to have our own identity for the world to recognize us. Therefore, I see this festival as stamping the brand and identity of Beaufort,” Azizah said.
This year, some 5000 visitors came to witness the festival. They came not only from Beaufort district itself, but also from Sarawak, Peninsula Malaysia and Brunei.
The Chief Minister said an important aim of this festival is to showcase local musical instruments and some of the cultures of Sabah, especially those of Beaufort origin. “We have more than 30 races in Sabah, and in Beaufort.
We are all a combination of various cultures and religions and this festival is an occasion to bring Sabahans together to strengthen relationships and to ponder the message of unity,” Musa added.
Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Bagandang - a Festival in Beaufort to preserve a cultural heritage
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