Kaamatan Harvest Festival - The rice festival of Sabah

Not so very long almost all the natives of Sabah used to grow rice.

The Pesta Kaamatan is Sabah’s very own, rice harvest festival.

Planting of rice was the mainstay of their diet and there were many taboos and customs regulating the planting of rice to ensure a bountiful crop in the old days.

As most of our people have now converted to various other religions, most have forgotten about the true meaning of the rice harvest Festival.

In the old days it was a form of giving thanks to the Rice Spirit “Bambarayon or Bambazzon for an abundant harvest and to ensure that they would have another successful rice crop the following year.

It used to be celebrated during the full moon after the rice harvest in each village.

In the old days only one crop of rice would be grown in a year and it was extremely important that the crop was bountiful.

This was especially true with the Kadazan, Dusun and Murut people, who were all growers of rice in Sabah.

They each had their own social orders and religious belief systems in which the female Bobohizans ( Traditional Priestesses of Sabah) played the most important role.

Historically, the British Colonial office of Sabah (North Borneo in the old days) finally condescended in declaring a 2-day Public Holiday to the natives after their leaders asked for it. (OKK Sodomon of Bingkor, Keningau, is the main person main accredited with this as he was the main local leader who approached the Colonial Government for this holiday.)

Today this festival of the rice harvest is celebrated on a very grand scale on the 30th and 31st of May annually at the KDCA ( Kadazan Dusun cultural Centre).

However in the old days the festival would usually have been celebrated in the village by bobohizans performing ceremonies to the rice spirit followed by much feasting and merry making.

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Kaamatan Harvest Festival - Kadazandusun art form in the spotlight

KOTA KINABALU: A little known Kadazandusun art form called hiis or poetry recitation took centre stage at a cultural extravaganza to mark the end of Sabah’s month-long Kaamatan or Harvest Festival.

The recitation by a group of secondary school students from Bundu Tuhan near Mount Kinabalu was the first to be featured at the state-level Kaamatan celebration.

The poem tells about the everyday life of the Kadazandusun community, including how the padi is harvested.

Earlier, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman harvested seven padi stalks to open the festivities at the Hongkod Koisaan (Unity Hall) in Penampang.

Also present was Huguan Siou or Kadazandusun paramount leader Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister.

A group of bobohizans or Kadazandusun elders from Penampang later performed a thanksgiving ceremony for a bountiful harvest. This was followed by a series of ethnic dances from the various districts, including the sumazau of Penampang, sazau of Papar and mongigol of Kudat.

Meanwhile, Kerinah Mah outshone 43 other contestants to take home this year’s Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Queen) crown.

In second spot was Shareene Francis Loudin of Penampang while third placing went to Arveyna Pamella Januin of Papar.

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Kaamatan Harvest Festival - Kota Kinabalu lass the top choice

Penampang: Kota Kinabalu representative Kerinah Mah, 22, was crowned Unduk Ngadau 2017 at the Hongkod Koisaan, Wednesday night.

She beat 43 other beauties, taking home prizes worth more than RM73,000. This included an RM6,000 cash prize, an ATI scholarship worth RM25,000, an Almacrest scholarship worth RM20,000, a return air ticket to Bangkok among others.

Shareene Francis Loudin of Penampang and Arveyna Pamella Januin @ Abdon from Papar were named first and second runners-up.

Shareene received prizes worth RM11,480 which included RM4,000 cash, while Arveyna received prizes worth RM9,660, of which RM3,000 was in cash.

Angel Sungkadhamai Marshal @ Linus (Likas), Bibiana Artecca James (Tambunan), Sharlina Gilbert Mojinun (Klang Valley) and Vanessa Claria (Tuaran) respectively took fourth, fifth, sixth and seven places.

The month-long Kaamatan festival came to an end Wednesday on a moderate yet cheerful note with a RM1 million allocation to the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) and yet another powerful display of multiracial and religious harmony that is uniquely Sabah's.

The spell of heavy rains and terrible traffic jam did not deter thousands of local and foreign visitors from flocking to the Hongkod Koisaan grounds to experience the carnival-like atmosphere.

Launched in Tambunan this year on May 1, the Kaamatan, which is traditionally the Kadazandusun thanksgiving celebration for a bountiful rice harvest, was celebrated at all levels from the districts down to villages and families throughout the month.

There had also been celebrations in the peninsula States of Johor, Perak, Penang as well as the Federal Territory of Labuan and Klang Valley.

For many years now, the spirit of the festival has been embraced by all races and faiths, each wanting to celebrate their own meaning of a harvest.

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Kaamatan Harvest Festival special for multi-ethnic Sabah

PENAMPANG: The “Kaamatan’’ or Harvest Festival which is celebrated annually has considerable meaning to the various ethnic communities in the state, says Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

He said the festival was not only celebrated by the Kadazan Dusun and Murut people but it also saw more than 30 ethnicities in the state joining in the celebration.

Hence, he said the popular festival was where various ethnic communities in Sabah joined in the celebration and met family members and friends, as well as used it as a platform to foster brotherhood and unity.

“The state government will not hesitate to support and give backing to organising the Harvest Festival and it is also well received by the federal government, especially the prime minister, so this festival is not only celebrated at state level but also national level,” added Musa.

The chief minister said this when officiating at the closing ceremony of the state-level Harvest Festival celebration  here yesterday.

Also in attendance were Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Madius Tangau.

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Tambunan to kick off this year's Kaamatan

Kota Kinabalu: Tambunan's Pisompuruan Square has been chosen to launch the State-level Harvest Festival on May 1.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said the district about 80km from the city was selected in conjunction with the Visit Tambunan Year 2017.

He said Head of State Tun Dr Juhar Mahiruddin is expected to officiate the annual auspicious occasion of the festival celebrated by the Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) community.

"The committee has chosen a theme 'Kaamatan Asas Perpaduan' (Kaamatan Basic Unity) or 'Kaamatan Impowon Pisompuruan' for the festival this year which is seen as suitable with the role of festival and celebrations as a channel to instil unity among the multiracial society in Sabah.

"The climax of the celebration will be at Hongkod Koisaan KDCA in Penampang on May 30 and 31 with various programmes including performances of Kadazandusun," he said, adding that 14 committees, including sub-committees, have been formed to prepare for the celebration.

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Promote Kaamatan as a tourism product

 

KOTA KINABALU: The state-level Harvest Festival or Kaamatan can be more than just an annual event that attracts tens of thousand of visitors to Kota Kinabalu by also serving as a platform for promoting awareness among the rural communities about the potential in the tourism sector that they can tap into in their own areas.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan said the one-month Kaamatan festival can be further nurtured and promoted as a tourism product, not just at the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) complex in Penampang where the state-level celebration is hosted every year, but across the State.

He said Kaamatan celebrations hosted in the interior, for example, can be highlighted as tourism products to attract tourists to visit and experience the culture and tradition of the native people there.

“We know that the Harvest Festival celebration is a tourism product, there is no doubt about it. Anywhere in the world, when we visit a country, we would try to enjoy the local culture. It is the same here.

“Such tourism activities however are so far focused mainly in the urban areas and the people in rural areas have yet to benefit from this, despite most of their activities are actually tourism products in nature and can be highlighted. Kaamatan needs to be nurtured and promoted as a tourism product for the people in the rural areas as well,” he said this during a high tea with the media here yesterday in conjunction with the Kaamatan festival.

Pairin, who is also the ‘Huguan Siou’ (Paramount Leader) of the Kadazan Dusun Murut (KDM) community, said the rural communities are now beginning to realize that they can participate more and benefit from the tourism sector, including through cultural activities such as the Kaamatan.

The rural folks, he said, should not be left out and related authorities should reciprocate their intention to take a more active part in better utilising Kaamatan as a tourism product.

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Kaamatan ends on a high note

KOTA KINABALU: Traditional activities and sports were among the main highlights of the month-long annual Kaamatan or harvest festival held over the weekend.

While activities such as “tumutu” or pounding padi to momolastic (shooting with slingshot/catapult) were just part of the natives’ everyday lives in the olden days, it has now been incorporated in the state level harvest festival as part of the traditional sports competition this year.

Sabah Sports Board chairman Datuk Louis Rampas in a press conference on Friday said that the traditional sports were part of the Kadazandusun (KDM) community’s culture and needed to be introduced to more people.

“These are great activities not only for the KDMs to make a living, it also encourages good sportsmanship between people,” he said.

“That is why we need to have more traditional games and activities especially in cultural events such as the Kaamatan festival so that it will not go extinct,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman when launching the traditional sports at the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) in conjunction with the harvest festival on May 30 threw a spear with a banana as a bull’s eye to mark the start of the competition.

The “manandus” or spear throwing is part of the 11 games including “monungkava kalabau” or lassoing a buffalo, “mangapui” or lighting fire, “monopuk” or shooting with blowpipe, “mipulos” or arm wrestling, “rampanau” or walking on stilts, and “migazat” or tug-of-war opened for public for participation.

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Harvest Festival promotes cultural diversity

PENAMPANG: Pesta Kaamatan or the Harvest Festival, which is traditionally celebrated by the Kadazan, Dusun and Murut communities in Sabah, is capable of promoting cross-cultural understanding, tolerance and acceptance of ethnic, cultural, religious differences, said Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

Pairin, who is also chairman of the state’s main committee for the celebration, said the occasion also created a sense of belonging and strengthened cooperation between the various ethnic groups.

“This year, in keeping with the times, the theme of the Harvest Festival is “Peace and Unity Through Culture”.

“This theme is very apt in helping to address polemics on  issue of racial extremism which can bring about disunity and tension in our  multiracial society,” he said at the closing of the state-level Harvest Festival celebration here yesterday.

The closing ceremony was officiated by Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.

Pairin said efforts in maintaining security and unity in a multi-cultural society should not solely be the responsibility of the government.

“This is a collective responsibility. The generation today decides whether we can appreciate, harness and inherit this cultural diversity as a solid foundation for the people of 1Malaysia,” he said.

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Sabah harvest festival to feature a host of handicraft making sessions as well as exhibitions

KOTA KINABALU: The month of May is a season for non-stop cultural events in Sabah as people prepare for the much-awaited “Unduk Ngadau” (Harvest Queen) competition end of this month.

Among the events include the Sabah Harvest Festival, handicraft making sessions as well as exhibitions on the various traditional arts and crafts.

For those who are interested to learn more about handicraft making, they can visit Kadaiku, a souvenir shop selling all sorts of Sabah crafts and even learn to make it themselves.

The shop located at Sinsuran in the city will hold a Rinago (multipurpose casings) making demo by local craftsmen of the Rungus ethnic group such as Johilin Keshedan and Rungus beads making demo by Anna Sual from May 4 to 8.

Later from May 11 to 15, there will be carving and leaf-weaving demonstration for visitors to the shop.

People can learn about Bajau handicraft of Semporna – Lepa-lepa Carving by Alpakah Hamah, and Bajau handicraft of Kota Belud– Serdang (leaf-weaving) making demo by artist Sadi Basal.

On May 18 to 22, there will be local weavers from the Kadazandusun community teaching people how to make the Tambunan Wakid (multipurpose basket) and Sirung (traditional hat) by Julitah Kulindod, as well as Dusun handicrafts of Tamparuli – Bayung (multipurpose basket) by Juvita Gani.

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Kaamatan celebration launched

KOTA MARUDU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman has called on the people to make use of the Kaamatan festive month to promote peace and strengthen racial ties.

Officiating at the launch of State level Kaamatan here, he said all Sabahans should take the opportunity to join their brothers and sisters from the Kadazan Dusun Murut (KDM) Community not just to celebrate the one-month long Harvest Festival but also spread cultural harmony.

“Every one must take this event as a platform to better understand each other so that they could better protect the racial harmony that has long been nurtured among different ethnic groups in Sabah.

“Like other cultural events, Kaamatan is relevant and vital to nurture understanding as well as respect for one’s culture and belief,” he said, adding that the State Government would continue to support cultural events for this purpose.

Thousands of people from far and near thronged Kota Marudu yesterday to join their state leaders in welcoming the annual May Harvest Festival.

Among those present included Deputy Chief Minister and Huguan Siou (paramount leader of the KDM community) Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan and Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister cum Kota Marudu MP Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Ongkili.

The Chief Minister said the State Government had agreed to rotate the hosting of Kaamatan’s opening between all districts to allow people from across the State to have the highly anticipated event at their home town.

He added this was also to encourage all Sabah leaders to go to the ground and meet the people.

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Pesta Babulang of the Bisayas of Borneo

PESTA BABULANG means Harvest Festival in the language of the Bisayas, an Orang Ulu ethnic group found in Limbang, (northern Sarawak), Sabah and Brunei.

The Festival marks the end of the harvesting season and a bountiful harvest and welcomes a new farming cycle.

The Bisayas celebrate by donning their intricately-woven traditional costumes. Many of the women put on their traditional attire called baju masuk, comprising a sarong and a black jacket with embroidered motifs, while the men wear jackets and singan during the three-day celebration.

There is also an array of traditional activities such as singing, games, beating of gongs, cultural performances, dances, displays of handicrafts, beadworks and embroideries,traditional food competitions as well as boat decorations (perahu berhias).

The celebration will, of course, not be complete without the buffalo race and the much-awaited Ratu Babulang (Festival Queen) for which the community is known.

According to Sarawak Bisaya Association president Antonio Kahti Galis, Pesta Babulang is the most significant among all the festivals of the community and celebrated on a grand scale.

“It’s a joyous occasion as well as a thanks-giving ceremony for the bountiful harvest of padi and other crops,” he told thesundaypost.

Anotonia said in the old days, Pesta Babulang was celebrated on a small scale among family members and close relatives.

It evolved gradually, and in 2004, the Association mooted the idea of working with the relevant authorities in the state, including the Sarawak Tourism Board, to help promote the Festival, the community and their traditions and culture to the outside world.

“Now, our Festival is well-known not only in the state but in the country as well — thanks to the strong support and good cooperation from all involved. The Bisaya community owe them a hearty thank,” Antonio acknowledged.

The Festival is usually celebrated for three days.

The symbolic Tapi Manok kicks off the Nakod Babulang, followed by the traditional alai gandang parang and ancayau at the doorstep of the Batu Danau community hall where the Festival is launched before guests enter for servings of Babulang food.

Antonio said success of the Festival this year was a testimony to the solidarity and commitment of the community and Association to preserve their rich cultural heritage for the generations to come.

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Kaamatan finale spotlights Sayau dance

A seldom-seen dance of the Tatana Dusun community called Sayau took centrestage to mark the finale of the month-long Kaamatan or Harvest Festival.

Normally performed during spiritual ceremonies for healing, the Sayau was played out for the audience for about eight minutes yesterday at the Hongkod Koisaan hall in Penampang.

The dance consisted of six women performing around a sole male dancer with graceful arm movements mimicking that of an eagle in flight.

They were dressed in traditional costumes of black with gold trimming.

The Tatana Dusun is a sub-tribe of the Kadazandusun community.

The dance was among a myriad cultural performances to close the celebrations marked by the harvesting of seven padi stalks by Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.

Accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Juhar then placed the harvested padi stalks in a special container in a ceremony called Mongomotom Popoopi Paaidoid Tangkob.

Pairin is also the Huguan Siou or Kadazandusun paramount chief.

Earlier, a group of Kadazandusun bobohizan or traditional priestesses from the northern Kota Belud district headed by Amman Sirim Simbuna performed the magavau (appeasing the rice spirit) ceremony.

In his speech read out by Pairin, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the thanksgiving ceremony was a reminder to Sabahans for the peace, stability and prosperity in the state.

He said these aspects did not come by themselves but rather from the sacrifices and struggles of the people and leaders over the years.

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Tourists move holidays forward to experience Kaamatan

PENAMPANG: Australians Bruce Collinson and wife Geraldine have always been fascinated with Sabah, especially its culture.

In fact, they were more than willing to move their holiday dates a month early just to learn about Sabah’s culture and enjoy the nature here.

“We have been planning our holidays for about a year, so we browsed the Internet on what was available here (in Sabah) and found out about the (Harvest) Festival — so instead of coming here in June, we decided to move the dates a month early because May is just too hard to ignore.

“Since we love to learn more about the culture and meeting nice and friendly Sabahans, which is a bonus. We find this festival just the best place to be — there are just a lot of things going on, seeing people spending time with their families and going back to where they grew up is just beautiful, plus we do not have this sort of thing back home,” said 50-year-old Geraldine.

She said the experience attending the Harvest Festival, or locally known as Kaamatan, was beyond their expectations, adding: “It is just so colourful. We did not expect to see so many people, but I believe this is what celebration is all about.”

Both Bruce and Geraldine started coming to Sabah since three years ago, and in fact, this is the Collinson’s fourth visit here.

“We have always liked Sabah. There was one time when we were in Italy when I told my wife that I miss Sabah. We are going back to Australia soon but will definitely come here again,” said Bruce, 57.

Along with the Collinsons were 55-year-old Ken McMillan and Jenny, 52, who are first-time visitors to the state.

“Everything is new to us, but so far, we are enjoying it,” said Jenny.

Also among the crowds of thousands of people was Yeap Wen Zhuo, who happened to be in the state to attend a cousin’s wedding.

“Since this is my first time here, I decided to stay a little bit longer. Everything about the local culture is new to me, the unity among the multi-racials is so great here,” said the 21-year-old from Terengganu.

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Sabah State Level Harvest Festival celebrations launched

KOTA BELUD: Heavy rain did not deter hundreds of people from thronging the town field here to witness the launch of the State Level Kaamatan (Harvest) Festival yesterday.

Describing the rain as a “blessing”, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the fact that there was a huge turnout showed that the people loved their culture.

Kaamatan was an opportunity for Sabah’s ethnic communities such as the Kadazandusun and Rungus to showcase their unique culture during the festivities being held in various districts and villages throughout the month of May, he said when launching the celebrations.

“This is an opportunity for different communities to come together to celebrate our diversity. In fact, cultural events such as Kaamatan is possible due to Sabah’s peace, security and stability that had been the Barisan Nasional’s struggle all the while.

Musa said Sabahans appreciated the ruling coalition’s efforts and this was reflected in their support for BN candidates in the state.

“I have travelled to many places around Sabah and the response to our candidates has been overwhelming, and the same is true here,” he said, adding that he believed the Kota Belud people would not betray the ruling coalition.

Also present at the launch was Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who said Kaamatan was not only a time for festivities among the ethnic communities but also to be thankful for whatever they had.

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Kaamatan a symbol of harmony

KOTA BELUD: CHIEF Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman launched a month-long Pesta Kaamatan here yesterday as he continued his tour across the state in the race to the May 5 polls.

Musa joined the Huguan Siou or Kadazandusun paramount leader Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan in cutting seven stalks of rice to mark the beginning of the harvest festival, which will be celebrated in all districts of the state before culminating in the state-level celebration in Penampang at the end of the month.

Musa said the festival reminded people in the state of peace and harmony as well as the importance of the agricultural sector, especially on modern methods to meet the growing demand for food.

"This is a unique and significant celebration in Sabah and the Barisan Nasional state government has always given its utmost respect towards the needs of the indigenous communities and to preserve their culture and tradition."

He was joined by BN candidate for the Kota Belud parliamentary seat, Datuk Rahman Dahlan, and BN candidates for the Tempasuk and Usukan state seats, Datuk Musbah Jamli and Datuk Seri Salleh Said.

Musa later launched the Usukan Bay Oil and Gas Support Industry Centre, a project that will create more than 1,000 employment opportunities.

The project will also help push for development in the industry and produce more skilled workers.

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Kota Belud to host state-level Harvest Festival

KOTA KINABALU: Kota Belud will be hosting the opening of the state-level Harvest Festival (Kaamatan) on May 1, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan announced yesterday.

The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Tihombuso Piunungan Om Pirotian Maya Kaamatan (Sustain Goodwill and Understanding Through Kaamatan).

“The launching will be graced by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman,” he said after chairing the Harvest Festival main committee meeting at his office in Sembulan here.

Kota Marudu, which was supposed to host this year’s event, gave the opportunity to Kota Belud to proceed with the opening ceremony.

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Keningau folk gear up for colourful national-level Kaamatan celebration

KENINGAU:  The much-anticipated national-level “Tadau Kaamatan” (Harvest Festival) celebration to be held in Keningau, in the interior of Sabah, on June 16 is set to bring not only a festive mood but also historic memories.

For the first time, Keningau, a sprawling timber and agricultural town, will play host to the national-level celebration which is expected to be graced by none other than Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The prime minister’s presence will definitely add more significance to the celebration, especially among the Kadazan-Dusun-Murut (KDM) community, for whom the special event is a wonderful reminder of their heritage.

The yearly celebration is also meant to foster goodwill and understanding and enhance unity among the various ethnic groups in Sabah.

However, this coming harvest festival will also bring historic memories, partly because Keningau town is where a “batu sumpah” (oath stone) was erected to acknowledge Sabah’s acceptance of joining the federation.

The monument, which was completed on Aug 31, 1964, the first anniversary of Malaysia Day, was unveiled by the then Federal Minister of Labour, the late Tan Sri V. Manickavasagam.

“I really feel excited and am looking forward to it (the Tadau Kaamatan celebration), especially knowing that Datuk Seri Najib is coming to our town.

“Of course, his presence will make this celebration more meaningful, especially in making this event an avenue to foster goodwill and understanding and enhance unity among the various ethnic groups in Sabah,” said Azman Ruslan, who lives in Kampung Bayangan, about 5 km from the Keningau township.

Azman, who is Keningau Umno Youth head, also suggested that the KDM community find a better way of value adding the yearly event and not just see it simply as a ‘merry-making affair’.

“There is no doubt that the celebration has contributed meaningfully in terms of fostering goodwill, understanding and unity but I think we (the KDM community) need to go beyond that, especially in economic achievement,” he said.

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Showcase of cultures at Kaamatan festival celebration

PENAMPANG: One of the best occasions to experience the way of life of the KadazanDusun Murut in Sabah is during the annual Pesta Kaamatan or Harvest Festival celebrations on May 30-31.

During the two-day event at Hongkod Koisaan here, which is the culmination of the month-long Harvest Festival celebrations, the Kadazan, Dusun and Murut people bring the Unduk Ngadaus (Harvest Queens) from their respective districts to vie for the State Unduk Ngadau title.

The celebrations attract throngs of visitors from not only Sabah but throughout the country as well as tourists.

Rosmary Ening, a 63-year-old woman trader from Keningau who takes the opportunity to sell her homemade alcoholic drinks not as ‘Lihing’ (Sosopon) and ‘tapai’, said business was good.

She said she began selling her  Lihing and Tapai at the event venue two years ago, and she enjoys being part of the celebrations as it is among the few times in a year that one gets to see the Kadazan, Dusun and Murut (KDM) people turning out in their traditional attire and performing their dances and music.

“We should always encourage our young to practise this tradition,” she said.

Mariana Ginadung, 57, has been an active participant in the event since 2010 as a cultural performer in one of the traditional houses erected at Hongkod Koisaan.

What she does is to demonstrate traditional threshing of rice for visitors. Such a practice was common until as recent as 20 years ago, but it has been replaced by machinery.

“This was how we separated the husk from the grains. But the newer generation do not know how it used to be done. It is only through such festivity that we are able to show the old practices,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mazin, a 64 year-old man from Tambunan, was there to sell his parangs (machetes) for RM38 each.

“The demand for my parangs is quite good,” he said. In Dusun, parangs are known by the term ‘Dangol’, while for the Kadazans, it is called ‘Dangoh’.

American Robert Pohman, 59, who was among visitors at Hongkod Koisaan yesterday, said the Kaamatan Festival was his favourite event in Sabah.

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Pesta Kaamatan now celebrated around world

PENAMPANG: The Pesta Kaamatan (Harvest Festival) is no longer celebrated just in Sabah but also around the world, according to Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

With the assistance of the state and federal governments, the festival is now a tourist attraction as it introduces the culture, tradition and rites of the KadazaDusun Murut as well as those of other ethnicities in Sabah to the world, he said.

Pairin, who is the Huguan Siou (Paramount Leader) of the KadazanDusun and also the state level Pesta Kaamatan main organizing committee chairman, said details about the Harvest Festival celebrations have been spread far and wide with today’s information and communication technology.

This directly means the information has been recorded in a database that will become important reference materials for the future generation, he said in his speech at the launch of the annual Traditional Sports by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman at the KDCA grounds here yesterday.

Pairin expressed hope that dying or rarely used practices will be revived for the benefit of all, especially the younger generation.

“As I have said earlier, the state and federal governments have given their full support to the effort in organizing the annual celebration. Other than that, they have also given support to the development of the KadazanDusun Murut community by including them in the country’s development agenda,” he said.

“This include the federal government’s agreement to set up a KDM College in Kampung Kaingaran, Tambunan,” he said.

Pairin said he is confident Musa will continue to lead the state government towards dynamic and realistic development in order to improve the socio-economy of the people in Sabah.

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Adding value to Sabah handicrafts

FOR an insight into life in Sabah during the bygone days, one only has to look at the traditional houses and hand-made relics being preserved at the Sabah Museum Heritage Village within the Ethno-botanical Gardens at the Sabah Museum Complex.

This is a good place to see not only the unique architecture of the houses built by the indigenious community but also the handicrafts they used as household items in the old days.

The community’s ingenuity in the choice and use of wood and other plant materials is evident in the construction of the houses.

I was informed the houses were built by a particular ethnic group to reflect its identity and ensure the cultural and historical authenticity of the houses.

To emphasise these aspects, the houses are furnished with items from yesteryear, including bamboo water containers, spoons and ladles, among many others.

Occasionally, activities such as handicraft-making demonstrations and sales, cultural dance performances and traditional games are held at the Village – usually during May to coincide with the state-level Harvest Festival Celebration.

The handicraft-makers, however, want more than just demonstrating their skills and selling their wares during this time. They are looking for steady income – and they also want to impart their skills to their children.

Simini Gondilo from Kampung Pelakat Sipitang, has been weaving baskets and winnowing trays since her teens.

“I used to follow my mother into the jungle to look for materials like the right kind of bamboo and vines to make baskets, containers and all sorts of household items,” recalled the 54-year-old of Murut-Dusun descent.

It was through helping her mother that she honed her handicraft-making skills.

However, she lamented that since such items were now produced by factories, making them, especially baskets, from natural materials was no longer popular.

“We may gradually lose interest in making things with our hands. But for me, I keep making baskets because sometimes, I do get to sell them. I have a child who is interested in weaving but you don’t make much money from it,” Simini noted.

The lack of demand means she cannot sell in bulk, so she has to do something else to make ends meet.

She hoped some handicraft dealers would come up with a reasonable offer, saying this might encourage the younger generation to get involved in the business.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Adding value to Sabah handicrafts

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