KadazanDusun Cultural Village - Same experience minus long journey

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah – known for its multi-cultural communities and diverse ethnic groups – is a cultural haven for tourists who are often eager to see the state’s traditional houses.

Visitors can now opt to cut down on the number of road trips to remote villages and visit the newly launched KDCA (Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association) Cultural Village in Penampang instead.

Also known as Koisaan Cultural Village (KCV), the houses in the area were underutilised, as they were only open to the public several times a year, mainly during the Harvest or Kaamatan festival in May.

KCV chairman Sairah Indan said it had upgraded the houses and opened the place to visitors from Feb 19.

Visitors can now tour the cultural houses and learn about the natives’ traditions through exhibitions and performances at an open stage there for a fee (RM25 for locals and RM35 for foreigners).

Visitors can also see and experience for themselves some of the traditional sports of Sabah’s Kadazandusun community.

“As it has a limited land area of just 3.6ha, we can only accommodate 11 houses for now.

“We are searching for a bigger area to accommodate all of the 40 ethnic houses available in Sabah,” Sairah said.

The 11 houses available for viewing at the moment are the Beaufort Bisaya House, Penampang Kadazan House, Kota Belud Tindal House, Ranau Liawan House, Kuala Penyu Tatana House, Keningau Gana-Kuijau House, Tuaran Lotud House, Tambunan Tuhawon House, Papar Kadazan House, Murut Lansaran House and Kudat Rungus longhouse which also accommodates other ethnic group such as the Tobilung, Tinagas, Tombonuo and Kimaragang.

Continue reading at: Kadazan Dusun Cultural Village - Same experience minus long journey

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MASwings brings Kaamatan, Gawai cheer to KIA, KKIA

KUCHING: Cabin crew members of MASwings spread the festive spirit of Kaamatan and Gawai Dayak by holding festive send-off and welcome ceremonies at both Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) and Kuching International Airport (KIA) on the eve of the two occasions.

At KKIA, eight cabin crew members distributed complimentary ‘kurma’ (dates) to MASwings and Malaysia Airlines passengers, in conjunction with the month of Ramadan, as they sent off departing passengers and greeted those arriving at the airport.

Four MASwings flight hostesses who took part in the event at KKIA, are actually former ‘Unduk Ngadau’ (Kaamatan pageant queens) of their respective districts – an attribute that they showcased proudly by wearing their winning crowns and sashes.

The colourful ceremony was accompanied by the playing of a traditional musical instrument called the ‘kulintangan’, performed continuously by MASwings’ in-house talent Mohd Mazrull Mazwandy Mazlan.

Mohd Mazrull also encouraged his fellow cabin crew members to perform the ‘Sumazau’ – the well-known traditional dance of the Kadazans in Sabah.

At the KIA, MASwings’ Kuching cabin crew wore the traditional costumes of major ethnic groups in Sarawak, in celebration of Gawai Dayak, as they said farewell to outgoing passengers and warmly welcomed those arriving ones.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: MASwings brings Kaamatan, Gawai cheer to KIA, KKIA

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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 and Gawai Harvest Festivals - Celebrating with thanksgiving

OVER the years, our fellow Malaysians from Sabah and Sarawak have assimilated themselves into life in the peninsula. Many have moved to big cities to work and carve a modern livelihood for themselves.

But if there is one time in the year when we see them returning to their long houses, villages or ancestral homes, it would be during Pesta Kaamatan and Gawai Dayak.

Considered as sacred celebrations, Pesta Kaamatan in Sabah, and Gawai, as it is known in Sarawak, are rice harvest festivals in honour of the traditions and ancestors of people in the two states.

The festivals are a day of giving thanks to the gods for a good harvest and humbly requesting for it to continue. The spirit of the padi plant is believed to represent the all powerful source of life and existence.

Rituals are performed to ensure continuous abundant harvests and to keep natural disasters away.

Every year, young women in Sabah will doll up in traditional attire and participate in a beauty contest to vie for the title of Kaamatan Queen, in honour of Huminudon, who sacrificed herself to the earth to save her people from famine.

The Petronas Harvest Festival commercial this year takes place in Sarawak, and it begins with a large family gathering to have their meal. Suddenly a group of kids leave to go swimming in a nearby river.

The kids are none other than Anang and her friends, an urban Iban girl who has returned to her village to celebrate Gawai.

Ismail Kamarul, who directed the commercial, says the abundance of sustenance, which we often take for granted, has to be earned with hard work and sacrifice.

Shot at the Lily Longhouse in Kanowit, near Sibu, Ismail wants to highlight this by creating awareness among children on the wastage of food.

He says children have to realise that it takes a great amount of effort to grow padi so that they can have rice on their plates everyday.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic & Vid) at: Kaamatan and Gawai Harvest Festivals - Celebrating with thanksgiving

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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.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Kaamatan Harvest Festival - Kadazandusun art form in the spotlight

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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.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Kaamatan Harvest Festival - Kota Kinabalu lass the top choice

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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.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Kaamatan Harvest Festival special for multi-ethnic Sabah

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Kaamatan must continue to be catalyst of stability, peace and harmony

PENAMPANG: Hundreds of people, in their traditional costumes, flocked the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) building here to celebrate the end of the harvest festival.

At the event today, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman cut the paddy as a symbol of harvest and hit the traditional gong to close the state-level Kaamatan Festival.

He was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister and Huguan Siou (Kadazandusun Paramount Leader), Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Hussein and Sabah Tourism, Culture, Environment Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.

Earlier in his speech, Musa announced the state government has approved RM1 million allocation to upgrade and repair KDCA building.

"I urge the people of Sabah, regardless of their cultural differences, to continue support the government so efforts to develop the state can be successfully implemented," he said.

Musa also hoped the Kaamatan festival would continue to be a catalyst for inspiration and strength to the people in ensuring stability, peace and harmony.

Meanwhile, Pairin said Kaamatan, like other cultural celebrations, was a season of forgiveness and urged the people to respect one another and remain united.

Continue reading (Incl. Vid) at: Kaamatan must continue to be catalyst of stability, peace and harmony

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Gawai celebration unifies Dayaks across Borneo

THE Gawai celebration remains one of the common traits that links all the native communities in Borneo – a day when they show thanksgiving for a bountiful paddy harvest and pray for a plentiful year ahead.

As a rose is still a rose by any other name, these communities call their festival differently – for the Ibans, it is ‘Ari Gawai’; the Bidayuhs in general call it ‘Onu Gawea’; while the Kadazan-Dusuns in Sabah celebrate ‘Kaamatan’.

Officially, Gawai Dayak in Sarawak is observed on June 1 and 2 – first gazetted as a public holiday in 1965, while Kaamatan in Sabah is celebrated on May 30 and 31.

The Dayaks in Indonesian Borneo also celebrate their own version of the festival, with rituals based on those practised by the Kanayatans – a Dayak sub-ethnic group in West Kalimantan.

It is learned that in West Kalimantan, the occasion was first held on a large scale in 1964 and like Sarawak, the Dayaks there also call the celebration ‘Hari Gawai’. However unlike Sarawak, there is no official date for Gawai in the Indonesian province – it can be held at any time from late April to June.

The local governments in the West Kalimantan have made the initiative to preserve the tradition by holding the celebration on regency, provincial and national levels. Originally, Gawai was only observed at village level or at the most, district level.

The rituals

In West Kalimantan, the first thing on the list of rituals would be the ‘ngampar bide’ – literally, the rollout of the mat. This symbolises the wish for the celebration to run smoothly, apart from marking the start of the festival. This ceremony would be attended by local Dayak community leaders who apart from overseeing all the preparations for the occasion, would also discuss issues and happenings affecting their communities.

After the ‘ngampar bide’, an assembly will take place at the main venue of the celebration the following day. This is perhaps the most spectacular of events where Dayaks from all across the province would arrive in their colourful traditional attire and gather to display them to the public.

It is also during this time that top-ranking local government officials – for the province-level celebration, it would be the governor – would deliver their special Gawai address to the crowd.

Regardless of which level of celebration – regency, province or national – this event would gather thousands of visitors.

Next comes the core ritual known as ‘Naik Dango’, where the dancers deliver harvested rice to the ‘dango’ (rice silo). This elaborate dance is known as ‘ngantat ka dango’, which leads to the ‘nyangahatn’ – the recital of prayers and mantra upon the arrival of the rice at the ‘dango’.

The ‘nyangahatn’ is performed by a ‘Panyangahatn’, whose chanting contains words of gratitude for the sustenance and also songs to invoke the good spirits to come and gather inside the ‘dango’.

At the same time, the ‘nyangahatn’ also seeks for permission from the spirits to consume the rice for daily needs.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Gawai celebration unifies Dayaks across Borneo

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Gawai and Kaamatan festivals - Festivities that tear down racial divide

KUCHING: The Gawai and Kaamatan festivals together with other festive celebrations are a unifying force that bring people of diverse races in the country together for a common goal, said 1Malaysia Foundation Trustee Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

The festivities, said Lee, have helped to foster inter-racial harmony, integration and unity, which are imperatives for a multi-racial country to succeed.

Unity nurtured among the people has made Malaysia unique and an example to the global community of a nation where different ethnic communities can live in peace and harmony and work together for the progress and well-being of the nation.

"We have been a harmonious society and it is necessary for us to further enhance and strengthen our inter-racial understanding and trust for one another despite whatever differences.

"We should continue with greater fervour and determination to strive towards building our multi-racial nation into a united Malaysian nation with a sense of common and shared destiny," said Lee in a statement today in conjunction with the Gawai and Kaamatan festivals.

The Dayak community in the state will be celebrating the Gawai festival to mark the end of the harvest season on June 1 and 2. The Kaamatan Festival is celebrated today and tomorrow among the Kadazandusun community and other races in Sabah.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Gawai and Kaamatan festivals - Festivities that tear down racial divide

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44 to vie for Unduk Ngadau Harvest Queen title

KOTA KINABALU: Forty-four beau­­ties from all over Sabah will be vying for the Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Queen) title tomorrow.

During the event, the participants from 44 districts and sub-districts will express knowledge of their own culture using their mother tongue while posing in colourful and beautiful traditional costumes as they vie to be the next Harvest Queen.

The Unduk Ngadau contest is a much-awaited highlight of the Kaa­ma­tan festival. Native Sabahans believe that the Harvest Queen is a commemoration of the legendary Huminodun.

Huminodun was believed to have sacrificed herself to the ancient gods so that her people, who were mostly padi farmers, would have food after suffering from famine.

The selected Unduk Ngadau would also help promote Sabah, its people and diverse cultures to other parts of the world as part of her “royal duty”.

Since its inception in 1960, 57 women have been crowned Unduk Ngadau.

Yong Mee Lan @ Mui Lan from Penampang was the first Unduk Ngadau to be crowned, while more than 20 representatives from Pe­­nam­pang had also won the Unduk Ngadau title over the years.

Other beauties who have won are from Papar, Putatan, Tuaran, Tam­pa­ruli, Beaufort, Tanjung Aru, Inanam, Kawang, Sandakan, Bonga­wan, Tenom, Kiulu, the Klang Valley, Sulaman and Telupid.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: 44 to vie for Unduk Ngadau Harvest Queen title

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Kaamatan boosts demand for traditional costumes

KENINGAU: At this time of the year, Mohd Azrul Fildza Abdullah’s boutique, here is a hive of activity as he and his wife race against time to meet the numerous orders for hand-stitched ethnic costumes.

It is now Kaamatan time in the Land Below the Wind and this is when the locals don their traditional garments to participate in the various events that are usually held in conjunction with the festival‘s month-long celebrations.

“This is a busy time for me as I‘ve to complete all the orders I‘ve received for Kaamatan,” Mohd Azrul Fildza, 41, told Bernama recently when met at his small boutique, Azma Trading, which he runs with his 36-year-old wife Fatma Zainal.

Mohd Azrul, a Kadazan, has been receiving orders for the traditional garments since April.

“I‘ve stopped taking new orders because these clothes have to be sewn with great precision. Some ethnic groups” traditional clothes are quite tedious to sew. In fact, it may take me two or three months to complete one set,” he said.

The traditional outfit worn by the Kadazans in Penampang, also known as the sinombiaka, was easier to sew, he said, adding that he and his wife could complete three to five sets of these garments a day.

“For the sinombiaka, we just have to add gold-coloured and red lace trimmings to the clothes. In contrast, the Tindal (a Dusun sub-ethnic group) people who hail from Kota Belud have such intricate costumes which can take us two to three months to complete as they require embroidered motifs,” explained Mohd Azrul.

The Tindal sub-ethnic group“s traditional costumes, he added, were more vibrant to look at as they were adorned with red and yellow sequins and gold-coloured buttons.

Mohd Azrul“s boutique has earned a reputation as one of the best shops in the state to secure ethnic garments for Kaamatan.

He also receives orders for traditional garments from Sabahans residing in Peninsular Malaysia and even overseas.

“Several customers of ours working in countries like Japan and Australia have ordered clothes from us through our Facebook and Instagram (azmatrading) pages,” he said.

Kaamatan, an annual rice harvest festival, is among the major cultural festivals observed by the Kadazandusun - the largest indigenous group in Sabah - Murut and Rungus ethnic groups in Sabah.

The festivities, which usually kick off in the beginning of May and include carnivals and traditional performances, peak on May 30 and 31 which are public holidays in the state.

The climax of the celebrations will take place at the Kadazandusun Cultural Association‘s Hongkod Koisaan hall in Penampang, located on the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu.

The people themselves will be the highlight at the closing events as they will all be resplendently decked out in their respective ethnic wear.

Interestingly, Sabah‘s traditional costumes come mainly in hues of black as it is believed that the colour symbolised power that is capable of protecting the wearer against evil spirits.

Some quarters also believed that the colour suited the lifestyle of the ethnic people whose forefathers had lived in a state of nature.

Sabah has over 30 ethnic groups, each with its own rich heritage of traditional costumes and cultural practices that reflect their unique identity.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Kaamatan boosts demand for traditional costumes

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Joint Gawai/Kaamatan festival in Kundasang, Sabah July 1

KUCHING: The 11th Joint Gawai/Kaamatan Festival, organised jointly by the Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and Kadazandusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), will be held on July 1 at Puteri Nabalu Hall in Kundasang, Sabah.

DCCI and KCCI take turns to host this event, and this year it will be KCCI playing host since last year’s event was hosted by DCCI at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Santubong.

Many attractive activities have been lined up this year, including a golf tournament between members of KCCI and DCCI to vie for the Tan Sri Bernard Dompok’s Challenge Trophy on the morning of July 1.

The organising committee, with the consent of the KCCI Supreme Council, has officially invited the Chief Minister of Sabah Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman to grace the dinner on July 1.

KCCI president Datuk Bonipasius Bianis and DCCI president Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum will also be in attendance including federal and state cabinet ministers, several senior government officials, local dignitaries and the corporate players from both Sabah and Sarawak.

The DCCI Joint Gawai/Kaamatan Organising Committee Chairman and DCCI deputy president Kilat Beriak indicated that a strong delegation of some 200 members from Sarawak will be attending the event.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Joint Gawai/Kaamatan festival in Kundasang, Sabah July 1

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Another moving web film for Gawai and Kaamatan festivals from Petronas

KUCHING: Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has returned with another web film especially produced in conjunction with the annual rice harvest celebrations in Sarawak and Sabah this year.

The short film maintained the theme “Striving for a Better Tomorrow Together”, first featured during the Chinese New Year celebrations this year, but revisited again for the Gawai and Kaamatan festivals in Sarawak and Sabah.

The national oil and gas company also kept the five main characters, namely Anang, Ah Keong, Hakim, Joseph and Arafi from the Chinese New Year’s web film, for its latest production entitled “Siapa Jojo?” (Who’s Jojo?)

In this latest web film, the focus is on Anang and her four best friends, who have travelled to her hometown in Kanowit to experience and celebrate Hari Gawai.

There is a touch of comedy weaved in with a powerful message of togetherness, when the four friends help Anang to bring a buffalo named Jojo to the paddy fields.

“Anang and her friends discover the values and meaning of determination, hard work and gratitude, which encapsulates the true meaning of the harvest festival, after Anang’s grandfather asks the children to take the buffalo to the paddy field.

“The friends learned valuable lessons, to always appreciate blessings in life and never take for granted the hard work of others that have allowed them to enjoy such blessings,” said Petronas group strategic communications senior general manager Zahariah Abdul Rahman during the preview of the web film last night.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Another moving web film for Gawai and Kaamatan festivals from Petronas

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45 ladies to compete in this year’s Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan

KOTA KINABALU: Forty-five Unduk Ngadau participants will be competing for this year’s state-level Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan.

The chairperson of the harvest pageant committee, Joanna Datuk Kitingan said that the increased participation is in addition to the Kiulu representative.

Speaking at a press conference, Joanna said that this time around the pageant will emphasize on the participants’ ability to speak their mother tongue and appreciate their own culture.

She said it was the continuity of last year’s theme ‘Embrace your culture, speak your mother tongue.”

Joanna, who is also the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) women council chairperson, said that the traditional costumes continues to be their pursuits to make sure that each district brings out the different costumes that is seldom worn so that the Unduk Ngadau learn to appreciate the varied cultures and costumes.

“The Unduk Ngadau Pageant has come a long way. It has kept the traditions alive and promote our culture in terms of being proud to wear our traditional costume and promote our culture tourism as well,” said Joanna.

Meanwhile, for the evening Wear Ethnic Concept, which started four years ago, it will continue to be a competition so that the designers will able to showcase their creative creation during the Sodop Pintutunan on May 27.

The top seven creative best designs will be showcased during the Sodop Unduk Ngadau on May 29.

Continue reading at: 45 ladies to compete in this year’s Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan

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Month-long Kaamatan festival begins

KOTA KINABALU: As Sabah celebrates a month-long Kaamatan, the city‘s harvest festival celebration is set to be a joyous, vibrant and grand affair with numerous exciting cultural events for all to enjoy.

Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai said the Kaamatan festive celebration will be held in the state capital from May 18-May 20, starting at the main venue at the Padang Merdeka which will host a galore of festivities beginning from 6pm until 11pm.

“This year’s city level Kaamatan will be celebrated with the theme ‘Kaamatan: The foundation for unity’, and will culminate with a grand ceremony by Huguon Siou (Paramount Leader) of the Kadazandusunmurut (KDM) community, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan,” he said.

In announcing the Kaamatan celebration at the press conference on Monday, Yeo said the opening ceremony will be followed by the hotly-awaited Lilundus Unduk Ngadau (beauty contest) as well as Sugandoi (singing competition), Magavau ritual and choir.

“There will also be other exciting events in store for everyone to enjoy, including a bicycle decoration gala, Unduk Ngadau Creative Traditional Dress competition, karaoke contests, as well as prize presentation for all the winners,“ said Yeo.

Furthermore, he noted the Kaamatan Cycling Challenge will also be held in conjunction of the Kaamatan which will witness 100 cyclists taking on the 22KM route starting from Padang Merdeka along Jalan Tun Abdul Rahman, Jalan Penampang until KDCA Cultural Village before returning to the starting point.

“The closing ceremony of the Kaamatan on May 20 will be officiated by federal Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Salleh Tun Said Keruak,” said Yeo, adding that the finale of the festival will culminate with the Unduk Ngadau finals for Kota Kinabalu and Likas, and state-level competitions which will be held at the KDCA Cultural Village.

Continue reading at: Month-long Kaamatan festival begins

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Month-long Sabah harvest festival begins

KOTA KINABALU: The chanting by bobohizan (Kadazandusun priestesses) during a thanksgiving ceremony in Tambunan district marked the launch of Sabah’s month-long Kaama­tan celebrations.

The event was held at Pisom­puruan Square in Tambunan, which is surrounded by padi fields and nestled in a valley in the Crocker Range.

The thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest was witnessed by Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Juhar Mahi­rud­din and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

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

In a symbolic gesture, Juhar harvested seven padi stalks and beat a gong seven times to mark the launch.

This was followed by cultural performances and a choir presentation of songs such as Tadau Do Kaamatan and Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan.

The crowd was also entertained with the sumazau dance of the Kadazan­dusun, as well as the monggigol sumandai dance of the Rungus and the magunatip of the Murut communities.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Month-long Sabah harvest festival begins

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Kaamatan Carnival in Tambunan April 25-30

TAMBUNAN: The Kaamatan Carnival will be held from April 25-30 at Pisompuruan Square here in conjunction with the launch of the State-level Kaamatan Festival.

District Officer Thomas Logijin on Wednesday said the carnival was decided and agreed upon by all  the coordinating committee members during a meeting held at the District Office recently.

“The carnival activities will begin on April 25 with the Traditional Food and Cookery Festival and Sepakat Negaraku 1Malaysia Community Program in the evening.

“On April 26 is the Traditional Sports and Piboian Moboros do KadazanDusun competition followed by the tug of war, Sugandoi final competition and Huminodunn night on April 27,” he said.

Thomas, who is also co-chairman of the coordinating committee of the launching of the State-level Kaamatan Festival, said the Tambunan Volleyball final competition and Tambunan sepak takraw final competition will be held on April 28.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Kaamatan Carnival in Tambunan April 25-30

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Kaamatan best platform to showcase cultural diversity of Sabah’s traditional costumes

AS a vital part of social development in Sabah, traditional costume play an important role in the state’s history and culture.

For the costume of the Kadazan, Dusun and Rungus, their basic features are black in colour, with colourful beads and embroidery, gold buttons and a silver belt.

These features have been preserved for hundreds of years until the traditional beauty queen, Unduk Ngadau was introduced in the 1960s, where the traditional costumes were starting to evolve.

Nowadays, however, most Sabahans wear modern clothes in their daily lives, not much different from their counterparts all around the world.

Traditional attires are only worn during certain festivals or ceremony, especially Kaamatan which is celebrated for the whole month of May, annually.

The highlight of Kaamatan is the crowning of Unduk Ngadau, which is held at the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association, Hongkod Koisaan in Penanpang on May 31.

Each year, the finalists of Unduk Ngadau will be wearing traditional costumes, as it is part of the judging criteria.

Costumes like Sinuangga’ of the Kadazan from Penampang, Sinipak of Tindal Kota Belud, Siya of Kadazan Papar, Kinaling of Kimaragang Kota Belud and Sukolob of the Rungus women in Kudat, Pitas and Banggi are often worn during the pageant.

However, last year, the committee of Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan started emphasising on the representation of the traditional costumes in each district to bring out costumes that have not been projected before, to enrich the cultural heritage of Kadazan, Dusun, Murut and Rungus communities in Sabah.

Five new costumes were showcased last year, while this year more than 10 finalists wore rarely seen costumes.

Likas representative wore the Rinagang, another costume of Dusun from Kota Belud, while the finalists from the northern part of Sabah – Pitas, Kudat, Banggi and Matunggong showcased two types of their Sukolob – clearly showing how the costume has evolved.

The contestants representing Johor and Penampang wore two versions of the Sinuangga’, Kota Marudu finalist also showcased less accessorised Kinaling to introduce how their costume looks like before.

The chairlady of Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan organising committee, Joanna Datuk Kitingan said the development showed the spirit of the finalists in promoting their heritage to a higher level.

Continue reading at: Kaamatan best platform to showcase cultural diversity of Sabah’s traditional costumes

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The essence of Kaamatan and Gawai Harvest Festival captured through special webfilm

KOTA KINABALU: In conjunction with Kaamatan and Gawai celebration, Petronas commences its Kaamatan and Gawai festive campaign with the launch of a specially produced webfilm titles “Renai”.

Renai is the name of the main character, the little girl featured in the webfilm. The scene is set in the jungle of Sarawak, and against the scenic view of Mount Kinabalu in neighboring Sabah.

This inspiring story is about Renai growing up with her mother staying in Sarawak, while she could not be with her dad is most of the time as her dad working hard in Sabah to earn a living. The second part of the film is about Renai coming back from studies abroad during harvest festival to celebrate harvest festival with her parents.

The moral of this webfilm strongly shows how Renai appreciates and values the struggles and sacrifices made by her parents to ensure a brighter future for her.

This story of gratitude and hope encapsulates the true spirit of the Kaamatan and Gawai festivals, which celebrate the fruits of hard labour and determination invested each year into delivering a bountiful harvest.

According to Petronas Senior General Manager of Group Strategic Communications Zahariah Abd Rahman, Petronas has been bringing Malaysians together through our festive communications for the past two decades.

“With the latest Kaamatan and Gawai webfilm, we hope to not only capture the rich and unique essence of the harvest festivals in Sabah and Sarawak, but what this tradition and the festivals mean to all Malaysians.

“On top of that, Petronas draws inspiration from every Malaysian as each has an interesting story to be told.

“The story of Renai reflects our nation’s diversity as a true melting pot of cultures, and the social cohesion among Malaysians,” Zahariah said.

Continue reading at: The essence of Kaamatan and Gawai Harvest Festival captured through special webfilm

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