Traditional Kadazandusun music: Keeping it authentic

THERE has been a great deal of thought on traditional musical instruments, especially on whether they should be allowed to evolve into something more modern with finer tunes as opposed to the past. There have been arguments on the instruments construction and it’s playing techniques.

The Sompoton is one such instrument that has caught on the evolution of music.

This instrument is actually a mouth organ and can be found simply anywhere if one wished to look. It has a gourd wind chamber from which eight bamboo reed-pipes extend from.

The sompoton has been modified by some innovative individuals who are more interested in the sounds and tunes rather than the make.

A Sompotonist from Bundu Tuhan Ranau, Donius Bulangou, 49, is adamant that the old ways of playing the tune is best.

“In the olden days, it only had eight reeds on it. It was fine looking and treasured among the people. It gave out that perfect sound that reminds us of nature and life,” he shared.

Living among traditionalists, he insists that they used the Sompoton all the time, especially during celebrations.

“They would play the sompoton during events like engagements or weddings. They would also play it during social gatherings,” said Donius.

“In those times the youth, because of lack of entertainment, pride themselves in knowing how to play this instrument, but it seemed the interest is now fading away,” he laments.

He also expressed his disgust at the way players are playing songs that do not adhere to the old tunes. The old tunes are usually repetitive harmony that can indeed remind one of nature in its every aspect.

“I learned to play from my elders, by listening to them and emulating their moves. I love this instrument as it has given me so much pleasure artistically,” he shared.

Donius is now in the process of writing about his experiences in life and his opinions on the evolution of life as he knows it. He is also compiling Dusun Poems and riddles.

Continue reading at: Traditional Kadazandusun music: Keeping it authentic

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Borneo Eco Film Festival is back

Kota Kinabalu: The Borneo Eco Film Festival (BEFF) has returned for the third edition, gathering filmmakers and aspirants on the trail of capturing the State's rich biodiversity on the reel.

Festival organisers have prepared a number of activities running up to the main event this September 27 to 29 - screening of the films at the State's Department of Cultural and Arts Complex (JKKNS) - such as a series of film making workshops in the village level called 'Suara Komuniti' (Voice of Community).

The year-long capacity building workshop was first held in April among the communities in Batu Puteh in Kinabatangan for four days, said co-founder and environmental anthropologist Agnes Agama, here on Wednesday.

"Budding filmmakers from the communities attended the 'Narratives and Ideas', in which participants explored the concept of narrative and how to develop inspiration into ideas before translating them into film," she said.

The workshop was conducted by local artistic film maker Chris Chong Chan Fui and creative writer Melissa Leong, who are the BEFF Board Chair and Festival Director.

Agnes said the second scheduled workshop will be held in Bundu Tuhan this June 28-30 on documentary - making and followed by the final workshop on editing end of August.

"It will culminate in a three-day intensive community filmmaking course on September 25 to 27," she said.

Festival Director Melissa Leong said that BEFF also aims to engage the community apart from educating and raising awareness on environmental issues and its conservation.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Borneo Eco Film Festival is back

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Plans afoot to form green belt between Kinabalu Park and Crocker Range Park

A forested corridor is being planned to link Kinabalu Park with Crocker Range Park.

THE success of Bundu Tuhan folks in preserving their own tract of green will figure largely in a novel scheme being undertaken by Sabah Parks.

Villagers in Ranau, Sabah, are being encouraged to establish their own community forests, too, the way the Bundu Tuhan people have done. The idea is that when these parcels of greenery are combined, they will form a green belt linking two major wildlife sanctuaries – Kinabalu Park and Crocker Range Park.

Both parks sit on the Crocker Range but are no longer contiguous as farms and settlements have sprouted within the 10km of land between them. This results in the parks becoming fragmented and isolated from each other, which effectively reduces the size of habitats and subsequently, the viability of animal and plant populations.

Last March, Sabah Parks commissioned ERE Consulting Group to study ways and means to create a forested corridor. One hurdle that stands in the way is land utilisation around the parks. Though chunks of forest remain, many people have lived there for generations.

“Most of the land within the identified corridor, though stateland, is also within native customary land and traditional village boundaries. We cannot create new parks or forest reserves (to form the corridor), so the way to go is community forests,” says ERE environmental consultant Randolph S. Jeremiah.

The consultants have met the people of 31 communities living within the boundaries of the proposed corridor, to explain the plan. “The community must first agree and be willing to do this,” says ERE managing director Dr G. Balamurugan. “Most are agreeable, though some are sceptical and fear that their land will be taken away.”

He stresses that the corridor will not be just about wildlife. “This is why we call it an ‘ecological link’ and not wildlife corridor as it is more than just for wildlife movement. Migrating wildlife will help disperse seeds. Protecting the corridor will also protect water supply and ensure the community’s continued use of the forest.”

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Plans afoot to form green belt between Kinabalu Park and Crocker Range Park
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Dusun community returns to Mount Kinabalu

KOTA KINABALU: The Dusun community in Bundu Tuhan and Kiau will make a pilgrimage to Mount Kinabalu on Dec 3, a journey that will symbolize a return to their sacred mountain.

After more than forty years since Kinabalu Park was gazetted and more recently, as a World Heritage Site, the indigenous people in the areas feel ‘separated’ from what was once their ancestral domain and the final resting place of the departed souls. The pilgrimage, which is jointly collaborated between the Kinabalu Council of Elders and Sabah Parks, is hoped to launch what would become an annual affair where the community gets one day in a year to return to their sacred mountain they once referred to as ‘Gayo Ngaran’ (the big name).

“We know that this mountain in now a heritage for the world and we’re proud of it. But all we’re asking for is just one day for our community to make our pilgrimage,” said Johnny Ghani, a community activist from Bundu Tuhan.

The community from the two areas has sought for permission to have the park closed for just one day in a year for them to perform the pilgrimage. It is learnt that due to climbing bookings already made by climbers in advanced their request might not be possible this year. But they hope that when the event becomes an annual affair, their request for one-day closure could be allowed. Johnny explained that the pilgrimage is particularly for the benefit of their younger generation.

“Before the area was gazetted as a park, villagers here were free to go to the jungle to find natural resources for their livelihood. They can’t do it now…Although it’s good to see how this area has developed especially in tourism, people probably are not aware that many of our children have never climbed the mountain because they couldn’t afford the fees even at discounted rates,” he said.

He added that it is not only about climbing the mountain but more significantly about a tradition that was once closely connected to the mountain. “Our younger generation has lost that connection,” he lamented.

Negotiations to gazette Kinabalu Park began in 1962 between the British and local officers as well as the community members from Kiau and Bundu Tuhan. After full consent from the communities to ‘give up’ the mountain, the matter became official in 1964. However the community asked to be allowed to have access into the park to harvest rattans, collect forest products and to hunt only to learn later that such activities were strictly prohibited.

In 2000 Kinabalu Park was declared a World Heritage Site after being globally acknowledged as a biodiversity hotspot. It is also a major tourism destination where in 2009 more than 25,000 people visited the park and 47,000 climbed the mountain, the highest peak in South East Asia.

Continue reading at: Dusun community returns to Mount Kinabalu
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Puncak Borneo Resort, Ranau

Puncak Borneo is a new mountain resort located at Tinompok, right at the junction to Bundu Tuhan, near Kinabalu Park HQ (about 9km). The resort has one of the best views of the majestic Mt. Kinabalu, with many parts of the summit trail clearly visible. Puncak Borneo Resort sits on a small hill right in the middle of Kiau and Bundu Tuhan valleys. Hence, it can get rather misty during the day, especially during the end of or early in the year.

There are only 10 rooms at the resort consisting 2 units each of deluxe, executive, single room, single superior and family room. Additionally, there is also a dormitory style bedroom with bunk beds that can accommodate a total of 14 persons. For dining, there is the Panorama Cafe, which has a frontal view of Mt. Kinabalu and the Budun Tuhan valley. Cuisines like Chinese, Thai and Western are on the menu, while on weekends, traditional local foods are served.

Location:

Puncak Borneo Resort
Km 86.3, Jalan KK-Ranau,
Simpang Kg. Bundu Tuhan,
Ranau, Sabah.

Reservation:

Please kindly use our Custom Form

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1,000-step training trail to prepare for Mount Kinabalu Climbathon

KOTA KINABALU: The trail up Pitompuruan hill in Bundu Tuhan can be used as a training track for participants of the annual international Mount Kinabalu Climbathon.

According to Sualim Gopog, who was among the few villagers who created the trail, it has 1,000 steps and is similar to the Mount Kinabalu trail.

“We invite those who are interested to come and train here,” he said at a mini climbathon organised for the staff and students of SMK Bundu Tuhan recently.

Sualim said the distance to the top of the trail which was opened in 2008 is two kilometres and it is regularly used by the villagers and students in the evenings.

The trail, he said, is also the training ground of several Sabah long distance runners, such as Azlan Saunin, Wincenbert Latius, Gary Lo and Belboyez Maisol.

“We hope to be able to extend the trail into a jungle track for tourists as the hill is still covered with a virgin forest.

“There is also a road built and used by the Japanese army during the Second World War here and we hope to attract Japanese tourists who are interested in wartime history to come and visit the place,” he said.

Continue reading at: 1,000-step training trail to prepare for Mount Kinabalu Climbathon
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Bundu Tuhan

From LostBorneo blog:

One of the best things about driving up to Kinabalu Park is the view along the way. Remote villages give a splash of colour to the green of the valleys and the white of the clouds. Travellers passing by must often wonder what life must be like to live in a village like that. From a distance, it looks as though there are no roads leading into the villages, and the only way to get in or out is to walk.

That may be so a few decades ago, but development has come even to places like this, and with Kinabalu Park being a major tourist draw, the roads have improved tremendously. Villages close to the main road have benefited the most, and there are paved roads leading into these villages.

One of these villages closest to the Kinabalu Park Headquarters is called Bundu Tuhan. Located in a valley to the right of the park, the turning to Bundu Tuhan is just before the next corner to Kinabalu Park. The junction is easily recognizable.

Continue reading (incl. pics) at: Bundu Tuhan

Bundu Tuhan – A Sacred Place

From Around The World - A Traveller Perspective blog:

The last time I step my foot in Bundu Tuhan was in 1992. I was 14 year old, a young boy sent there to attend a religious retreat. Since then, this place never had been so important or significant to me until I was there recently.

Bundu Tuhan is located about 35-40 km from Ranau or 60-70 km from the city of Kota Kinabalu depending which road one’s heading from. It is valley in between the mountain and hill ranges of the Crocker Range where the Kinabalu Park is majestically standing, the icon of Sabah’s tourism destination and a world heritage site.

The close-knit population of Bundu Tuhan and its traditionally way of life coupled with lack of major development makes Bundu Tuhan an area ideal for countryside tourism. Here you can relax, enjoy the mild climate and venture into the rich cultural potpourri of the Dusunic ethnic group that make up most of Bundu Tuhanites.

The environmental setting of the 3 major villages, i.e. Sokid, Siba and Gondohon provides the alpine outlook of Bundu Tuhan, similar to those alpine villages found in Switzerland and Germany at the foot of the Alps in continental Europe. Houses are built on slopes along the road and scattered through out to the heart of Bundu Tuhan, and up on the slopes again to Gondohon and gateway to other remote villages (Terolobou, Piasau, Karanaan, Himbaan, Toboh) farther in the Crocker Range. It’s amazing that most Sabahan never reached this part of the planet in their lifetime or ever hear of these places throughout their life. I for one is fortunate enough to ever step on these villages!

Continue reading (incl. pics) at: Bundu Tuhan – A Sacred Place