Life In Borneo

Posted by Xander on July 12th, 2009 in Culture & Traditions, Events

July 3rd-4th, Sabah Cultural Center  – The Sabah International Folklore Festival which began its history since 2001 and successfully staging two more of such a propitious event in 2004 and 2007. This year, the event was launched since the 1st of July this year and promises to feature the various folklore dances from all over the world.

Two competitions were held in conjunction with this festival, the Sabah Creative Dance Competition and the International Folklore Dance competition. Tickets for the local dance competition were priced at RM20 for 1st class, RM10 for normal and RM5 for children under the age of 17 years.

The evening started off as the audience was welcomed with a spectacle of pyrotechnics and an ensemble of young performers from all over Sabah. These youths are none other than the students from the many elementary schools and high schools from each districts within Sabah. They are also the participants for the Creative Dance Competition which is also part of this auspicious and splendorous of occasions.

Each district was represented by an elementary school or high school which will be competing for their respective titles. For these two nights the audience were enthralled by their glittering and dazzling performances.

The elementary schools that participated showed how charming and graceful these young performers were and they captivated the hearts of the crowd. One such school was from the Stella Maris Elementary school performing a dance from the Murut people.

St. Peter of Telipok performed this particular dance which has one of the most colorful attire and it is a dance derived from a traditional dance of the people of Bajau. Though this rendition of the dance was slightly modified but it stayed true to the occasion and it was indeed creative nonetheless.

One specific dance which was surprising to see that night was a performance by the Putatan High School. It is rarely seen outside of its district which hails mainly from the Kokos people of the Tawau district.

Some performances that night also included the choir from Saint Francis Convent high school, adorned in various costumes of different ethnicity and background of the world singing a classic local tune ‘Tinggi-2 Gunung Kinabalu’.

Winners of Elementary level school.

Announcing the winners – The Special Jury Award went to Labuan Federal Territory of S.K Pekan Satu. Kumpulan Harapan category was given to S.K. Tamparuli.

Best Male and Female dancer each received RM300.

Best Costume and Best Choreography – S.K Piawaian of Tambunan.

2nd runner-up was awarded to S.K Likas while 1st runner-up went to Stella Maris Elementary school. The 1st place was given to S.K Piawaian of Tambunan.

Winners of the High School categories.

Special Jury’s Award Anugrah khas juri – St.  Peter of Telipok.

Kumpulan Harapan category – Labuan Federal Territory.

Best Costume – Kota Belud.

Best choreography – Maktab Sabah, Kota Kinabalu.

2nd place -Putatan High School.

1^st place of this years creative dance competition high school level was won by Maktab Sabah High School

Don’t miss out on the coverage of the International Folklore Dance competition which was held on the 6th and 7th so stay tuned to lifeinborneo.com.

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Posted by Daniel on May 18th, 2009 in Culture & Traditions, Events, Festivals

Sabah Fest 2009 – The Cultural Opening

Sabah Fest 2009 started its cultural extravaganza on Saturday, 2nd May 2009, and it was launched by the Sabah’s Head of State T.Y.T Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Ahmadshah bin Abdullah on Sunday, 3rd May 2009 which took place at the Magellan Grand Ballroom, Sutera Harbour Resort in Kota Kinabalu.

This year’s Sabah Fest was separated into two parts. The first part was The Cultural Extravaganza, a two-day event held at the Magellan Grand Ballroom, Sutera Harbour, while the second part was held at the Sabah Museum Cultural Village.

Sabah Fest 2009 – Mystical Sabah

The theme for this year’s Sabah Fest is “Mystical Sabah”, and the cultural show reflected the tone and feel of the theme. The show highlighted the various ethnic groups of Northern Borneo and their traditional songs, dance and rituals, the likes of which that had never been seen before by the audience.

Among the rituals performed that night was the Memahui Pogun by the Tantagas, High Priestesses of the Lotud people of Tuaran. Mamahui Pogun, which means ‘Cleansing of the Universe’, is a traditional ceremony carried out by the Tantagas once every 10 years to correct the imbalances in nature.

A Cultural Extravaganza

One of the most hypnotic presentation of the night was the Pangalai Agung of the Suluk Sandakan people, where a dancer gracefully dances to the mesmeric charm of the accompanying music – while skillfully balancing on a clay jar.

There were other performances of the night performed by various ethnic groups of Sabah, including the famous Magunatip dance of the Murut and the rarely-seen Monsilad dance of the Dusun Gana of Bingkor, Keningau. Sabah’s local artistes also made special appearances, namely Abu Bakar Ellah, Clarice John Matha, Den Bisa, Kimin Mudin and also Fauziah Gambus.

The festivities has begun, ladies and gentlemen. The month of May promises to bring colour, life and the mystical charm of Sabah, celebrating the diversity and magic of its culture.

Feel free to check the coverage for last’s year Sabah Fest show : Sabah Fest 2008 Launched – An Evening of Colours

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Posted by Daniel on November 3rd, 2008 in Events

A huge gathering of traders, buyers and visitors went down to the Tamu Besar Kota Belud on the fourth weekend of October. The annual event started on Saturday on the 25th of October and lasted for two days, during which many activities both traditional and modern took place.

A means to trade

In the old days, a tamu (which means Gathering in the local tongue) was a place where traders from different tribes could barter for goods with one another in an open-air market. This practice still goes on today, and has become an attraction for tourists. These open-air markets can be found in many other places of Sabah, but the biggest of them all can be found only in one place – the Tamu Besar Kota Belud. Many items of daily use can be acquired such as parangs, shoes, clothing and fresh produce.

Open-air activities

There were many activities in store everyone. There was a cooking competition and a singing contest held on the first day. Ratu Serimpak, the event’s beauty pageant was held on the second day. There were also sport competitions such as buffalo racing, relay race (where the buffalo riders must pass the baton to their horseriding team mates) and a variation of the “musical chair” game that involves horse-riding.

Throughout the two-day event, cultural performances entertained the visitors while traders displayed their goods to eager buyers.

One of the highlights of the event is the display of horsemanship by the Bajau people of Kota Belud, famously known as the Cowboys of the East. Around a hundred Bajau horsemen performed complicated manoeuvres on the field to form iconic symbols of the country, such as the hibiscus (the national flower of Malaysia). Both horsemen and steeds (which are actually ponies) were adorned in colourful costumes and bells distinctively of Bajau designs.

The image of the tamu might have changed according to times, but its purpose hasn’t changed throughout the ages. It’s a testament to Sabah’s multicultural unity, and we hope that this practice will continue on for many more generations.

Photos by Eshark of EsharkDesign.com

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Posted by Daniel on May 5th, 2008 in Culture & Traditions, Events, Festivals

Sabah Fest 2008 – The Launching

“Welcome to the most spectacular celebration of Sabah’s cultural riches, Sabah Fest!”
That was the first two lines printed on the introduction of the booklet. Indeed, the launching of this year’s Sabah Fest on 3rd May, held at the Magellan Sutera last Saturday, was nothing less than spectacular!

Sabah Fest 2008 – Harmony In Diversity

Sabah Fest is a yearly event aimed to provide visitors the opportunity to see, taste, hear and feel Sabah’s unique culture through a kaleidoscope of cultural performances and spectrum of activities lined up throughout the month of May. Visitors will get to sample local delicacies such as cakes and traditional foods, and also witness unique works of crafts demonstrated live by skilled handicraft makers of various ethnic groups.

This year’s theme is ‘Harmony In Diversity’, which paints a picture of the people of Sabah living in unity within a society of diverse races and cultures. This was strongly reflected in the opening presentation of the launching ceremony with a mock enactment of a wedding ritual of a Bajau bride and a Murut groom. The display began with the matrimonial preparations and celebrations of Bajau bride’s family, which was then joined by the various races to celebrate that occasion and then concluded with a bridewealth presentation and dances of the Murut.

A Spectacle of Diversity and Unity

The evening started with a cultural dance performance by several ethnic groups. Dancers dressed in multitudes of colourful costumes – symbolizing the unity of the people of Sabah – bore gifts to bid a warm welcome to the dignitaries. Among those that attended the event were Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Yahya Hussein, Datuk Masidi Manjun who is the current Minister of Culture, Tourism and Environment, and Sabah’s Head of State Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Ahmadshah bin Abdullah, who officiated the launching.

Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Ahmadshah bin Abdullah officiated the event with the hitting of the Gong

Datuk Masidi Manjun presents a souvenir to Head of State Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Ahmadshah bin Abdullah

After the opening presentation, the guests were treated to a variety of ethnic performances. Traditional dances of the Kota Belud Bajau were showed earlier on, namely the Limbai dance, the Kuda Pasu and the Berunsai.

Kudapasu Dance

Igal Tabawan Dance

As the evening went on, dances from other cultures were displayed such as the Dusun Tindal Mongigol, the Igal-Igal dance of the Bajau of Semporna, The Sumazau Penampang and the Sazau Papar of the Kadazandusun, The Nainung and Umang Ting-Ting by the Brunei Malays and the Dansa of the Cocos.

Umang Ting-Ting Dance

Some of the attention-grabbing presentations were performed by the youngest performers of the night. The children of the Dance and Cultural Society of the SK Kiawaian primary school from Tambunan performed the Pangkulian, a creative dance with the inclusion of bamboo play as its central theme.

Pangkulian Dance

Pangkulian Dance

Medtemu Dance

The Medtemu dance of the Ranau Dusun was awe-invoking, where the dancers performed a symbolic war dance of ‘a meeting to settle disputes’. The audience was also treated to a mock traditional Murut Tagal Wedding and the Murut Anggalang, a dance ritual traditionally performed in celebration of a victorious battle or a successful headhunting party (a part of Sabah’s culture no longer in practice). One of the best performance of the evening was the Magunatip, a fascinating dance where the dancers must dextrously skip between clapping bamboos in an ever-increasing tempo.

The Festival has Begun

The opening ceremony signalled the start of the festival, but the closure of the night’s event only marks the beginning of a month full of cultural activities. Ladies and gentlemen, Sabah Fest is back and it’s going to be a very colourful month of May.

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Posted by Raz on April 17th, 2008 in Culture & Traditions, Events, Festivals

Sabah Fest, the festivity which presents the essence of the cultural extravaganza of Sabah’s diverse people will soon be here again. This year, the event takes place over four days, from May 3rd to the 6th. A presentation of Sabah’s colourful culture, it will be launched by Sabah’s Head of State, Tuan Yang Terutama Yang Di Pertua Negeri, Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Ahmadshah bin Abdullah on Saturday, May 3rd 2008 at the Magellan Grand Ballroom, Sutera Harbour Resort, Kota Kinabalu. On Sunday, the 4th of May audiences can enjoy another night of traditional music and dance while festivities take place at Sabah Museum’s Heritage Village on the 5th and 6th of May.

The much-anticipated event includes a multitude of cultural dances and traditional music performances, local food and beverage stalls for all to enjoy and handicraft-making demonstrations by the respective ethnic groups. On the 3rd and 4th of May there will be exhibitions from 10am to 10pm at the foyer of the Magellan Grand Ballroom, Sutera Harbour.

This is a great opportunity to see skilled craftspeople at work during the handicraft exhibition and a chance to purchase hard-to-find items, from handwoven baskets to intricately-carved Sea Bajau lepas (wooden boat replicas). This year, the Sabah Fest exhibition will also see the participation of some of Sabah’s top spas and wellness centres offering spa treatments for all to enjoy. Come and try delicious local delicacies such as the kuih cincin and sample our famous Sabah Tea.

On the concert nights on the 3rd and 4th May there will be a wonderful array of unique and rarely-seen traditional dances such as the Pangkulian, a Murut-inspired creative traditional dance performed by the students of SK Kiawaian Tambunan and the graceful Igal-Igal Tabawan dance, performed by the Bajau people who reside in Semporna along the East Coast of Sabah. The biggest ethnic tribe in Sabah, the Kadazandusun, will present the Paina and Sumazau, accompanied by the mesmerising beat of the gong.

Sabah is known for its multiculturalism and this year’s theme, Harmony in Diversity, reflects just that. The highlight of the night is the inter-marriage of two different ethnic groups, the Murut and the Bajau. Two traditional mock wedding displays with two very different rituals will be shown on stage – a truly unique experience!

This year an additional two days will be dedicated to give visitors a spectacular cultural experience at the Sabah Museum Cultural Village on the 5th and 6th of May. The village is made up of various traditional houses such as the Rungus longhouse and the bamboo Murut home. Visitors can mingle with the ethnic groups who will be there to show guests their way of life in their respective houses. Age-old rituals will be demonstrated, such as the Rungus fertility ritual called the moginum /manimbang at the Rungus longhouse and a ritual for house cleaning called the mamahui at the Lotud Dusun house. Various other activities will be held to make this event even more colourful, such as traditional musical and dance performances by the Lotud Dusun and the Bajau as well as cooking demonstrations by the Bisaya. This 2-day affair will take place from 10:00am to 5:00pm, with a special traditional dance performance at the Main Stage at 11:00am and 3:00pm.

This event is brought to the public by the Sabah Tourism Board and is organized by Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sabah Tourism Board. For more information, please call Susan Shahira or Melissa Leong of Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn. Bhd. (Tel: 088 – 232121).

Tickets for the cultural shows from 3 – 4 May are sold at RM30.00. Tickets for viewing the traditional houses and activities at Sabah Museum’s HeritageVillage are priced at RM10.00. For ticket bookings please contact Jane Lai at 088-232121 or Shirley Teo at 088-212121. All tickets can also be purchased at Sabah Tourism Board and Sri Pelancongan Sabah tourist information counters.

(Source: Sabah Tourism Press Release, 04 Apr 2008)

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Posted by Raz on March 10th, 2008 in Events

Semporna comes to life with the Bajau seafarers’ unique festival of Regatta Lepa where a competition of the most beautiful traditional sailboats is held. Witness other out of the ordinary tele-matches such as the boat tug-of-war, kayak race and boat racing. The town of Semporna is also home to fresh seafood and gateway to the world’s best dive sites.

Date: 18 – 20 April 2008
Organiser : District Office of Semporna / Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd
Contact Person : Jaafar Haji Ismail / Zachary S. Mobijohn
Telephone : +6089 781518, 232121
Fax : +6089 781472, 265540
Email Contact : zachary@sabahtourism.com

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