As was previous years in conjunction with this cultural and musical festival, the Sabah Creative Dance Competition precludes the international participants of this ostentatious event where the assortment of ethnicity, traditions and lilting symphonies from schools all over the state gathers together for the second time at the Sabah Cultural Center.

The competition is held for two days from July 21^st to the 22^nd as part of a ‘curtain-raiser’ for the Sabah International Folklore Festival. It involves all elementary and secondary schools from each district in Sabah and each of them has the opportunity to showcase their creativity and talent. Tickets were priced at MYR 20.00 for premier class, MYR 10.00 for adults and MYR5.00 for under 17 years old.

The night was infused with an atmosphere of convivial cheers and high spirits coming from the crowd which pervades the hall that night. The gathering of audience which consists mostly of students from the participating schools, teachers and their families were amongst the crowd.

S.M. Saint Peter of Telipok district performing the ‘Nunuk Ragang’ dance.

S.M.K Datuk Panglima Abdullah from Semporna with their rendition of ‘Creative Igal‘ or ‘Kaut‘. This dance is a narrative which symbolizes the Bajau people being thankful for the bounties the ocean has given to them.

S.K Pekan Tamparuli elementary school performs the ethnic Lotud dance of Guno which in essence means ‘Spirit’.

The Kadandiu dance performed by S.M Teknik of  Keningau.

S.K Tanjung Papat 1 elementary school from Sandakan with their rendition of the Mengalai dance originating from the ethnic Suluk.

S.M.K Putatan performing Dansa which literally means ‘dance’ in malay and are usually executed for wedding ceremonies. It originates from the people of Kokos which derives from the Christmas Island of Australia.

S.K. Seri Gaya of Kota Kinabalu city with the dance called ‘Serumpun’ which connotes the lives of the Murut community in Sabah.

S.K Pengalat Besar from the district of Papar with the ‘Sulam’ dance.

S.K Kiawayan of Tambunan displaying their talents with the ‘Lumaag’ dance which was one of the many remarkable performances by the elementary school students as the second night continues with the Sabah Creative Dance Competition.

‘Sazau Papar’ from the students of S.M. St. Peter of  Telipok; which is a rendition of the sumazau dance which is performed by the Kadazandusun community of the Papar district as each area has a slightly different variation and uniqueness to its style in the execution of this acclaimed dance from Borneo.

S.M.K Datuk Panglima Abdullah high school brings to the audience the Igal-Igal dance also known as Igal Tabawan from the ethnic Bajau/Suluk people of Semporna.

S.M Teknik, Keningau executing the ‘Pengalai Kipas’ dance which how the Suluk elucidates the  philosophies of life in within their community.

S.K Tanjung Papat 1 from Sandakan performing the  ‘Mengiluk’ dance.

Towards the end of the night, more schools performed admirably and executed their dances with more panache and vigor than they did last year. One such performance was the students of S.M.K Putatan as they displayed a superlatively excellent recital of the ‘Rengut Selinap’ dance.

What separates this troupe from the rest was that they infused their fast paced performance with Step Dance and Hip-Hop into their arrangement of the traditional aspects of the dance. It is also the only school to have included a total of 18 dancers, the most performers for a single dance. It was definitely voluminous as they performed, for the deafening cheers of their friends and families reverberates throughout the hall showing support for their school.

S.K Seri Gaya, Kota Kinabalu elementary school performing the ‘Sazau Papar’ dance.

S.M.K Sepulut from Nabawan with their delivery of the ‘Lulusung’ dance.

S.K  Pekan Kinarut, Papar with the Limbai dance from the Bajau ethnic from the Kota Belud community.

Every school implemented their training and ingenuity to the fullest as more of the students accomplished their dances with vibrantly energetic and graceful maneuvers and it really shows that they worked harder this time around as shown by S.M. Maktab Sabah.

Once again the crowd went wild as the troupe took to the stage their version of the ‘Rait’ dance of the Bajau ethnic. Their costumes were not only stunning but their performance which added a few elements of alteration to their music induced their presentation with lithe acrobatics as the added tempo lent a vigorous spirit not only to the students but to the spectators as well.

Labuan Federal Territory also joined in this year represented by S.M.K Labuan with this piece known as ‘Waris Taming’. Their costumes which included blinking-lights around their wrists and elbows are some of the more uniquely reworked traditional attires of the night.

All of the 21 schools that participated these two nights have distinguished themselves as some of the best young performers from Sabah, probably even the whole of Malaysia. As it is known as a creative traditional dance competition, each group is allowed to affix their own interpretation of the dance they choose to perform.

Here are the full results of the competition:

Secondary School:

First Place – S.M.K. Desa Wawasan, Tambunan

Second Place – Maktab Sabah

Third Place – S.M.K. Sepulut, Nabawan

Best Choreography Award - S.M.K. Desa Wawasan, Tambunan

Best Costume Award - S.M.K. Sepulut, Nabawan

Best Performance Award - S.M.K. Sepulut, Nabawan

Best Music Award - S.M.K. Putatan

Best Male Dancer Award - Marius Manoel of Maktab Sabah

Best Female Dancer Award - Cherryann Chelsea Alex of S.M.K. Tenom

Primary School:

First Place – S.K. Kiawayan, Tambunan

Second Place – S.K. Pekan Tamparuli

Third Place – S.K. Pekan Kinarut

Best Choreography Award- S.K. Kiawayan, Tambunan

Best Costume Award - S.K. Kiawayan, Tambunan

Best Performance Award - S.K. Pekan Tamparuli

Best  Music Award – S.K. Kiawayan, Tambunan

Best Male Dancer Award – Mohd. Zahir Abdul Latif of S.K. Tamparuli

Best Female Dancer Award – Sharon Line Abinus of S.K. Kiawayan

We congratulate all the winners of the Local Folkdance Competition. Stay tune to Lifeinborneo.com for our coverage of the International Folkdance Competition!

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Organized by Contagious Concepts and KUSO as co-organizers, the event also has the full support from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah, Sabah Tourism Board and endorsed by Kota Kinabalu City Hall. Various official sponsors also includes Xpax, Imperial International, Edaran Tan Chong Motors Ltd, My Cola, Faces and SuriaFM as the official radio station.

Suria FM’s DJ Othoe and DJ Myra

Jesselton Point was definitely the place to be for the new years’ eve bash. As one of the many tourist hot spots in Kota Kinabalu city, this venue also introduces a variety of local delicacies served by the multifarious food vendors along side the pier. It is a place where most food connoisseurs come to visit on the weekends to enjoy good food and awesome ambiance.

As the cool breeze of the South China Sea reaches the pier, so were the thunderous crowd converging upon the boardwalks of Jesselton Point. Among the countless people that came included families as well as youngsters, foreigners and locals alike; they all arrived as early as 8 pm obviously eager to delight themselves upon the fusion of several aspects of ‘urban music’ and ‘nature inspired music’ is not to be missed.

DJ Nas-T

Rhythm Masala

The stage was immense and it exudes an ambiance of ostensible grandeur and chromatic magnificence as it kicked off the night with the performance by Singapore’s Rhythm Masala, one of the best Fusion Percussion Group in the city state as well as Asia. Followed up by a wonderfully awe-inspiring performance from our very own Monsopiad Tribal Village Troupe. Included were also the pre-event performers which were the enigmatically breathtaking performance from the Mascara Dancers’ and fire breathers’ dancers as well as the illusionist, Ezad.

The show did not end there as there were more outstanding performers ready to send the crowd into a convivial frenzy of excitement like the Project Pistol comprised of top musicians from Malaysia such as Edrie Hashim, Fiat, Lola, Yuri and Wan Kelly.  They took over the stage with their drum battle performance and a number of rock tunes from Red Hot Cilli Peppers, U2 and Lenny Kravitz just to name a few which was voluminously impressive and electrifying. Kadangyan of the Philippines followed up the show with a more traditional aspect of the show as well as being a musical fusion.

Project Pistol

Project Pistol

Project Pistol

Edrie Hashim of Project Pistol

Kadangyan

Kadangyan

As the crescendo of the celebration almost reached its’ climax with the performances by the White Percussion Unit of Malaysia, DJ Nas-T and later, DJ Lil’ John; the throng of people went wild cheering and dancing through the night counting down the seconds welcoming the new year. Datuk Masidi Manjun was also present on the stage as the fireworks greets the year 2010 with vibrant illumination and tremendous sounds of various musical fusions and joviality.

Datuk Masidi Manjun with Suria FM DJs’ doing the countdown

DJ Lil’ John

Stompin’ Sabah 2009 was one of the most climactic and stupendous event ever held in the state capital. An event which claims to be the biggest yet in Sabah it certainly did more than just delivered what was promised and left the everyone in awe of their magnetic performance.

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Gambus, Instrument of Unity was this years’ motto and staying true to such an adage, it can truly be felt from the people and environment in which this occasion took place. Several competitions with a variety of categories that revolves around the gambus instrument took place here in Papar.

Representing the Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Musa bin Haji Aman for the final day of this affair was Yang Berbahagia Datuk Masidi Manjun, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment. Among the delegates and VIPs that also attended were Datuk Karim Bujang, the President of the Association of Bruneian Community of Sabah; Yang Berbahagia Datuk Haji Yusoff Bin Datuk Haji Mohd Kassim and to name a few.

Datuk Masidi Manjun was presented with a memento in the form of the gambus instrument by Datuk Haji Yusoff Kassim to officiate this monumental event for the Bruneian people in Sabah.

Along with the participants of the Gambus Competition, several acclaimed musicians and singers also graced this auspicious affair. These artists includes Fauziah Yunus who brought the gambus instrument to national level by performing all throughout Malaysia and the world, the celebrated guitarist Roger Wang and the illustriously distinguished gambus musician Farid Ali.

The day began with an instrumental piece from the Labuan group which was specially invited by the organizers for this event.

The first team to perform and also one of the participants of the Gambus Competition which is held in conjunction for this festival was performers from Papar that was represented by the Kampung Buang Sayang. Elegant and refined as well as talented they were in a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors and unique performance.

Kg. Warisan, Kota Kinabalu.

Sipitang in a combination of anomalous and regal both in the color and style of their attire.

Kg Binsuluk, of Membakut.

Beaufort, from the town of Menumbok with an impressive portrayal in their dance which depicted the hardships of the Bruneian people as they were once originally fisherman in the past.

Kg. Weston from Kimanis, representing Bongawan.

Winners of Gambus Group Category . . .

Consolation prize went to Kg. Warisan from Kota Kinabalu and Kg. Weston of Kimanis which took home RM1000.

2nd Runner-up, Kg. Buang Sayang from Papar took home RM2000.

1st Runner-up, Menumbok awarded RM3000.

Champion of the Gambus Group category of the Gambus Festival was bestowed upon the group from Kg. Binsuluk which performed for the Membakut district and the prize of  RM5000.

As was last year, Gambus Festival 2009 did not fail to deliver the communal conviviality of such wealth of customs and traditions delivered from the Brunei Society of Sabah.

Any interested party(s) may contact the website admin should they require further information and/or services pertaining to this event.

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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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Organized by Kota Kinabalu city council and Celcom being the executive sponsor of this event, it already promises to be quite an auspicious affair along with Nestle and Air Asia; the prizes that awaits the contestants were certainly substantial and generous indeed. As covered on May 14^th, there are other categories in which the participants will also have a chance to win.

Among these categories are Best Costume and Creative Design Attire which will be chosen tonight by the selected judges invited especially for this event; and it is also up to them who makes it to the 2^nd Heat for that night and finally which one will represent Kota Kinabalu city in the state level Unduk Ngadau pageant.

Miss Popular would be determined from the number of flower bouquets they garnered from May 14^th and the same goes to the Tati Tavanus Celcom where they are voted through SMS votes from the public since the beginning of the carnival.

These are the line up of the contestants that night that made into the 1^st Heat of the competition:

No.1 – Ms. Richelle Audrey J. Jautin

N0.2 – Ms. Noemi Halima Dingle Ligunjang

No.3 – Sharon Walker

No.4 – Cindy Jessica Frenendez

No.5 – Elinna Musiun in an attire of the Kadazan Penampang.

No.6 – Elsie R. Marius elegant in a Srimpak Dusun Tindal inspired from the district of Kota Belud.

No.7 – Ariel Jezlynda Jimmy was dazzling wearing the costume instinctive of the Lotud Tuaran.

No.8 – Angena Rubinsin

No.9 – Patricia Francis Jiolin

No.10 – Carrie Grace Jaymes

No.11 – Clarencena Kadius dressed in a Rungus outfit, a design uniquely dissimilar from the other contestants yet stunning.

No.12 – Anastasha Dina Yahia brilliant with her Sinuga Penampang costume.

No.13 – Pearl Dianne Petrus was refined and elegant donning the costume of Kadazan Penampang.

No.14 – Florencia Shamsudin graceful in her Murut dress.

No.15 – Macdelina Masidah wearing the Dusun Lotud clothing.

The public was given a show of local artistes performing a number of songs in the Kadazan language. Despite the rain still pouring as late as 9.30 p.m, the crowd stayed on regardless. Goes to show that this annual occasion always has the locals and foreigners filled with jovial spirits. As the night almost reached its apex, the results came in and with the elevation of emotions and suspense everyone felt it was worth the wait all through the harsh weather.

Presenting the winners …

Creative Design was given to #8 contestant, Miss Angena Rubinsin.

Miss Patricia, contestant #9 managed to collect the most votes via SMS thus winning her the Tati Tavanus Celcom category.

With the complementary categories completed, it was time to announce the Top 7 that made it into the 2^nd Heat of the illustrious city level pageant. For all that joined the competition and also the public, each and every one of these charming ladies are already winners. All the participants that did not manage to get into the finals are also awarded complimentary cash of MYR350.00.

7th – Ms. Cindy Jessica Frenendez.

6^th – Ms. Richelle Audery J. Jautin which was also awarded the Best Costume.

5^th – Ms. Clerencena Kadius

4^th – Ms. McDelina

3^rd – Ms. Elsie R. Marius, winning cash prize of MYR2500 and a ticket to Labuan courtesy of Air Asia.

2^nd – Ms. Elinna Musiun which managed to win cash prize of MYR3000.00 and an Air Asia ticket to Kuala Lumpur.

And the winner of Unduk Ngadau Kota Kinabalu …

Miss Pearl Dianne Petrus.

Since the beginning of this memorable event she was known to be the most propitious among the participants. Winning the hearts of both the crowd and the judges, this resplendent and statuesque 5’ 8” lady was also seen as one of the most favored contestant to win the Miss Popular category in which she also won that night.

Along with the honor of wearing the crown, Ms. Pearl also took home with her cash prize of MYR4000.00, hamper from Nestle and a trip to Bali courtesy of Air Asia. She will be contesting for the coming state level Unduk Ngadau which is the most renowned pageant in Sabah. Participants from all over the state will be eyeing for this esteemed title and it will definitely be a marvelous and wonderful festival.

Congratulations to all the winners and we wish them all the best in the upcoming state level Tadau Kaamatan event which will be held this weekend at KDCA.

Be sure to stay tuned to lifeinborneo.com as the crew makes its way to this ostentatious festival.

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This Kaamatan festival is a uniquely momentous affair for the Kadazan people in which to honour the Bambarayon which is also known as ‘Spirit of the Paddy’ and also to thank the god Kinoingan for their plenteous harvest and for fostering friendships and prolonged life on this earth through this festival.

As was last year, the whole spread of the Gaya Street and Lintasan Deasoka was vivid and dazzling with an assortment of radiant lights and a throng of high spirited people both foreign and domestic. The streets were dotted with diverse mixture of stalls and booths. A traditional hut in the centre of Lintasan Deasoka was set up presenting the range of traditional necklaces, locally made handicrafts and costume jewelry that many suburban Kadazan locals still wear till today.

This place is set to be one of the hottest tourist spot all throughout the year in Kota Kinabalu since this city-level event was started last year.

Upon the arrival of the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Y.B Datuk Masidi Manjun at 8.15 p.m, he was greeted with a warm welcome from the Kota Kinabalu City Mayor Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim and also a traditional dance by the performers from the Tourism Board.

A speech was given by the Mayor of Kota Kinabalu city, indicating the significance of this years’ theme which is “To Mould a Better Future”. Kaamatan festival being the hub for nurturing harmony and togetherness among the multifarious ethnic groups that exists in Sabah, he reminds every one what could be achieved when we cooperate together to better understand one another through cultural diversity and work hard to maintain a healthy relationship for the future.

After the speech was given, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Y.B Datuk Masidi Manjun and the Mayor were accompanied by other delegates upon the stage to officiate the carnival with the Gong-hitting ceremony.

Everyone was given a presentation by the Maktab Sabah Choir Group; a high school within the Kota Kinabalu district, with their dance and song performance.

The Magavau rite was up next upon the stage as it is a significant part of the Kaamatan festival. Magavau is the Kadazan word which in essence means ‘to recover what one has lost’.

It also refers to the charge of the Bobohizan, an elder high priestess, to reclaim what was lost, taken or abandoned Bambarayon/Bambaazon or spirit of the rice.

At 9.15 pm, the dancers yet again enthralled the crowd with their immaculate choreography as they performed the Sumazau which translates to ‘dancing’ in the Kadazan language. The show went on with the Magunatip, a bamboo dance. The dancers with their meticulous timing and feat would dance through the snapping bamboo shoots thumping at their feet as they are brought together by other performers.

The throng of people that gathered around the stage was also given a show of fireworks at 10.00 pm, which also marked the climax of the night where the contestants of the Kota Kinabalu city level of the well known Unduk Ngadau event; were brought upon stage. These young and vibrant ladies of the Kadazan-dusun descent are to compete for the title of Kota Kinabalu Unduk Ngadau and to represent the city in the final state level of this prestigious occasion.

Among the categories were Miss Popular and Miss Tati Tavanus Celcom. The winner of Tati Tavanus would be ascertained by the number of SMS votes (text message) they collect in this three day event and as for Miss Popular; these are determined to be the winner if they managed to acquire the most bouquets of flowers given to them by the public; the flowers were being sold every night of this event to the public.

The VIPs and delegates were among the first to show their favorites that night and many of the ladies received plentiful amount of bouquets; notably the ones that had most that night were 18 year old Miss Macdelina Masidah, 20 year old Pearl Dianne Petrus and 22 year old Cindy Jessica Frenendez. Though only on the final night will the winners be revealed.

The night was still young as can be seen from the number of people still captivated by the show on the stage, Linda Nanuwil was also invited to perform a couple of Kadazan songs. She was quite the crowd puller; being one of the favorites in the last Akademi Fantasia 6 show (a local singing competition shown in national cable network) it was no surprise why the Kota Kinabalu Tadau Kaamatan city level event was as memorable as it was last year.

Stay tuned for ‘Part 2′ of the Kota Kinabalu City Tadau Kaamatan Carnival 2009 which showcases the finals of the Unduk Ngadau and high lights of the second and final night of this event, coming up soon in lifeinborneo.com.

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Sits in the middle of this area of 33 acres positioned next to the Pegalan River is the building of the Murut Cultural Center exorbitantly built and designed covering an area of up to 871,200 square feet. This monumental structure exhibits some of the most engrossing and fascinating gallery displaying artifacts which include vases, gongs and traditional percussion and wind instruments originating from the autochthonous Murut people.

Built from local timber, the Murut Cultural Center was constructed with elements of Murut architectures in mind. Within its structures one can see the carvings upon large pillars which have significance and meaning to the Murut People like the ‘Sinimpung’.

Sinimpung

This chiseled carving is usually displayed in the visitors’ area in the Murut houses to show guests to have better understanding and encourage them to establish better relationships among feuding tribes. It also proves that a harmonious coexistence between them could be nurtured by informing the rest of the community of the strong unity among the Murut people.

The Murut comprises of several sub groups such as Tagol, Timogun, Paluan, Kolor Baukan, Nabai, Sambakung, Alumbis, Ambual, Serudung, Tenggara, etc. Traditionally the Murut people inhabit the interior and south-eastern parts of Sabah and the territory athwart the Kalimantan and Sarawak borders. Most of them are shifting cultivators and hunters with some riverside fishing. Nowadays, the Murut people are educated and skillful and have joined the public service, owning their own businesses and professional sectors and as well as politicians.

For this festive occasion, many stalls were set up around this elegant structure which also contains the Murut Cultural Museum which houses the history of these indigenous people dating back since the early 1970s’.

What made the Kalimaran Festival this year special was that a mock Murut wedding-rite of the sub-ethnic Murut Tagol known as ‘Tinauh’ was held at the Langsaran House located within the compound of the Murut Cultural Centre. ‘Tinauh’ word also means congregation feast.

Organized by the Ministry of Arts and Culture Sabah and with the valued cooperation of the Murut Society of  Sabah; this ceremony was graced with the attendance of several dignitaries and VIPs. The ‘Tinauh’ was officiated by YB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Bernard G. Dompok, chairman of Rumpun Momogun and Minister in the Prime Ministers’ Department; with the bamboo-cutting ceremony known as ‘Ahimbalut’.

He also gave a speech to the public addressing them concerning the program which is part of this event called “Program Merakyatkan Seni Budaya” or “Art and Culture for the People”. Its purpose is to promote and encourage the public, especially from the suburban areas to be more active and be part of traditional and cultural activities such as the Kalimaran Festival. It is also important to en kindle the spirit of communal cooperation within their society and strengthen the bonds with one another.

At the end of the ceremony, a large feast took place within and around the compound of the Langsaran house catered to the public. With such a copious crowd that comprised of both locals and foreigners alike; it was this convivial assemblage of people that made this three day affair quite an amazing event.

Meanwhile back at the Murut Cultural Centre, a traditional dance competition was held. It was joined by various groups from all over Sabah; the dance is known as ‘Magunatip’. In their endemic attires these performers were elegant and fascinating with their choreography.

With such a setting and grandiose architecture and locale; it’s no wonder the Kalimaran Festival at the Murut Cultural Centre this year was some of the best places to be in Sabah.

Source – Murut Cultural Museum.

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The Carnival was filled with celebration and anticipation of the Lunar New Year and it was apparent on the faces of so many people that came to Lintasan Deasoka. With the crowd full of joy and merriment from the spirit of such festivities in welcoming the Lunar Year, many were also present to check out what items that catches their eye at the market because this only happens once a year. The streets were brightly lit with Chinese lanterns (which is also known as ‘Tang Lung’ ) hung along the market; coruscating and resplendent amidst the multifarious vendors along the stretch of Gaya Street.

Cultural performances could also be seen upon the stage which also included traditional Chinese songs and dances performed by so many talented and charming young performers and artists. From the 21st to 22nd, the performances included a singing competition as well, both which were performed by students from local schools in Kota Kinabalu city. The performers mostly in their traditional Chinese costumes frolicking and enjoying themselves whilst putting on a good show, made their whole performance much more breathtaking and awe-inspiring.

Seeing so many lively faces especially on the children, due to the items that the diversity of vendors had to offer at the night market. Various items were so appealing along the whole stretch which included not only colorful, marvelous lanterns and decorations for the Chinese new year jubilation but also wonderful assortment of delightful and tasty pastries, biscuits and candies. These are some of the unique items sold at the night market for this jovial season.

The closing ceremony which was held on the 23rd, was executed flawlessly and attended by so many, from locals to tourists and high officials alike which was ended with displays of scintillating fireworks.

Life in Borneo would like to wish all our  Chinese readers, wherever you are; Gong Xi Fa Cai, Happy Chinese New Year! Let us welcome this year with an open heart and willingness to work hard together and bring about prosperity to each other.

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Last Sunday was the conclusion of the 9th Gambus Festival (Pesta Gambus) 2008. Sipitang was the host for this year’s three-day annual festival that celebrates the musical culture of the Brunei community in the West Coast of Sabah, with the Gambus instrument as the central theme.

The crew of Lifeinborneo.com went to visit the windswept coastal town of Sipitang on the third day of the event to witness the Gambus Competition Finals, where Gambus troupes from seven zones of the state of Sabah compete to become the state-level champion in the Group Performance category. The 9th Gambus Festival 2008 was held inside the Sipitang Community Hall.

Sipitang, host of this year’s Gambus Festival 2008

The sun shone brightly during the day, but the cool breeze from the ocean kept the crowded town of Sipitang alive and bustling with activities. Rows of tents were setup around the area leading to the community hall. Some of these tents were selling locally made foods and handcrafts, including some handcrafted Gambus. The tents eventually lead up towards the Sipitang Community Hall, where the main event of the day was to be held – the Gambus Competition in the Group Performance category.

Group performances from seven competing groups

After the delivery of the opening speech by the representative of the Chief Minister of Sabah, the event started with an opening musical presentation from the combined performing members of the Association of Sabah Bruneian Society (PMBS), followed by the performance from each of the competing groups, one group at a time. Each group must perform two musical piece selected from a pre-determined list, one of which must be from the compulsory list.

The result for this year’s Gambus Competition in the Group Category are as follow:

Champion – Papar

First Runner-Up – Beaufort

Second Runner-Up – Sipitang

The Gambus still plays on…

That’s all for this year’s Gambus Festival 2008. We hope that the next one will be bigger, brighter, better and somewhere within an hour of driving at most. Until then, we bid our Bruneian brothers and sisters to keep strumming the instrument of cultural unity. See you all next year!

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A Gambus is carved from a single piece of wood shaped like a pear sliced in half and comes with 6 gut strings and sometimes 12 nylon strings that are plucked with a plastic plectrum to generate sound. In peninsular Malaysia, the Gambus is normally played during the Malay traditional dance like Zapin and Joget, while in Sabah, Gambus are played by the Brunei community during important events and festivities like a wedding ceremony.

Gambus can be closely related to the Arabian region where the origin of this unique instrument came from the ‘qabus’ of Saudi Arabian. Gambus also closely related to other Arab country such like the ‘gabbus’ of Oman, the ‘gabbus’ of Zanzibar, the ‘qanbus’ of Yemen, the ‘gabusi’ of the Comoros and also the ‘kabosa’ of Madagascar.

illustration of Gambus is courtesy of esharkdesign.com

info sources:
http://www.musicmall-asia.com/malaysia/instruments/gambus.html
http://www.asza.com/igambus.shtml

Related posts

• Gambus Festival 2008 (Pesta Gambus) in Sipitang (3)
• 10th Sabah Gambus Festival (Pesta Gambus 2009) (2)
• Sabah Fest 2008 Launched – An Evening of Colours (11)
• Sabah Fest 2008: A 4-Day Cultural Extravaganza (0)
• Kalimaran Festival 2009 (2)