Thursday, December 29, 2005

The Kadazandusun Youth's Needs

Ten Basic Needs of the Kadazandusun Youth
By
Allan Dumbong

1) A need for creative expression
2) A need for feeling self-worth/giving to others
3) A need for closeness in relationships
4) A need for feeling a sense of competence and achievement
5) A need for safety, structure, and clear limits
6) A need for belonging and meaningful involvement in family, school and community
7) A need for physical activity
8) A need to feel a sense of independence, autonomy and control
9) A need for a sense of individualism, identity, and self-definition
10) A need for positive social interaction with adults and peers

Friday, December 23, 2005

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

Christmas celebration Among the Kadazandusuns of Sabah, Malaysia
By
Allan Dumbong
Sabah is one of the 14 states in the Federation of Malaysia. It has about 2.5 million population of diverse multi-ethnic background. the largest ethnic group is the kadazandusun which form about 30% of the population or roughly about 700,000 people. the religious convictions among the people are basically divided into Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism with a small number of people who still practice animism. The Kadazandusun themselves are divided into three religious beliefs, i.e Christianity, Islam and Paganism. Even among the Christians, they are professing a number of Christian denomination. Mostly Roman Catholics but there are others who belong to the Borneo Evangelical Mission (SIB), Seventh-day Adventist (SDA), Anglican, and others.
Here, I would like to share how the Roman Catholics Kadazandusun normally celebrate their Christmas every year. Of course, with the Catholic calendar, it starts with the Advent, 1st week, 2nd Week, 3rd Week and 4th Week of advent. During the advent, most of the RC Kadazandusuns will go to Church every Sundays and would normally observe the Catholic traditions and rituals.
During the advent, the Catholics are not allowed to get married in Church as their tasks during the Month is to prepare themselves for the coming of the Lord. Christmas is a big day for the kadazandusun Catholics, and everybody is looking forward to celebrate it. During the month of advent, the choir groups will go around their villages, communities, to spread the good news that the Lord is coming. Among the favorite Christmas carols are " We wish You a Merry Christmas", "Jingle Bells", "Silent Nite" etc, and normally sung in English, Malay and Kadazandusun versions. They will also say prayers during their Caroling visits. the carolers are mostly teenagers, youths, students but would be led by senior Church leaders. The practice is that when the carolers come by, they will be welcomed by the host. the host will contribute money to their "red bag" or "white-can" as a donation or charity to the carol group. depending on the income status of the family, the contribution could be as low as $1 USD to $50USD. Besides the donation, the host will also invite the carollers to join in a "makan" or supper.
Those involved in the Church will also decorate the Church wit Christmas decoration lights, and the construction of the manger is definitely a must. The Church will be cleaned up and the surrounding of the Church will be refurbished. They will also kept in touch with their parish priests, and if there is no priests available, they will rely on their "cathecist". In sabah, the Catholics are still short of priests.
On 24th December, the Catholics will attend the Christmas Eve Mass. Although not all will go as there are many men, fathers, youths will not go, they are fully supportive of their family members who go to Church. Some of them will say "Kirim salam sma Tuhan", which literally means "Convey my regards to God". Or, they will say, "Sambayangan Oku Noh" or "Please Pray For me". Although some will not go to Church, they will make themselves always ready to celebrate.
On 25th December, many will turn up to Church's mass again. After the mass, everybody will greet each other "merry Christmas", "Kotobian Tadau Krismas", "Selamat Hari Krismas". On their way home, they will invite each other to their homes for Christmas party. Everybody will enjoy with various types of foods, drinks, cakes etc. With the family members who come home during Xmas, the family will definitely celebrates more. The only business is "makan & minum" (eat and drink). The favorite drinks among the kadazandusuns are "Siopon" (sipping rice wine from jar with a straw), "lihing" (a permented ricewine served in glass), "talak" (a distilled spirit made from the rice wine, "kinomol" a raw ricewine and there are few more. The most important is to be happy. They say "yang penting bahagia", which means "the most important is to be happy".
On boxing day, may people will get hangover of the drinks the previous night. Some will continue eating and drinkintg in the next few days. Everybody will be normally happy since they could have their family reunions during Christmas. Their parting story would be "Miruba wagu Toun Wagu" means "we'll meet again next Christmas". On boxing day, some outstanding marriage matters would be attended to as they will have their marriage ceremony from 26th onwards. All the holidays and weekends in the next one month will be fully booked for marriage and wedding parties.
Well, that is my sharing about the Christmas celebration among the Kadazandusun Catholics in Sabah, Malaysia. There could be some side stories that I may have missed here, but all in all, the most important matters are covered.
By the Way, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all Christians around the world "Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2006. May the Good Lord will further shepherds us to new greener pastures". Thank you.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

KADAZANDUSUN TRADITIONAL DANCES

TARIAN TRADISIONAL KADAZANDUSUN DI SABAH
Disusun Oleh:
Allan G Dumbong

Tarian Sabah mempunyai tiga puluh dua jenis etnik, lima puluh lima jenis bahasa dan kira-kira seratus dialek. Setiap etnik mempunyai kebudayaan, tradisi dan adat resamnya yang tersendiri. Mereka menunjukkan cara hidup mereka melalui muzik dan tarian. Antara jenis tarian suku kaum Kadazandusun di Sabah adalah sepeti berikut;

Liliput
Liliput merupakan tarian bagi etnik Bisaya di daerah Beaufort. Liliput ditarikan secara berpusing-pusing. Tarian ini biasanya ditarikan semasa upacara menghalau roh jahat daripada badan seseorang dan mengembalikan semangatnya. Upacara ini hanya akan ditamatkan setelah semangat orang itu kembali ke badannya.
Menangkuk
Tarian ini dipersembahkan oleh kaum Kadazandusun Kota Marudu di utara negeri Sabah. Ia biasanya ditarikan semasa perkahwinan dan upacara-upacara lain. Penari akan mempersembahkan tarian ini dengan menggunakan piring yang diletakkan di atas telapak tangan.
Tarian ini ditarikan dengan melenggangkan punggung tanpa menjatuhkan piring. Sekiranya piring itu jatuh, ianya menunjukkan petanda yang buruk, terutamanya semasa tarian ini dipersembahkan semasa hari perkahwinan. Kadang-kadang lilin yang dinyalakan akan letakkan diatas piring tersebut untuk membuatkan tarian itu lebih menarik.

Mogunatip
Mogunatip adalah tarian yang dipersembahkan oleh kaum asli dari pedalaman Sabah termasuk kaum Kadazandusun dari Tambunan, Kwijau Dusun dari Keningau dan beberapa kumpulan daripada suku kaum Murut. Mogunatip diambil daripada perkataan "atip" yang bermaksud menekan antara dua permukaan. Penari mogunatip memerlukan kemahiran dan ketangkasan yang baik untuk menari melintasi buluh yang dipukul serentak untuk menghasilkan bunyi dan irama tarian tersebut. Tarian ini merupakan tarian yang dipersembahkan semasa upacara-upacara yang tertentu untuk menghormati tetamu.

Mongigol Sumundai
Mongigol Sumundai adalah tarian daripada daerah kudat dan Pitas yang dipersembahkan oleh suku kaum Rungus . Kedua-duanya dipersembahkan oleh suku kaum Rungus. Kedua-duanya dipersembahkan sekaligus semasa perayaan dan upacara pemujaan semangat. Tarian ini ditarikan oleh 3 hingga 8 orang penari perempuan dan diketuai oleh penari lelaki. Penari perempuan akan merapatkan bahu antara satu sama lain dan menggerakan pergelangan tangan dengan langkah-langkah yang perlahan dan lembut. Pakian yang digunakan oleh penari perempuan adalah pakaian tradisional suku kaum Rungus. Tarian ini diiringi dengan 4 gong dan gendang yang dinamakan ' Tontog'.
Paina
Paina merupakan tarian suku kaum Kadazandusun dari daerah Membakut. Ianya dipersembahkan semasa upacara kesyukuran terhadap semangat padi.
Ia biasanya dipersembahkan oleh sekumpulan lelaki dan perempuan. Pakaian yang dipakai oleh penari perempuan adalah serba hitam dengan dihiasi butang yang terang dan menyerlah manakala penari lelaki pula memakai ' sigar ' di kepala dan ' sandai ' yang tergantung dari leher.

Sumayau ( Mongigol Tuaran )
Tarian ini merupakan tarian pemujaan semangat oleh suku kaum Dusun Lotud di daerah Tuaran. Ia biasanya dipersembahkan semasa Upacara ' Rumaha ' ( Upacara memuja tengkorak kepala ), ' Magahau ' ( Upacara pemujaan semangat Tajau ).
Sumayau dipersembahkan lebih daripada 8 orang pasangan yang berpakaian serba hitam dengan lengan panjang dan selendang yang panjang mengelilingi leher. Penari perempuan pula memakai bulu burung di bahagian kepala yang digabungjalinkan sementara penari lelaki memakai ' sigar '.
Penari perempuan menggerakkan tapak kaki mereka dengan perlahan , sementara penari lelaki berdiri dan menggoncangkan ' giring ' atau loceng kecil ang dilekatkan pada pakaian mereka.
Sumazau Papar
Tarian ini berasal dari daerah Papar, Sabah. Ianya biasa ditarikan oleh gabungan penari lelaki dan perempuan.
Keunikan pergerakan tapak kaki penari perempuan, tumit bertemu tumit, ibu jari bertemu ibu jari. Ini membuatkan tarian ini lebih unik dan serta menarik. Penari perempuan memakai pakaian tradisi suku kaum Kadazandusun dari daerah Papar, dengan ' seraung' yang diletakkan atas kepala dan bulu berwarna-warni atas ' seraung ' yang dipanggil ' senaundung '. Penari lelaki pula memakai ' siga ' pada kepala mereka dan juga skaf / selendang yang dikenali sebagai ' sandai '.
Sumazau Penampang
Sumazau Penampang adalah tarian tradisional suku kaum Kadazandusun. Tarian ini biasanya dipersembahkan semasa perayaan dan juga upacara pemujaan semangat padi ( Bambaazon ).
Penari mempersembahkan tarian mereka secara berpasangan. Kedua-dua penari lelaki dan perempuan mula menari dengan irama yang lembut dan perlahan mengikut paluan gong. Dengan ' pangkis ' dari penari lelaki biasanya, ini menandakan pertukaran corak tarian akan dilakukan. ' Pangkis ' dari penari lelaki ini akan lebih memeriahkan lagi suasana tarian ini.
Pakaian yang dipakai oleh penari ini ialah pakaian serba hitam dengan jalur kuning emas. Penari perempuan memakai ' tangkong ', ' tinggot ', dan ' Himpogot '. Penari lelaki pula memakai ' sigar ' di kepala. Tarian ini biasanya diiringi oleh paluan gong atau pun ' togunggu '.

Titikas
Titikas adalah tarian tradisional suku orang sungai di kawasan Kinabatangan, Sandakan. Tarian ini biasanya ditarikan untuk menyambut ketibaan tetamu kehormat dan juga semasa perayaan.
Pergerakan tangan semasa menari ialah sama seperti permainan ' Ingki-ingki '. Alar muzik yang digunakan untuk mengiringi tarian ini dikenalai sebagai ' titikas ', ' gabang ', ' kantung ' , dan juga gong

BOROS KADAZANDUSUN

PERJUANGAN MEMARTABATKAN BAHASA KADAZANDUSUN
Oleh
Allan Dumbong

Bahasa merupakan pengenalan dan asas perpaduan bagi semua kaum. Demikian juga dengan kaum Kadazandusun yang mempunyai bahasanya sendiri iaitu Bahasa Kadazandusun. Bahasa ini adalah identiti bagi sukukaum Kadazandusun. Sekiranya lenyap bahasa maka sesuatu kaum itu juga akan pupus. Dalam bahasa Kadazandusun "Atagak Boros Atagak Nogi Tinaru". Oleh itu, Bahasa Kadazandusun ini haruslah dikembangkan dan dipelihara supaya tidak lenyap.

Bagi mengembangkan dan memelihara bahasa ibunda kaum Kadazandusun ini lenyap maka beberapa usaha telah diambil contohnya Bahasa Kadazandusun ini telah mula diajar di beberapa buah sekolah rendah terpilih untuk projek perintis pengajaran dan pembelajaran Bahasa Kadazandusun.

Kurikulum Bersepadu Bahasa Kadazandusun Sekolah Rendah adalah untuk memboleh murid menguasai kemahiran asas berkomunikasi dan memperolehi ilmu serta menghayati dan membanggai bahasa itu.

Pendidikan di negeri Sabah berkembang dengan adanya satu lagi Bahasa diajar dengan rasminya dalam sistem tertentu persekolahan sekolah rendah.

Selain Persatuan Kebudayaan Kadazandusun Sabah (KDCA), beberapa badan dan pertubuhan lain juga memainkan peranan penting dalam usaha pengembangan dan pemeliharaan Bahasa Kadazandusun contohnya Kadazandusun Language Foundation ( KLF ), Koisaan Cultural Development Institute ( KDI ), Perpustakaan Negeri Sabah ( PNS ) dan Jabatan pendidikan Negeri Sabah.

Kadazandusun merupakan suku kaum yang terbesar di negeri Sabah. Mereka menuturkan banyak dialek dalam bahasa Kadazandusun. Walaupun terdapat perbezaan ini namun ianya masih dalam rumpun suku kaum Kadazandusun.

Dengan adanya pendidikan Bahasa Kadazandusun di sekolah rendah kini, maka bahasa Kadazandusun ini akan dapat di mertabatkan dan dikekalkan serta dapat dipelihara daripada pupus.
Apakah masa depan bahasa ini? Tepuk dada tanya selera!

FELIX AGUS

NOKOSUAI GINAWOKU
Felix Agus
Nung id maso-maso'd toruhai diti
Koboros oku'd tumongkiad dika
Kada noh koruol oh ginawo nu
Tu iti noh ralan pilion ku...
Id pomusarahan ku nopo daa
Au oku noh sipogihum do suai
Nga au ku nokoilo'd ti ginawo ku
Tu suminimban ie dii pamah
Cho:
Nokotongkiad oku dika toruhai
Iri nod nokosuai ginawoku
Otopot noh kanto oh boros do tulun
Sodu id mato, sodu nogi id ginawo
Uludon ku o hopod tunturu ku
Mokiampun okud kumaa dika
Mimang yoku noh matu'i nakasala
Apatut nod katagadan nu

KDCA SONGS

KADAZANDUSUN CULTURAL ASSOCIATION (KDCA)
THEME SONG: MISOMPURU ID KOUBASANAN

Osodu noi koniab , Gontob tanong di aki,
Natalup no i ralan, Nantadon tulun tokou,
Upus nu om upus ku, Koubasan gulu-gulu,
Orubat au poinsurat tungkusan sinakagon

Chorus:-
Tobpinai kanou pogi,
Mi-iso id koubasanan,
Mogiampun-ampun tokou ,
tumabi toiso-iso
Misompuru id koubasanan

Tadau do kaamatan, tadau do koubasanan,
Pogirot piombolutan, tukad do ingkokoton,
Soira po wagu tokou mamasi koubasanan,
Miobpinai toiso-iso, iso rikoton tokou.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

KADAZANDUSUN RITUALS

THE RITUALS OF MAGAVAU
Compiled By:
Allan Dumbong

MAGAGANDAI

Anda – dazo ku tabu
Iging gido ku tazas

Andazo sili sizo
Igido atatapo

Sisilizo kui nondulu
Iging – igido hui nohimo

Adalu ku do siniku
Kohimo ku do sinansa

Ohulu ku do mahampang
Ohimo ku do nungkiya

Mahampang do wohon
Nungkiya do himanun

Ondulu ku do mingamut
Ohimo ku do mimbakat

Mingamut do uwohon
Mimbakat ku do himanon

Odulu ko monondok
Ohimo ku do mamahiMonondok do uwohon
Ohimo ku do himanon

Ondulu ku do momungkut
Ohimo ku do mana’iih

Ondulu ku do manapuh
Ohimo ku do momuwoi

Ondulu ku do motomo
Ohimo ku do makangkam

Ondulu ku do motohop
Ohimo ku do mokisok

Motohop do uwohon
Mosikop do himanon

Ondulu ku do sumizud
Ohimo ku do sumikop

Sumizud do sunduvan
Sumikop do hodunan

PAPA’AMBAI (Waving)

Ouh na ha’azid panano
Id dano buvai poinkiyou

Tu nobo hozou ko do magambai
Nobo hozou ku do magazing

Hozou kosizong kosizong
Ohud kogongok kogongok

Hozou bakai sumumbai
Ohud bakai sumombidang

Moi sambait di savan
Mooi sombidang di hangit

Tu mooi sisikot do gonit
Mooi sasadu di podou

Mooi sasadu do tuhunan
Mooi tupak do ampazon

Kad posondiu di zonibuming
Kad pakabai di zoboon

Kad poingkakat di zondou
Kad pountid di zuna

Pitobihang ku pangambai
Tihivovoi ku pangazing

Sulilito ku ih tuvungan
Sukihabo ku kabataan

Tuvungan di suminundu
Kabataan di huminodun

Mooi idu do nontuvi
Mooi ivang do nimagon

Nontuvi di suminundu
Nimagon di huminodun

Mooi siib do hontopon
Mooi ivang do nongobon
MOGKODIM (Calling)

Kodim – kodimon ku no
Tondu do kalansatan

Ubat siyung do livan
Nakavit do loputung

Izak – izakon ku no
Paai sompomogunan

Kodim – kodimon ku no
Bambaazon do tosogit

Mongod no ih potizukan
Paai zikoi do umikot

Monsot – onsot no tindud
Nikoton do kinodim

Mongiak paai haid
Nikoton paai vagu

Monday, December 12, 2005

KADAZANDUSUN YOUTHS

The Kadazandusun Community Needs
Intelligent And Hardworking Youth
By Allan G Dumbong

In view of the onslaught of modern capitalism and globalization, the Kadazandusun community needs to be able to stand tall as with the other communities around the world. The community certainly needs young, intelligent and hardworking people who possess innovation, creativity and knowledge to propel the country to greater heights. Both the State and Federal governments have always encouraged the teaching of science and technology in local universities and colleges in an effort to build a knowledge economy.
The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been playing an important role to enhance the knowledge of students in this respect through the use of various media. Today’s youth must equip themselves with extra skills such as communication, soft and social skills to secure jobs after graduation. In a nutshell, every individual youth must acquire sufficient IQ, EQ and SQ in order to remain competitive in this rat race society.
Estimated number of Kadazandusun Professionals:
Medical doctors: 50
Lawyers: 200
Accountants: 1000
Architect: 50
ICT Experts: 1,500
Business professionals: 4,000
Academicians/Scholars with Ph.D: 40
MBA Graduates: 1000
Academicians/Scholars/Professionals with Masters degree: 2,500
University graduates with Bachelor degree: 10,000
Percentage local graduates vs Overseas graduates: 80%: 20%
Literacy rate: 65%
English Proficiency among Kadazandusuns: 45% able to communicate well.
Districts with high number of university graduates:
1.Ranau
2.Tambunan
3.Penampang
4.Keningau
5.Kota Belud
6.Kota Marudu
7. Papar
8. Kuala Penyu
9. Tenom
10. Kudat
11. Kinabatangan/Telupid/Beluran
12. Nabawan/Sook
(To be continued)
TRADITIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF
THE INDIGENOUS TRIBES OF NORTH BORNEO
Posted By:
Allan G Dumbong

The music of Sabah is intimately bound up with the daily lives and cultural traditions of the diverse ethnic cultures of Sabah. It can be found in many forms like ritual music (for birth, marriages, harvest festivals, deaths) love music, battle songs, story telling songs, among others.For example, the Kadazandusun Bobohizan or Bobolian (or high priestess) engages in ritual chanting to appease the spirit in times disaster like floods or droughts. Also, music and dancing are closely linked: the festive dances like the Limbai of the Bajaus and Sumazau of the Penampang Kadazans have distinctive wedding music. In fact, in most Sabahan ethnic groups, song, dance and the accompanying music are, in the main, inseperable as each element is a part of an organic whole, which permeates the lives of the natives.This is reflected in the music’s significance to festive and commemorative occasions and as a means of personal expression and entertainment. Experience, then, the intensifying power of the gong ensembles, the rhythmic tung, tung, tung harmonies of the togunggak, the healing musical balm of the suling.The following traditional musical instruments of the various Sabahan ethnic groups are divided according to the way in which they work:

IDIOPHONES: Instruments made with materials which produce sounds when scraped, rubbed, hit and without further intervention of other materials.


GONG ENSEMBLES

Are the most prevalent of Sabah’s indiophones, found throughout most parts of Sabah especially amongst the Kadazan Dusuns and muruts.
The gongs are made of brass or bronze and were originally traded in from Brunei in earlier times. Usually they are thick with a broad rim. They produce a muffled sound of a deep tone.The sopogandangan from the enterior (of the Tambunan Kadazan Dusuns) accompanies the magarang, usually in commemoration of harvest festival and weddings though traditionally the magarang was associated with headhunting.The sopogandangan has more instruments (nine-eight gongs and one drum) than the sompogogungan (seven-six gongs and one drum) from coastal Penampang and used by the Kadazan Dusuns there.(This does not include the popular kulintangan).The sompogogungan accompanies the sumazau, a festive and ritual dance like the magarang but slower in tempo. The Kadazan Dusuns also play dunsai, a type of gong music, at funerals.


KULINTANGAN

Is frequently included amongst coastal gong ensembles though it is also found amongst interior natives like the Labuk-Kinabatangan Kadazans and the Paitanic peoples (both from the eastern Sabah) who have come into contract with the coastal natives. These idiophones produce predominantly ritual Music:The Tatana Dusun of Kuala Penyu (Southwestern Sabah) employ kulintangan music, and sumayau dancing, as well as unaccompanied by ritual chanting in Moginum rites to welcome the spirits.
The Lotud-Dusun of Tuaran (west Coast of Sabah) use gong ensembles in the slow sedate mongigol dance for the seven-day Rumaha rites which honour the spirits of sacred skulls and the five-day Mangahau rites which honour possessed jars.

TOGUNGGAK (Interior Dusuns)TOGUNGGU (Penampang Kadazan dusun) &TAGUNGGAK (Muruts).In older times before gongs were traded into Sabah, the togunggak was used to accompany dancing and in procession. It was and still is made of bamboo, which flourishes in most parts of Sabah. Bamboo is a great source of raw materials for Sabah’s musical instruments.The togunggak consists of a series of hollowed out bamboo tubes of varying sizes of the gongs. The music produced is a hollow and rhythmic tung, tung, tung sound of different pitches in each of the different sizes. The togunggak is played by a troupe of a dozen or so people in lieu of the gong ensemble.


MEMBRANOPHONES: Instruments where a membrane is stretched across a hallow body (the ‘resonator’) and then made to vibrate by rubbing/hitting.

DRUMS

Usually found in gong ensemble. They produce a distinctive rhythmic musical pattern, leading to the festive dances which they accompany an air of urgency or heightened sense of excitement as the case may be.Single-headed drums come mainly from the interior. For example, the tontog of the Rungus or the karatung of the Tambunan Kadazan Dusuns.Double headed drums are found in coastal areas as well as the interior, for example, the gandang of the bajau. The membranes covering the drumheads used to be made of goat or deer skin, or cowhide.


CHORDOPHONES: Consist of Chord and Resonator. Vibrations are produced when the chord is scraped by a bow or plucked with fingers and amplified by a resonator (unsually a hollow compartment).

TONGKUNGON

Prevalent mainly amongst the Kadazan Dusun in Tambunan, Penampang and Tuaran. It is made from a large bamboo tube with thin strips cut in its surface to form its strings, which can be tuned with tiny pieces of wood/ cane at each end of the tongkungon. The names and number of this string correspond to the main gongs.Though it is mainly played solo and for personal entertainment, its music can accompany dance in the absence of gong ensembles.
SUNDATANG

A long-necked strummed lute found amongst Dusunic peoples. It is made of jackfruit wood two or three brass strings. The sundatang of the Penampang Kadazan Dusun, the Lotud-Dusun (who call it gagayan) and the Rungus are more widely played than that of the Kadazan Dusuns of Tambunan. The Tambunan sundatang has a small body and a neck over one metre long.It can be played for personal entertainment or as a dance accompaniment (in the Tambunan magarang and in Tuaran where it is sometimes played in pairs).


AEROPHONES: Instruments with a column of air within a cylinder or cone. The sound is produced when this air is vibrate by the player’s lips or nose or a single/double reed or by air passing across the top of the tube. Sabah’s aerophones are mainly played solo and for personal pleasure.
SULING

Short bamboo mouth flute brown from the end with fives holes ( Tambunan ) or six holes (Penampang). The sound produced is soothing.

TURALI Bamboo Nose flute

This is common to Dusunic communities. The Tambunan Kadazan Dusuns call it turali or turahi whilst in Penampang, it is called tuahi. It is widely played for personal entertainment, except in Penampang and the central part of Tambunan where it expresses grief after a death.The story behind the origin of the turali is that once upon a time there was a man who had 7 sons and no daughters. When both parents died due to some illness, the sons were very grieved. However, as men and warriors, they could not cry. To express their great sorrow and grief for the death of their parents, they made and played the turali.
BUNGKAU

Bungkau Jew’s Harp (Uriding, Lotud-Dusuns) is widely found throughout Sabah. Made from polod palm wood. It is small and is held between the teeth. Its central lamella vibrates when the end of the instrument is hit. The sound is then resonated by the mouth to produce a wide spectrum of sounds. It is versalite as a device to attract edible lizards, in farewell and battle songs, for post rice harvesting celebrations and to imitate gong ensemble music.
SOMPOTON

Traditional this was from Kampung Tikolod, Tambunan. It is now prevalent among Dusuns and some Muruts.It is made of a double raft of eight bamboo pipes inserted into a gourd. Inside the gourd seven of the pipes have small polod palm lamellae or sodi inserted into their sides and kept in place by beeswax ofr sopinit. The eighth soundless pipe is stopped up with sopinit. The player blows and sucks air through the gourd mouthpiece to activate the sodi. The musical sound produced can be likened to a cross between the sounds from a conventional mouth organ and a bagpipe, minus the latters’ shrillness. Often it is played solo, for personal expression.

THE KAAMATAN RITUALS

The Anthropological Profile of the Kadazandusuns of Borneo: The Kaamatan Rituals
Compiled By:
Allan G Dumbong
One of the main and permanent fixture in the Sabah Calendar is the Tadau Kaamatan or Harvest Festival celebrations for the whole month of May. The most easily-recognizable features of this celebration is the large crowds, general merry-making, cultural performances, traditional sports, and of course, the Unduk Ngadau ( Harvest Festival Queen ) pageant. Lately, it has also helped the State of Sabah to promote its cultural tourism, which have attracted tourists from all over the world.

The Tadau Kaamatan is celebrated by no accident as it has its anthropological roots, reflecting the worldview, religious beliefs and traditional rituals of the indigenous Kadazandusun people, particulalry in relation to the rice planting and harvesting. If one is to analyse deeper into the observance of this festival, one must understand the several rituals involved and their significance.

It started with a myth. The Kadazandusuns believe that in the days of yore the people suffered a great famine. Their God ( Kinoingan ) took pity upon them, and sacrificed his daughter, Huminundun (literally means "the sacrificing one"), by cutting her into small pieces. Her flesh was sown over the land and from these sprang the first rice plants. Thus the Kadazandusun community believes that the transfigured sacrifice of Huminundun is embodied as the spirit of rice known as Bambazon / Bambarayon. The Kaamatan ( Harvest ) Festival is therefore celebrated to fulfill the five major purposes :

(i) Home-coming of Bambazon to the Tangkob Parai ( Large rice storage container )
(ii) To restore Bambazon (the spirit of the rice) which was taken for granted during careless harvesting and processing of rice through the Magahau ritual ceremony
(iii) To feed the Bambazon with special food (rice wine, fermented rice ( tandut ), eggs, salt and feathers of a slaughtered chicken
(iv) Friendship and merry-making feast.

The Kaamatan Festival is observed through six (6) rituals stages :
1. The "Kumogos" Ceremony
Before a harvest begins, a Bobohizan / Bobolian ( ritual shaman ) will select and tie-up 7 stalks of the best rice from a plot of rice field. These stakes of rice will only be harvested after the particular plot of field has been completely harvested. The 7 stalks of rice will then be scattered all over the rice field. This gesture is to inform the other spirits who may be present among the rice field not to make any disturbance when the harvesting work is to commenced and each of them will be given something after the harvest.

2. The "Kumotob" Ceremony
From the area which has not yet been harvested to the Bobohizan/Bobolian will select 7 stalks of the best rice. The selected stalks are then tied up together and placed in a tadang ( a type of basket for keeping rice ). The rest of the rice in the field are then harvested and the rice are turned into seed for future planting season.

3. The "Posisip" Ceremony
The Bobohizan/Bobolian goes to a rice hut together with the 7 stalks of rice which is tied up and placed in the tadang. While reciting chants she takes out the bundle of rice stalks and insert them in a bamboo pole kept in the tangkob. The recital of the chants is to call the spirit of the rice to stay in the rice hut until the next planting season, i.e. when the rice spirits are called to the rice field again.

4. The "Popoihib" Ceremony
In the rice hut the Bobohizan / Bobolian carefully pours the rice into the tangkob. This process is repeated for a number of times until all the rice has poured into the tangkob. The Bobohizan/Bobolian then recite chants appealing to the rice spirits to keep watch over the rice stored in the tangkob.

5. The "Magahau" Ceremony
This is the most important ceremony in the sequence of events of the harvest festival. This focuses in the restoration of Bambazon / Bambarayon as well as offering food to Bambazon / Bambarayon. In the olden days, the Magahau ritual is performed in the padi field on the night of the first full moon after the harvest. Nowadays, this ritual is carried out in the house of the owner of the field.

6. The "Humabot" Ceremony
This is the final stage of the observation of the harvest festival and is in the form of merry-making and entertainment as part of the thanksgiving ceremony. This ceremony is now celebrated at village, district and state levels annually. In fact, it has been gazzetted by the State Government of Sabah that the Kaamatan Festival is a public holiday, and fixed on30th and 31st of May. A variety of entertainment and activities in the form of dances (like Sumazau, Mongigol, Magunatip etc) and traditional sports (like mamarampanau, migayat lukug, mipulos, momolositik, migusa karabau etc) are held. There is a Sugandoi Competition, whereby those have singing talent would have the opportunity to compete for the "Sugandoi Star". The climax of the event is the selection of the Unduk Ngadau ( Harvest Festival Queen ) from a number of Kadazandusun girls who present their beauties, ersonalities, intellectualism, cultural awareness and their respective highly decorated traditional costumes. The Unduk Ngadau symbolizes a "Kinomulok", the most beautiful, kind, hardworking, outstanding and idolised Kadazandusun girl.

The rituals described above are typical of the Kadazandusun of the "Tangara" Penampang-Papar area. Other Dusunic groups, the Murutic groups of the interior and the Paitanic groups in the east have slightly different rice harvest rituals. For example, the Lotud Dusun have a series of eight ceremonies - "Mansalud", "Monuras", "Tumakau", "Matang", "Mongoi Rumali", "Mogimpuun", "Sumondod" and "Monumbui". The essence of this ceremony however is the same, that is of thanksgiving for a plentiful harvest.

Friday, December 09, 2005

SIANKU DO BANGSAKU

SIANKU DO BANGSA KU
Pinumosarahan dii: Allan G Dumbong
Yoku, songulun tanak Kadazandusun
Poinsusuai, pasal okudi bangsaku
Doid pointongkop id pomogunan
Nga kumaus oku pasal bangsaku
Kumaus oku tulun ku sondiri
Iti tulun tokou ulak-ulakan tulun suai
Budu ti tulun Kadazandusunkah
"Sanang disusunkah"
Mogiginum nopo ti tulun Kadazandusunkah
Iti Kadazandusun nga "Ph.D" nogikah
Au apandai ti yulun Kadazandusunkah
Au nogi monulung tulun sondiri kah
(om itokou nga koboros nogi miagal dilo somoonu)
Iti noh iti kadazandusun mogipapatai sondiri nopo kah
Otopot nangku gia iti
Intangan tulun suai, aiso miagal diti
Kaus ku do bangsa ku
Soira dii tokou kaanu misompuru
Soira dii tokou do pantagon tulun suai
Soira dii tokotou do au ulakan tulun suai
Soira dii do komogot om agaras tokou
Baino mogisusuwai tawayaan tokou
haro nogi papadagang tanah molohing kumaa tulun suai
Ih tinungkusan tokou au pantangon
Owian tokou moti tanah suwai tadau
Kagagang insan tadau
Mosik mantad todop om aiso no tanah
Om nokopipit no id disan
Miontong tokou nopo diri tanah tokou naanu wokon
Nawansayan walai tangalawa
Molongkolong ngaawi lampung
Nga wokon nodi sanganu
Kaus ku tulunku
Soira tokou ma katama
Soira tokou kiwaro luguan
Lundu momuruan wayaan tokou
Mongoi insan tadau
Koingakakat tokou, pantangon wokon
Om Ounsikou tokou momusoro
Bangsa Tokou sondiri

Friday, December 02, 2005

SAMBUTAN PESTA KAAMATAN: PERLUKAN PERSPEKTIF BARU?





SAMBUTAN PESTA KAAMATAN: PERLUKAN PERSPEKTIF BARU?
Oleh
Allan G Dumbong*
“Bulan Lima” merupakan “bulan cuti” dan “bulan keramaian” di Sabah. Apa tidaknya, selain daripada majlis-majlis perkahwinan, Kerajaan juga telah mewartakan beberapa hari pada bulan ini sebagai cuti umum. Sesungguhnya, banyak acara dianjurkan untuk orang ramai bergembira dan bersukaria pada bulan ini. Perayaan utama pada bulan Mei di Sabah ialah tidak lain dan tidak bukan Pesta Kaamatan. Pesta ini bermula pada setiap 1 Mei, di mana dilakukan pelancaran Pesta Kaamatan. Hari tersebut amat signifikan kerana ia merupakan hari cuti awam, sempena “Hari Buruh”. Selepas sahaja dilancarkan maka bergemalah paluan gong di merata tempat di Sabah di mana siri perayaan Kaamatan di semua daerah, dan malah dihampir semua kampung, khusus di mana penduduk majoritinya ialah Kadazandusun.

Setiap Sabtu dan Ahad sudah habis diperuntukkan untuk sambutan perayaan tersebut. Sudah tentunya, acara kemuncak perayaan ini ialah pada 30 dan 31 Mei, yang mana telah diwartakan oleh Kerajaan Negeri Sabah sebagai cuti umum. Pada dua hari inilah sambutan-sambutan kecil di kampung-kampung dan sederhana di daerah-daerah digerakkan ke arah sambutan kemuncaknya di satu pusat tertentu. Di sinilah diadakan acara sukaneka, pameran, pertunjukan tarian, pertandingan “sugandai Kaamatan” dan paluan gong yang tidak terhingga meriahnya. Acara kemuncaknya pula ialah Pertandingan Ratu Unduk Ngadau, di mana gadis-gadis ayu dan jelita Kadazandusun dari semua daerah diketengahkan untuk diadili dari segi keayuan,kesopanan, kecerdasan dan kesergahan pakaian tradisi yang dipakai.Ratu “Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan”, yang mendapat inspirasi dari legenda “Huminundun” (bermaksud “yang berkorban”) akan seterusnya menjadi satu “icon” kebanggaan Negeri Sabah secara keseluruhanya. Jika tradisi budaya Kadazandusun diteliti, gadis Kadazandusun yang bergelar “Unduk Ngadau” ini merupakan “kombura tolundu”, gadis yang “outstanding” di kalangan ribuan gadis atau wanita Kadazandusun. Sebenarnya “Unduk Ngadau”itu berasal dari perkataan “runduk tadau”, yang bermakna “gadis yang dimahkotakan sinaran cahaya matahari”. Ia menggambarkan ciri-ciri seorang gadis jati Kadazandusun yang terserlah kejelitaan, keayuan, kesopanan, kecerdasan, kemuliaan, kekudusannya yang dilihat sebagai “role model” (idola) dan sumber harapan kepada komuniti Kadazandusun secara keseluruhannya. Sesungguhnya, maksud tersirat di sebalik “Unduk Ngadau” itu adalah sama signifikannya dengan gelaran “Huguan Siou” kerana kedua-duanya dilihat sebagai “icon”, idola dan sumber kekuatan masyarakat Kadazandusun.
Beginilah indahnya sambutan Pesta Kaamatan yang dianjurkan setiap tahun, terutamanya sejak Sabah mencapai kemerdekaan pada tahun 1963.Inilah berkat kemerdekaan. Dengan kemerdekaan kini rakyat Sabah merasa selamat dan makmur, dan, dengan suasana aman-damai, mereka sudah tentunya mempunyai masa untuk menganjurkan dan merayakan acara-acara keramaian. Sudah pasti rakyat Sabah semuanya seronok dengan pesta ini yang mana turut menarik perhatian bukan sahaja di kalangan rakyat Malaysia secara keseluruhan tetapi juga dapat menarik ramai pelancong dalam dan luar negeri untuk datang ke Sabah-Negeri di Bawah Bayu untuk menyaksikan keramaian pesta ini. Berdasarkan kepada keadaan ini, masyarakat Kadazandusun juga perlulah berterimakasih dan menghargai sokongan dan bantuan Kerajaan yang selama ini tidak segan-silu memberi pengiktirafan kepada tradisi mulia komuniti ini.
Berbalik kepada istilah “kaamatan”, ia sebenarnya berasal dari perkataan “omot” atau “kotu”, yang seterusnya menjadi “kaamatan” atau “kokotuan”. Sesungguhnya ia menandakan tanda kesyukuran masyarakat Kadazandusun terhadap limpahan kurnia Yang Mahakuasa terhadap hasil tuaian padi pada musim tersebut.Kaamatan ini seringkali dirujuk dan berkisar kepada acara sukaria selepas menuai padi. Ianya berkaitrapat dengan kegiatan sosio-ekonomi “agrarian” komuniti Kadazandusun yang secara tradisinya menaman padi.
Sambil bersukaria dalam Pesta Kaamatan ini, masyarakat Kadazandusun seharusnya mengambil peluang ini untuk merenung tahap kemajuan mereka dalam semua aspek, lebih-lebih lagi dari segi kedudukan sosio-ekonomi dan perniagaan. Jika Kaamatan ini berkisar kepada “penanaman padi”, komuniti Kadazandusun perlulah kritis dan bertanya pada diri sendiri apakah relevannya Kaamatan ini, jika sudah ramai anggota masyarakat Kadazandusun tidak lagi terlibat dalam penanaman padi. Sudah ramai anggota masyarakat ini, khususnya generasi muda, yang tidak tahu istilah-istilah seperti “momorilik”, “mongurak”, “mangasok”, “mananom”, “mangaradu” atau “mongomot”. Berapa ramaikah daripada penduduk Kadazandusun yang dianggarkan berjumlah 600,000 orang di Sabah ini yang masih terlibat dengan kegitan penanaman padi? Bukankah ramai orang Kadazandusun sudah beralih kepada kegiatan-kegiatan lain seperti menanam sayur, “makan gaji” ataupun menjalankan perniagaan-perniagaan lain? Banyak juga tanah yang telah dikeluarkan oleh Jabatan Tanah dan Ukur kepada masyarakat Kadazandusun untuk maksud pertanian, khususnya penanaman padi. Malangnya, banyak tanah-tanah ini masih ditinggalkan terbiar ataupun telah diubah cara penggunaannya kepada kegiatan-kegiatan lain seperti menjadi tapak pembinaan rumah, bengkel-bengkel, kedai-kedai dsb. Apa yang jelas ialah kawasan tanaman padi sawah semakin hari semakin kecil. Begitu juga dengan penanaman padi bukit yang pada masa ini masih kurang produktif kerana belum menggunakan mekanisasi pertanian yang ekonomik. Ramai generasi muda tidak lagi berkemahiran ataupun berminat untuk bekerja sebagai penanam padi. Jika demikian keadaannya, apakah sebenarnya tujuan kita merayakan Pesta Kaamatan? Adakah Pesta Kaamatan dirayakan semata-mata untuk mengiktiraf signifikan sejarah, kerana ianya dirayakan sejak bertahun-tahun dahulu? Atau adakah masyarakat Kadazandusun merayakannya semata-mata untuk mencari alasan untuk berpesta dan “berarrammaii tii”? Bukankah ini seolah-olah hipokrit jika Kaamatan diraikan secara besar-besaran tetapi pada tahun itu perolehan “hasil tuaian” komuniti tersebut tidak seberapa?
Perlu disedari bahawa kadar sara diri Negeri Sabah dari segi pengeluaran padi pada masa kini berada ditahap kurang daripada 30%, dan selebihnya diimport dari luar negeri. Sistem penanaman padi di Negeri Sabah juga masih berada ditakuk lama di mana kurangnya penggunaan teknologi moden dan tidak hairanlah kenapa pengeluaran padi setiap hektar seringkali tidak melepasi 3.5 tan. Sebenarnya, isu “jaminan makanan” (food security) di Sabah agak membimbangkan, dan mungkin rakyat Sabah akan menghadapi masalah kekurangan makanan dalam tempoh 50 tahun akan datang. Pengeluaran pelbagai makanan di Sabah perlulah ditingkatkan, bukan sahaja untuk kegunaan rakyat tempatan, tetapi jika boleh dieksport ke luar negeri. Soalnya, apakah peranan komuniti Kadazandusun, yang berbangga dengan penuaian padi, dalam membantu kerajaan menghadapi masalah ini?
-persoalan di atas ditimbulkan di sini bukan untuk maksud mempersenda-sendakan perayaan ini. Sebaliknya, persoalan-persoalan di atas perlulah dijawab sekiranya komuniti Kadazandusun mahukan perayaan ini diperkukuhkan dan terus dihormati di masa-masa akan datang. Sebenarnya banyak perkara yang perlu dibuat. Sesungguhnya, perspektif dan cara pemikiran masyarakat Kadazandusun terhadap Kaamatan ini juga perlu diubahsuai dengan realitas dunia semasa. Persoalannya ialah, apakah kegiatan sosio-ekonomi yang perlu di “omot” oleh komuniti Kadazandusun dalam era informasi dan dunia tanpa sempadan ini? Kadazandusuun perlulah mempelbagaikan aktiviti ekonomi mereka, dan pergunakanlah Pesta Kaamatan ini sebagai ruang untuk menilai sejauhmana hasil tuaian dalam semua kegiatan tersebut. Jika kurang, lipatgandakan usaha. Jika sudah berlimpah, bantulah yang masih di belakang.Negeri Sabah amat bertuah kerana dikurniakan oleh Yang MahaEsa dengan kepelbagaian etnik yang mana masing-masing membawa bersama mereka amalan tradisi, norma-norma dan nilai-nilai budaya yang indah dan murni. Setiap etnik boleh mempelajari dari etnik-etnik yang lain.
Sempena bulan baik ini, masyarakat Kadazandusun perlulah mempelajari dan mengambil iktibar daripada masyarakat-masyarakat lain yang menggunakan perayaan-perayaan berteraskan budaya ataupun kepercayaan untuk memperkukuhkan tahap sosio-ekonomi mereka. Contohnya, pada sambutan Hari Raya Aidil Fitri di Malaysia, kita seringkali melihat bagaimana masyarakat Melayu Islam membuat banyak persedian sebelum hari mulia tersebut. Sepanjang bulan Ramadhan, mereka menyediakan beberapa tempat bertemu di mana mereka berjual-beli kuih-muih dan pelbagai jenis makanan tradisi Melayu. Begitu juga dengan masyarakat Cina semasa perayaan Tahun Baru Cina, di mana semasa persedian sambutan, mereka mewujudkan pelbagai peluang-peluang perniagaan. Contohnya, ramai peniaga Cina yang mengambil peluang itu untuk mengimport, mengedar, ataupun menjual limau mandarin. Beberapa hari sebelum perayaan tersebut, masyarakat Cina akan berkumpul dibeberapa tempat untuk saling memperdagangkan barang-barang keperluan untuk sambutan perayaan tersebut. Begitu juga semasa sambutan Pesta Kuih Bulan, di mana ramai usahawan-usahawan Cina membuat dan menjual banyak jenis kuih bulan untuk dinikmati oleh semua lapisan masyarakat tanpa mengira keturunan dan agama. Kegiatan masyarakat Melayu dan Cina di atas sudah tentunya mendatangkan keuntungan yang lumayan, yang dimungkinkan oleh sambutan perayaan-perayaan mereka. Maka itulah, masyarakat Kadazandusun perlu mencontohi amalan-amalan murni seperti ini, dan mengubahsuai Pesta Kaamatan itu daripada “kaamatan”(kesyukuran selepas menuai) kepada “mongomot toririmo”(penuaian yang berterusan). Maksudnya, masyarakat Kadazandusun perlulah bijak mempergunakan kesempatan semasa pesta ini untuk berjual beli, dan melipatgandakan hasil jualan pada bulan tersebut. Jadi dalam perayaan Pesta Kaamatan, sepatutnya kaum Kadazandusun juga perlu mengambil iktibar bahawa masa ini bukanlah satu masa untuk ramai-ramai semata-mata, tetapi banyak perkara perlu dibuat.
Masyarakat Kadazandusun perlulah yakin untuk memperkenalkan produk-produk keluaran mereka. Produk dan perkhidmatan yang boleh ditawarkan dan diketengahkan secara agresif termasuklah kraftangan, kuih-muih, masakan dan minuman, pakaian tradisi, peralatan permainan dan musik tradisi, buku-buku, lencana-lencana, poster-poster, lagu-lagu dalam kaset/CD,hasil-hasil pertanian dan perikanan. Mereka juga boleh menyediakan pelbagai perkhidmatan. Contohnya, artis-artis atau seniman/seniwati Kadazandusun boleh membuat perancangan strategik di kalangan mereka dan memikirkan bagaimana mereka dapat memeriahkan pesta ini secara kolektif dan dalam masa yang sama kepakaran dan sumbangan mereka itu dapat menghasilkan pendapatan yang lumayan. Adalah dipercayai bahawa beberapa acara Kaamatan itu boleh dikontrakkan kepada pihak-pihak tertentu, terutama yang melibatkan “event management”.Mungkin ramai yang berkata dan berhujah bahawa semua di atas telahpun dibuat. Memang diakui bahawa kesemua di atas sedang dibuat. Malah di beberapa pesta kaamatan di kampung di sepanjang 2 minggu pertama bulan Mei, 2002, telah dianjurkan “Pesta Jualan Kaamatan”. Ini memang membanggakan. Masalahnya, produk-produk keluaran dan perkhidmatan yang disediakan pada ketika ini masih terlalu kurang, dan seringkali tahap kualiti barangan tersebut dipertikaikan. Mungkin sudah sampai masanya bagi kaum Kadazandusun untuk memikirkan secara serius persedian-persedian yang perlu dibuat di pesta-pesta kaamatan di tahun-tahun akan datang supaya komuniti ini sentiasa aktif “mongomot”.
Aspek pembangunan sosio-budaya dan ekonomi ini memang tidak dapat dipisahkan dengan sambutan Kaamatan ini. Maka itulah sebabnya kenapa masyarakat Kadazandusun perlu merenung dan memikirkan sedalam-dalamnya tradisi turun temurun mereka. Masyarakat Kadazandusun perlu sedar “dari mana mereka datang”dan “ke mana arah tujuan” di masa hadapan. Sudah sampai masanya masyarakat Kadazandusun menyemai perpektif, paradigma dan cekerawala pemikiran (worldview) baru supaya peranan dan sumbangan mereka sebagai satu etnik terbesar di Sabah dapat dimanfaatkan ke arah pembangunan negara bangsa. Dalam apapun perancangan, masyarakat Kadazandusun mestilah rajin, cekal, proaktif, berinisiatif dan kreatif dalam pendekatan mereka. Justeru itu, peranan insitusi-institusi Kadazandusun, seperti Persatuan Kebudayaan Kadazandusun (KDCA) amatlah penting dalam menyediakan ruang serta membimbing masyarakat ini ke arah meningkatkan taraf hidup mereka. Secara umumnya, masa depan masyarakat Kadazandusun tetap akan cerah dan gemilang dengan syarat setiap anggota perlu sedar dengan peranan dan tanggungjawab masing-masing serta berkemampuan membuat perancangan strategik secara kolektif dan bersatupadu.
“Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Kaamatan”


* Gundohing Allan G Dumbong adalah seorang penganalisis sosio-budaya, politik dan ekonomi di Sabah. Pada masa ini beliau merupakan Ahli Majlis Tertinggi (AMT) Merangkap Pengerusi Pergerakan Pembangunan Belia Kadazandusun, Persatuan Kebudayaan Kadazandusun Sabah.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

THE ORIGINS OF "KADAZAN" AND "DUSUN"

THE ORIGINS AND MEANINGS OF THE TERMS
“KADAZAN” AND “DUSUN”


There are many explanations and theories about the origins and meanings of the word ‘Kadazan’. In this short article, the writer shall try to explore the more popular meanings and origins put forward to explain the word ‘Kadazan’. Some of the more popular explanations put forward to explain the origins and meanings of the word ‘Kadazan’ are: Firstly, it is believed that the word came from ‘kakadazan’, which means ‘towns’. Secondly, it is believed that the word came from ‘kedaian’, derived from the word ‘kedai’ and supposedly to mean, people of the town. Thirdly, it is believed that the word came from ‘Kedayan’, the name of an ethnic group, residing mainly in Brunei and Labuan and not identified as part of the so-called ‘Dusunic’ peoples. Fourthly, it is believed that ‘Kadazan’ means ‘the people’. And fifthly, that the term was coined by politicians.
Let us examine the first explanation that ‘Kadazan’ came from ‘kakadazan’. ‘Kakadazan’ in the Tangaa’ dialect means ‘towns’. Did the Penampang and Papar Kadazan really name themselves after the word ‘town’? If so, why? Presumably, part of this view is the belief that the word ‘Kadazan’ was coined in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. To judge the merits of this explanation, we have to consider the historical background of urban development in the Penampang District. In the fifties, there were only two towns, namely Donggongon and Kasigui. Donggongon had about 20 shops arranged in two rows on each side of the road, and Kasigui had about 10 shops built on one side of the road. Except for one shop, all the other shops in both Donggongon and Kasigui were owned by Chinese. The Penampang Kadazans were scattered in numerous villages in the Penampang District and they still are. How come these people, who never stayed in a town, suddenly decided to call themselves after ‘town’? Those who proposed this view have not come up with answers as to why these people––who did not live in a town––had decided to call themselves ‘people of the town’.
The second explanation for the origin of the word ‘Kadazan’ was that it was derived from the word ‘kedaian’ from the Malay word ‘kedai’. The writer looked for the word ‘kedaian’ in the Kamus Dewan, a Malay dictionary but failed to find such a word. Why would a group of people look for a non-existent foreign word to call themselves? Again those who espouse this explanation have not come up with valid reasons why the people of Penampang and Papar called themselves after a shop.
The third explanation is that the word ‘Kadazan’ came from the word ‘Kedayan’, which is the name of an ethnic group living mainly in Brunei and Labuan. In this explanation, it is not clear as to when this so-called change was made. As the Kedayan people are not part of the so-called ‘Dusunic’ group, there was and is very little contact between the two groups. In pre-Chartered Company days, any contact between disparate groups usually means war, and the Kedayans were residing too far away from Penampang to have any significant relationships with them and to have influenced them to adopt their ethnic name. Those who put forward this explanation have not given any reasons why the Kadazans of Papar and Penampang had decided to call themselves after the Kedayans. Moreover, the word ‘Kedayan’ is pronounced as [kĕdayan], therefore the sound [ĕ] need to have undergone a big change to become [a] in the word ‘Kadazan’, also the sound [d] in ‘Kedayan’ is plosive (“hard d”) whereas the sound [d] in ‘Kadazan’ is implosive (“soft d”). Linguistically, this phenomenon seldom happens, what more when the sound [ĕ] does not exist in the sound system of the Kadazan language.
The fourth explanation is that the word ‘Kadazan’ means ‘the people’. The Bobolian or Bobohizan (priestesses) say that the meaning of ‘Kadazan’ is ‘tulun’ or ‘tuhun’––people. This is not surprising as native peoples of the world seem to refer to themselves as ‘the people’ when calling themselves by name. For instance, the people living in Greenland and northern Canada are often referred to by outsiders as Eskimos. But these indigenous peoples, according to Priit J. Vesilind in his article, “Hunters Of The Lost Spirit” published in the National Geographic, vol. 163, No. 2, February 1983, pp.151-196––depending on where they lived and what ethnic group they belong to––call themselves ‘the people’. He wrote, “…The peoples of the Arctic, only 200,000 in the west, have stopped apologizing for themselves. They are not merely unfinished products of the civilisation process. They are the Yupiks and the Inupiat and the Athapaskans in Alaska, the Dene and the Inuit in Canada, the Inuit in Greenland, and the Saami in Scandinavia. These names mean roughly the same thing––‘the people’.” (page 155). Closer to home in Vietnam, we have a similar situation where outsiders call the indigenous people by different names but these people also refer to themselves as ‘the people’. Peter T. White in his article, “Mosaic Of Cultures” published in the National Geographic, vol. 139, No. 3, March 1971, when referring to the minority ethnic groups in Vietnam, wrote, “…These minorities often do not like what other people call them. When the South Vietnamese want to be polite they lump them together as ‘Montagnards’, French for ‘mountain men’, but more often they call them ‘moi’, Vietnamese for ‘savage’. Their own name for themselves may be ‘People of the Forest’ or simply ‘the people’ (page 323). The Chinese people often refer to themselves also as ‘the people’ and call others ‘kui’ or devil. So when the indigenous people of Penampang and Papar call themselves ‘Kadazan’ meaning ‘the people’, then it is perfectly logical as other indigenous peoples of the world also call themselves ‘the people’. As to how long the word ‘Kadazan’ has existed, it is logical to assume that it existed simultaneously with the beginning of the indigenous people of Penampang and Papar.
There have also been claims that word ‘Kadazan’ had been coined by politicians in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. According to this view, the late Datuk Peter J. Mojuntin and the late Tun Fuad Stephens invented the word for political purposes.
Most of the explanations of the meanings and origins of the word ‘Kadazan’ assumed that the word was of recent origin––specifically in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s––as assumed in the explanations for its origin from ‘kakadazan’ (towns), ‘kedai’ (shops), and from the claim that Kadazan politicians such as the late Datuk Peter J. Mojuntin coined the term. Is it true that the word ‘Kadazan’ was of recent origin? In fact, the word ‘Kadazan’ is not of recent origin. Owen Rutter, in his book, “The Pagans Of North Borneo”, published in 1929, wrote: “The Dusun usually describes himself generically as a tulun tindal (landsman) or, on the West Coast, particularly at Papar, as a Kadazan.” (page 31). Owen Rutter worked in Sabah for five years as District Officer in all five residencies and left Sabah with the onset of the First World War. This means that he started working in Sabah from 1910 and left Sabah in 1914. We can therefore safely say that the word ‘Kadazan’ was already in existence before any towns or shops were built in the Penampang District and that Kadazan politicians did not invent the word in the late fifties and early sixties. Thus, the most likely explanation for the term ‘Kadazan’ is that it means ‘the people’.
With regard to the word ‘Dusun’ and how it came to be applied to these people, Owen Rutter in his book, “The Pagans Of North Borneo”, offers us the explanation as to how the word ‘Dusun’ came to be applied to the most largest ethnic group in Sabah. On the origins of the words ‘Dusun’ and ‘Murut’, he wrote: “The pagans are usually divided into two main tribes, to which are given the distinguishing names of Murut and Dusun. These names are, however, never used by the tribes themselves, but appear to have been applied to them by the Mohammedan invaders. The word ‘Murut’ is derived from the Bajau ‘belud’ ‘hill’ and ‘Dusun’ from the Malay ‘dusun’ ‘orchard’. So that ‘orang Murut’ and ‘Dusun’ [respectively] meant ‘men of the hills’ and ‘men of the orchards’ or ‘gardens’.” (page 30).
The above account by Owen Rutter seems to suggest that the word ‘dusun’ was used by the Bajaus of the coastal areas of the West Coast in referring to the native people of Penampang and Papar. When the first white men came to the shores of Sabah, the first people to meet them were the Bajaus or Malays, and when the white men asked, “Who are the natives living in the Penampang and Papar areas?”, they would have replied, “Orang dusun”, meaning ‘villagers’ or ‘orchard people’. The white men not knowing the real meaning of the word ‘dusun’ believed that these people were called ‘Dusun’. This was how ‘Dusun’ came to be applied to the largest indigenous ethnic group of Sabah.
The writer hopes that this article will in some way make the blurred picture of the ongoing question on the origins and meanings of the terms/words ‘Kadazan’ and ‘Dusun’ clearer.



Written by:
Richard F. Tunggolou
Member of the Committee of Management
Kadazandusun Language Foundation (KLF)
Feb. 21, 1999

Source: Kadazandusun Language Foundation, www.klf.com.my

WARISAN BUDAYA KADAZANDUSUN: SATU TINJAUAN AWAL

WARISAN BUDAYA KAUM KADAZANDUSUN: SATU TINJAUAN AWAL

"Warisan Budaya Kaum Kadazandusun" ini menonjolkan tentang keunikan dan keaslian budaya kaum Kadazandusun di negeri Sabah, Negeri Di bawah Bayu. Sesungguhnya, kaum Kadazandusun ini memiliki banyak budaya yang boleh diwarisi contohnya dari segi asal-usul, lagenda dan perkembangan suku kaum Kadazandusun, bahasa, pakaian tradisional, muzik berunsurkan tradisional, corak kehidupan masyarakatnya, tarian tradisional dan kemuncak bagi pemartabatan warisan budaya Kadazandusun ialah Perayaan Pesta Kaamatan yang diadakan pada setiap tahun.
Dalam aspek asal-usul, lagenda dan perkembangan suku kaum Kadazandusun menjelaskan tentang kelahiran kaum Kadazandusun dan lagenda kelahiran kaum ini bermula dari "Nunuk Ragang" sehinggalah kepada perkembangan dan penyebaran sukukaum ini ke seluruh pelusuk negeri Sabah yang telah banyak mempengaruhi sosio budaya mereka mengikut tempat yang baru, contohnya dari aspek bahasa dan corak kehidupan mereka. Mengikut statistik, terdapat lebih kurang 40 etnik yang terdapat dalam suku kaum Kadazandusun. Dari aspek bahasa, perbezaan loghat, sebutan dan ejaan banyak dipengaruhi mengikut etnik tertentu. Contohnya, sebutan dan ejaan sukukaum Kadazandusun dari satu daerah dengan daerah lain di negeri sabah adalah berlainan tetapi masih membawa erti dan makna yang sama. Pakaian tradisi ini pula berbeza mengikut kawasan dan sosio budaya sukukaum Kadazandusun. Dalam aspek ini, tumpuan diberikan kepada corak pakaian dalam perayaan tertentu. Setiap etnik dalam Kadazandusun mempunyai pakaian tradisinya sendiri.
Muzik tradisi yang ditonjolkan dalam kaum ini amat menarik dan unik. Alat-alat dan bunyi-bunyian tradisional ini banyak terdapat dalam suku kaum Kadazandusun dan ianya berpotensi untuk diwarisi oleh generasi muda kini. Antara lain alat-alat muzik tradisi yang popular ialah gong, sompoton, kulintangan, togunggu atau togunggak, bungkau, pumpuak, sundatang, suling, turali, tongkungon dan lain-lain lagi. Disebabkan masyarakat Kadazandusun ini memiliki pelbagai budaya yang unik mengikut etnik tertentu maka corak hidup mereka juga berbeza mengikut tempat tertentu. Kebanyakan corak kehidupan mereka ini dipengaruhi oleh adat resam penduduk setempat.
Adat resam inilah yang mempengaruhi corak kehidupan masyarakat Kadazandusun sesuatu kawasan. Dalam setiap upacara rasmi ataupun perayaan tertentu, tarian tradisional suku kaum Kadazandusun sering menjadi daya tarikan dan kemeriahan majlis tersebut. Setiap etnik dalam Kadazandusun mempunyai tarian tradisinya sendiri. Corak tarian tradisional ini dipengaruhi oleh sosio budaya kawasan tertentu. Kemuncak bagi pemartabatan warisan budaya sukukaum Kadazandusun dan kesenian serta keunikannya ialah menerusi Perayaan Pesta Kaamatan yang diraikan pada setiap 30 dan 31 Mei setiap tahun. Dalam perayaan ini,berbagai acara menarik dan juga budaya kaum Kadazandusun yang ditonjolkan dan dipamerkan. Antara lain acara yang biasanya menjadi tarikan dalam Perayaan Pesta Kaamatan ialah "Unduk Ngadau" Kaamatan yang mempamerkan pakaian tradisi mengikut etnik.
Konklusi, masyarakat Kadazandusun memang memiliki warisan budaya yang sungguh unik, asli dan menarik. Justeru itu, melalui laman web ini sedikit sebanyak memberi penerangan dan penjelasan kepada para pembaca yang melayari laman web "Warisan Budaya Kaum Kadazandusun" supaya warisan budaya masyarakat Kadazandusun ini tetap dipelihara dan dikekalkan untuk tatapan dan penyelidikan generasi masa akan datang.
Menurut Persatuan Kebudayaan Kadazandusun Sabah (KDCA), Kadazandusun merujuk kepada empat puluh satu etnik seperti berikut; ·Bisaya, Kuijau, Murut, Sungai, Bonggi, Lingkabau, Nabai, Tatana, Bundu, Liwan, Paitan, Tangara, Dumpas, Lobu, Pingas, Tidong, Gana, Lotud, Rumanau, Tindal, Garo, Lundayo, Rungus, Tobilung, Idaan, Makiang, Sinobu, Tolinting, Kadayan, Malapi, Sinorupu, Tombonuo, Kimaragang, Mangkaak, Sonsogon, Tuhawon, Kolobuan Minokok, Sukang, Tutung.Kita akui bahawa kesemua etnik di atas berasal dari Nunuk R agang, iaitu satu petempatan awal Kadazandusun yang terletak di "Tompios" dalam daerah Ranau pada hari ini. LAGENDA NUNUK RAGANG Catatan yang lengkap mengenai Nunuk Ragang sudah lama hilang namun apa yang masih tinggal hanyalah teori-teori para ahli Sains Sosial dan cerita legenda.
TEORI SAINS SOSIAL
Terdapat sekurang-kurangnya empat teori mengenai asal-usul kaum kadazandusun.
Teori Pertama: Kaum Kadazandusun berasal dari keturunan "Mongoloid" (Ivor H.N. Evans:1923 dan T.R. Williams: 1965);
Teori Kedua : Kaum Kadazandusun berketurunan "Indo-Malayan" (T.R. Williams: 1965).
Ketiga : Kaum Kadazandusun adalah kacukan kaum China (Ivor H.N. Evans:1923 dan Owen Rutter:19220
Teori Keempat : Kaum Kadazandusun adalah keturunan orang purba Gua Madai.
lisan atau Cerita Legenda yang popular menunjukkan bahawa Kadazandusun berasal dari tempat ini - "NUNUK RAGANG". Tempat ini terletak di sebuah kawasan di sekitar muara pertemuan dua batang sungai iaitu sungai Kogibangan (dari arah kiri) dan Sungai Kawananan (dari arah kanan) yang telah bercantuman menjadi sungai yang lebih besar, yang dinamakan Sungai Liwogu (Dalam dan Tenang). Kerana diliputi dengan "lembaga hidup yang kelihatan kemerahan-merahan" masing-masing dengan telatah dan perangainya. Di bawah pohon, di tebing sungai dan di atas sepanjang juntaian akar Nunuk - penuh dengan lembaga itu. Pantulan warna ke "kemerahan" semakin menyerlah apabila cahaya matahari terpancar ke arah tubuh lembaga-lembaga itu. Oleh yang demikian, Nunuk itu kelihatan seolah-olah "merah" lalu ia dipanggil Nunuk Ragang. (Aragang/Ragang(Bahasa Kadazandusun)=Merah. Tanggapan bahawa Nunuk itu Merah atau Nunuk Ragang adalah kiasan bagi menggambarkan betapa ramainya manusia (lembaga merah) yang bersenda ria di sekitar kawasan Nunuk ini. Sebenarnya, manusia yang ramai dikiaskan sebagai "warna merah" apabila dilihat dari jarak jauh dan bukanlah pokok Nunuk itu yang berwarna merah. Sejak itu, nama NUNUK RAGANG ini menjadi "identity" rakyat Sabah yang mempercayai bahawa "asal-usul" mereka adalah dari kawasan ini. Tempat ini dikenali sebagai Pomogunan Nunuk Ragang, nama yang diambil bersempena dengan kewujudan pokok Nunuk, yang pada suatu ketika dahulu "merah" satu perlambangan menunjukkan betapa ramai manusia di tempat ini.Di kawasan muara percantuman dua batang sungai ini, terdapat sepohon pokok Kayu Ara (Nunuk). Saiz pokok Nunuk itu sangat besar dan sebahagian daripada akar serta dahan-dahannya condong ke arah sungai Liwogu. Dahan-dahan dan akar terjuntai ke sungai, sangat sesuai sebagai tempat rekreasi seperti memanjat, bergayut, berteduh dan sebagainya. Penduduk di sini sangat ramai, ketika cuaca baik dan cahaya matahari memancar di ufuk barat dari jam 1.00 petang hingga 4.00 petang, ketika itulah ramai penduduk (tidak kira tua, muda, gadis, pemuda dan anak-anak dsb..) turun bermandi-manda di sungai Liwogu, sementara yang lain memanjat, bergayutan serta ramai yang berjemur di atas dahan-dahan rending Nunuk tersebut.Suasana demikian berlaku hampir pada setiap hari dan pada masa yang hampir sama, kecuali cuaca tidak baik atau sungai Liwogu ini banjir. Maka apabila seseorang melihat pokok Nunuk dalam suasana seperti itu dari jarak jauh, sama ada dari puncak bukit mahupun dari sebarang sungai Liwogu, pemandangannya sangat menakjubkan. Pokok Nunuk kelihatan seolah-olah "aragang".
KEHIDUPAN MASYARAKAT NUNUK RAGANG
Masyarakat terawal Kadazandusun dikatakan telah menghuni tempat ini dalam keadaan bebas, menikmati berbagai-bagai jenis bekalan makanan yang mencukupi, baik makanan daripada hutan mahupun daripada sungai serta hasil daripada usaha pertanian. Keperluan hidup yang lain juga mudah diperolehi di sekeliling perkampungan Nunuk Ragang ini. Kehidupan mereka aman dan damai, bersatu padu, mogitabang-tabang, mogiuhup-uhup, otoluod, obinsianan, orulan, ohinomod, aparu, onimot, obingupus, okupi, obintinong, obingkanggau, obintumbayaan, obinronok, obiniangasan, otuyu, obingopi, mamantang, otorini, opori, oining, obintudau, osuau, opohawang, obulun om onitinginawo. Hidup yang tenang dan tenteram itu telah membolehkan mereka berfikir sambil menerokai "teknologi baru" bagi menambah kecekapan, menamnbah dan memudahkan urusan serta meningkatkan kesejahteraan hidup seharian. Bidang bidang yang diterokai antara lain ialah peralatan pakaian (seperti sinombiaka, tokuluk (sirung, linumbagai, golong, sinandang, limpogot, dll), peralatan pertanian (seperti ragus, basung, dangol, gagamas, kakali, guyudan, kisaran, tosung, rilibu/raya dll). Peralatan perikanan (seperti tundalo, siud, bangkala, tambong, bubu sawak dll), peralatan penternakan(lukug, gading dll ), peralatan memburu (sopuk, tuwil, gaba, sungul, balatik, paliw, tandus, ramok, rungkasip, tabpai, sodik, tungkakub, pimpig, tawos dll), peralatan muzik dan bunyi-bunyian (seperti tagung, sompoton, turali, bungkau, suling pumpuak, dll), peralatan dan produk-produk ekonomi(seperti Bohungon, Basung, kakanan, luping, sigup, sada toosin, bilis, tipun, paha, tusi dll).

TRADITIONAL TOOLS OF THE KADAZANDUSUNS

TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENTS OF THE KADAZANDUSUNS

By

Allan G Dumbong

Costume Accessories:

  1. sinombiaka
  2. tokuluk
  3. sirung
  4. linumbagai
  5. golong
  6. sinandang
  7. limpogot

Farming Tools:

  1. ragus
  2. basung
  3. dangol
  4. gagamas
  5. kakali
  6. guyudan
  7. kisaran
  8. tosung
  9. rilibu
  10. raya

Fishing Gears:

  1. tundalo
  2. siud
  3. bangkala
  4. tambong
  5. bubu
  6. Sawak

Hunting Tools:

  1. lukug
  2. gading
  3. sopuk
  4. tuwil
  5. gaba
  6. balatik
  7. paliw
  8. tandus
  9. ramok
  10. rungkasip
  11. tabpai
  12. sodik
  13. tungkakub
  14. pimpig
  15. tawos

Musical Instruments:

  1. tagung
  2. sompoton
  3. turali
  4. bungkau
  5. suling
  6. Pumpuak

Other Related Needs:

  1. Basung
  2. kakanan
  3. Luping
  4. sigup
  5. sada toosin
  6. bilis
  7. tipun
  8. paha
  9. tusi

KADAZANDUSUN VALUES

NOBLE VALUES IN THE KADAZANDUSUN CULTURE
By
Allan G Dumbong

  1. mogitabang-tabang
  2. mogiuhup-uhup
  3. otoluod
  4. Obinsianan
  5. orulan
  6. ohinomod
  7. aparu
  8. onimot
  9. obingupus
  10. okupi
  11. obintinong
  12. obingkanggau
  13. obintumbayaan
  14. obiniangasan
  15. otuyu
  16. obingopi
  17. mamantang
  18. otorini
  19. opori
  20. oining
  21. obintudau
  22. osuau
  23. Opuhawang
  24. obulun
  25. onitinginawo.