Swiss ex-hotelier goes native

May 31, 2015

By Olivia Miwil

Picture by Lano Lan

PENAMPANG: It's hard to miss Herman Scholz during the state level Pesta Kaamatan or Harvest Festival here every year.

Originally from Switzerland, Scholz has lived in Sabah the last 19 years and makes it a point to celebrate the festival every year at the Hongkod Koisaan building.

Known for his ability to make the traditional rice wine, lihing, and his penchant for chewing the concoction of betel nut, Areca leaves and lime or ninggat as the locals call it here.

He is even nicknamed "ginggat" which refers to a person who likes to chew the concoction.

"This is an event many people look forward to every year because we get to be with friends, meet new ones, see beautiful costumes, cultures and just be happy.

"You can't find this where I come from," said the part time tour guide who runs a stall at the festivities this year selling his popular fruit flavored rice wine.

Formerly a hotel executive and a chef, Scholz who speaks fluent Malay and Kadazandusun, lives alone in the Sugud area here and can be seen mingling with hawkers at the weekly Donggongon market.

He also earns from as a freelance German and French interpreter.

Meanwhile, there were thousands of visitors thronged into the place to visit and participate in the activities such as playing musical instrument, dance the Sumazau, singing competition held at different traditional houses.

Crowds including those from other countries were also seen feasting for traditional foods such as tuhau (pickles), hinava (fish salad), bambangan (wild mango), as well as the rice wine.

There were also traditional sports such as migazat dukug (tug of war), rampanau(walking using bamboo poles), synchronised walk on bamboo slippers among others.

The celebration also saw few groups of ethnics showcasing their costumes, cultures and traditions at one of the exhibition booths.

Among them were Dusun Tinagas from Ranau, Dusun Malapiah from Papar, Murut Rundum and Murut Sumamba from Tenom, Sungai Makiang from Tongod, as well as Dusun Gobukon from Kota Marudu.

Bobohizan or bobolian, significant spirit medium in Kadazan Dusun rites, were present to appease the rice spirit “Bambaazon” during the harvest festival.

Melvin Sebastian, 44, said although bobohizan were commonly practiced by women, but he had been learning the knowledge of bobohizan for more than 20 years from his aunt.

“As one of the younger generation of Kadazan people, someone have to inherit the practices,” said the farmer, adding he would be performing the appeasing ritual together with more than 20 bobohizan at  Hongkod Koisaan.