Insight into Kadazan Practices

Feb 11, 2016

Story and pictures by Olivia Miwil

 

Learn about Kadazan customs and traditions through a play, writes Olivia Miwil

THE Sininggazanak Musical Theatre in the native Kadazan language at J Borneo Native Village adds to the tourist attractions in the district of Penampang in Sabah.

The 40-minute show showcases the ancient practice of magang, a ceremony where the Kadazan people erect "monuments" known as sininggazanak to commemorate those who die childless.

The show also features other traditions such as the sumazau dance, harvest festival, and funeral rites, among others. Traditional musical instruments such as the sompoton, bamboo flutes (tuahi), brass gong (modunsai), and kulintangan are used for live music.

 "Besides being able to showcase the local culture, the show will help the young generation, especially schoolchildren, learn and appreciate the history of the Kadazan language," village owner Jivinsool Moosom says, adding that visitors would be invited to perform the sumazau dance and taste the local rice wine after the show.

The audience will be briefed on the history of sininggazanak and be provided with English, Chinese, Arabic and Korean translations written on a piece of paper to enable them to understand the play.

Among the 16 performers is Umin Unjim, a retired army personnel and a former coach with the National Service programme. He plays Jinu, the husband of the deceased Indai.

"The role requires me to smile, sing and even cry, which is totally opposite of my previous job which required me to be strict," he says.

"But it is an honour to be part of the show to revive and preserve the Kadazan language. Moreover, the custom is practised in my hometown of Kampung Tombovo."

Umin, 55, says a monument was erected for a person by the name of Kansim.

MAGANG CEREMONY

 
Prior to British colonisation, when a person died, his or her properties such as land and rice fields, were passed to his closest blood-related family members instead of spouse. The monument would be erected by the heir.

Moosom says the ceremony used to be as significant as Sabah's harvest festival as it involved the high priestess or bobohizan and there would be several days of feasting.

Water buffalo, pig and chicken were slaughtered as offerings to the spirit of the deceased person.

On the second day, the monument would be carried from the house and placed in the rice field. Bobohizan would chant prayers to invite one or more spirits into the monument to take good care of the land.

According to the book, Traditional Stone And Wood Monument by Brother Peter R. Phelan, there are about 20 wooden monuments in the Penampang, Kinarut and Papar areas.

These monuments are either in the shape of a human being or just poles with inscriptions. All recorded monuments no longer exist except the one at Kampung Tampasak in Kinarut which Sabah Museum had replaced with a replica made of cement.

The 1.41-hectare Native Village, which started with a small building in 2008, also serves traditional food such as hinava (fish mixed with lime juice) and bambangan (wild mango pickle) at its restaurant.

Other services and facilities available are traditional bamboo music workshops, events and catering for Kadazan weddings, as well as wooden chalets and conference rooms.