Sabah's Regatta Lepa festival brings Bajau maritime heritage to life

Borneo Post

7 hours ago

Liew (third from left) holding promotion poster of the Regatta Lepa festival.
KOTA KINABALU (June 23): The annual Regatta Lepa festival in Semporna is more than just a colourful celebration. Now in its 30th year, the event serves as a vital showcase for the Bajau people's rich maritime culture and traditions, spotlighting a community whose identity is deeply intertwined with the sea.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew said the festival symbolises the artistry, heritage and harmony of the state's diverse communities, with this year's theme, Mairan Addat Bangsa Ta or Our Cultural Festival, underscoring the importance of preserving these traditions for future generations.
'Each day of Regatta Lepa features a different programme, so we encourage everyone to come and be part of the celebration. Our government takes this event seriously, as it reflects a beautiful cultural heritage that we want to preserve and continue,' she said at a press conference following the launch of Regatta Lepa 2025 here Monday.
She added that in addition to preserving culture, the festival also supports efforts to attract more tourists, which in turn benefits the local economy.
Running from June 24 to 29, the festival features a programme of workshops, symposiums, traditional ceremonies and cultural performances designed to engage locals and visitors alike.
Central to the event is the lepa, a traditional single-masted boat, elaborately decorated and paraded along Semporna's waters in a vivid celebration of Bajau craftsmanship.
Among the highlights are the Regatta Lepa workshop and symposium at the Tun Sakaran Museum, the Sangom Maglami-lami community celebration and the Ratu Lepa 2025 pageant. Exhibitions by government agencies, local artisans and entrepreneurs will also provide opportunities for cultural exchange and economic growth.
Earlier this month, the festival set a new Malaysia Book of Records milestone when 1,000 dancers performed the traditional Igal-Igal dance simultaneously during the IGALTHON event, adding to the festival's reputation as a vibrant celebration of heritage.
The festival will culminate on June 29 at Dataran Regatta Lepa with a grand parade of ornately decorated lepa boats, followed by the Sangom Mairan evening event featuring an awards ceremony, cultural performances and a fireworks display.