Foreign visitors capture the heart of Kaamatan through their lens

The Star

2 days ago

ARMED with their cameras, Polish couple Darek Kalinski and Agnieszka Witusik spent Saturday (May 31) immersed in the colours, sounds and spirit of Sabah's Kaamatan grand finale.
Their lenses captured not just images, but a cultural experience they described as unforgettable.
Snapping away under the blazing sun at the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) in Penampang, the couple were visibly awed by the vibrant procession of locals dressed in traditional attire, lining the pathway to welcome dignitaries and guests.
'This is not just a festival. It was alive. We want to photograph everything, the details in the costumes, the music, the smiles,' said Kalinski, 64, who, along with Witusik, 53, was on his first visit to Sabah.
The couple, currently on a three-week Borneo adventure, said discovering the Kaamatan Festival was a fortunate, spontaneous twist in their plans.
While planning their journey, they had come across mentions of the celebration but struggled to find clear information online.
'We were not even sure we would be able to catch it. The lack of official details made planning difficult, so we started our trip in Sarawak, thinking we might miss it altogether,' Kalinski explained.
But a lucky online post revealing the dates of the two-day festival finale on May 30 and 31 prompted a spontaneous detour to Sabah.
What was meant to be a brief stopover turned into a three-day stay, as they became fully immersed not just in the atmosphere but also in the energy of the crowd, the rhythm of traditional dances and the warmth of the people.
'The colours, the dancing, the people … it all came together in such a natural, heartfelt way. You cannot help but be drawn into it,' said Witusik, scrolling through photos they had taken.
After experiencing the highlights of Kaamatan, the couple plan to return to Sarawak to visit the Mulu Caves before heading to Brunei, and will eventually return to Sabah for the final leg of their trip in Sandakan.
But both agreed that Kaamatan had already left the deepest impression.
'We really hope more information will be made available online in future. This is something truly special, a real cultural treasure. We have taken so many photos to share with our friends back home,' said Kalinski.
Also attending the celebration was Swiss retiree Marco Brudermann, 66, who described Kaamatan as 'refreshingly uncommercial and deeply sincere.'
He was accompanied by his long-time friend Liliane Blume, 64, also from Switzerland, who has lived in Sabah for the past 18 years.
Fresh from a journey through Manila and Zamboanga in the Philippines, Brudermann, a sociocultural anthropologist, noted that while there are similar traditional festivals back home, Sabah's connection to folklore and ancestral identity feels equally strong.
'You can feel the sincerity. The people are not just putting on a show … they are celebrating something deeply meaningful. It touches the soul,' he said.
Having travelled extensively for work, Brudermann said being in Sabah during Kaamatan was a uniquely enriching experience.
'Sabahans are becoming increasingly committed to preserving their traditions, and it is beautiful to witness,' he added.
Blume, a former German teacher at the Borneo Tourism Institute, agreed.
'This is not just a performance. Kaamatan is a living, breathing tradition. People are genuinely proud of their heritage, and you can feel that everywhere,' she said.