Latest news with #Kaamatanfestival
Daily Express
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
12 to compete for Unduk Ngadau Divatto 2025 title
Published on: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 25, 2025 Text Size: Susanna said the contestants are from Divan, Kampung Totoikon, Kampung Buzut, Kampung Sava and Kampung Togop. PENAMPANG: Twelve young women representing five villages here will compete for the prestigious Unduk Ngadau Divatto 2025 title at Togop Jetty on June 28, as part of the Kaamatan festival celebrations. Unduk Ngadau Chairperson, Susanna Mojiniu, said the contestants are from Divan, Kampung Totoikon, Kampung Buzut, Kampung Sava and Kampung Togop. 'We encourage residents from surrounding Penampang villages, especially from the five Divatto villages, to attend in large numbers to celebrate the Kaamatan festival,' Susanna said in a statement promoting the cultural event. The village-level beauty pageant serves to honour Huminodun, a revered figure in Kadazan-Dusun culture, while promoting traditional values of feminine beauty, grace and wisdom. The competition also aims to strengthen community bonds and preserve cultural heritage among the villages. This year's event will feature an additional Tati kaanangan (Miss Favourite FB) category, with online voting from June 22 until 3pm on June 28. Advertisement Organisers are seeking support from individuals and private companies, including hamper donations, to enhance the celebration. Those interested in contributing may contact Susanna at 019-581 7336. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
12 to compete for Unduk Ngadau Divatto title this Saturday
Published on: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 24, 2025 Text Size: PENAMPANG: Twelve finalists from five villages—Divan, Kg Totoikon, Kg Buzut, Kg Sava, and Kg Togop—will compete in the Unduk Ngadau Divatto pageant at Togop Jetty this Saturday (June 28). Chairperson Susanna Mojiniu urged the local community to support the event, held in conjunction with the Kaamatan festival, celebrating the legacy of Huminodun and promoting Kadazan-Dusun cultural values such as beauty, grace, and wisdom. The event also features a Tati kaanangan (Miss Favourite FB) category, with online voting open from June 22 to 3 PM on June 28. Susanna called for more individual and corporate sponsors to contribute hampers or other support. Interested parties can contact her at 019-581 7336. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Malaysiakini
01-06-2025
- General
- Malaysiakini
Echoes of the gong: Kaamatan and the soul of Sabah
COMMENT | Each year, as May draws to a close, the gentle rhythm of the gong echoes through Sabah's valleys and hills, heralding the Kaamatan festival - a time of harvest, gratitude, and deep cultural reflection among the Kadazandusun-Murut-Rungus (KDMR) communities. Kaamatan, traditionally held at the end of the padi harvesting season, was once a village-scale celebration to give thanks to Bambarayon, the rice spirit. Today, while festivities are larger and more modern, the soul of the festival remains intact, especially for Christians like Mariati Bakait, an ethnic Kadazandusun who hails from Ranau. 'Kaamatan isn't just about merrymaking. It's about honouring the sacrifice that gave us life, like Huminodun's,' said the school teacher, referring to the mythic maiden who gave her body to restore life to the land during a great famine. 'Her story still teaches us what love and courage really mean,' Mariati tells Malaysiakini.
The Star
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Beloved Sabah folk tale comes to KL theatre stage for Kaamatan celebration
Queennera Francis Kitingon steps into the role of Princess Huminodun in 'Huminodun: Muzikal Puteri Nabalu', which takes the stage at Auditorium Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) in Kuala Lumpur this weekend. Photo: Bernama Theatre production Huminodun: Muzikal Puteri Nabalu, which highlights the tale of a legendary princess from Sabah, will be staged at the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) auditorium in Kuala Lumpur this weekend in conjunction with the Kaamatan festival. It tells the story of the sacrifice of Princess Huminodun, a virtuous maiden who willingly sacrifices her life to save her land and people from famine. Based on an original script by Satra Nurizman and adapted by Amsalib Pisali, the play is directed by Nawfal Zamri, who faced the challenge of working in the Kadazandusun language - a task that demanded a deep grasp of its tone and pronunciation. "I'm from Perak and not familiar with this language but I'm grateful to have help from friends in Sabah to review the actors' pronunciation because language and intonation are very important," said Nawfal at a recent media conference. Marlenny says the folk tale offers insight into sacrifice and love through a Sabahan lens, highlighting a mother's pain in giving up her child for her people's survival. Photo: Bernama "We also didn't want to lose the authentic feel. So, several important parts are retained in the original language, especially the emotional dialogues. However, the overall structure of the performance has been arranged to be easily understood by the audience," he added. For this production, Nawfal also conducted field research in Sabah, visiting sites believed to be connected to the origins of the Huminodun legend. Huminodun: Muzikal Puteri Nabalu is presented by KGE Studio and the Sabah Community Aid Association, in collaboration with Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, DBP and Pertubuhan Anak Karya Malaysia, and supported via grants from Yayasan Hasanah and ArtFast. The play's cast includes Queenenra Francine as Princess Huminodun, and Virtoues Romana, Ijat Ashari, Faizan Deraman, Verd and Dr Marlenny Deen Erwan. 'My hope is for this play to serve as a gateway for more stories from Sabah and Sarawak to be staged and appreciated,' says Anas. Photo: Bernama Marlenny, who portrays Suminundu, the mother of Princess Huminodun, shared that the production goes beyond entertainment — it serves as a bridge for cross-cultural understanding, offering audiences a deeper appreciation of Sabahan heritage and values. "This Sabah folk tale gives the audience an opportunity to understand the values of sacrifice and love from a different cultural perspective. The story portrays a mother's emotion as she allows her child to be sacrificed for the well-being of the people,' she said. Producer and founder of KGE Studio Anas Amdan said the original staging of Huminodun in 2022 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, won four awards at the Malaysia Theatre Awards, serving as a stepping stone to bring the play to Kuala Lumpur. "My hope is for this play to serve as a gateway for more stories from Sabah and Sarawak to be staged and appreciated. We want to promote this work not merely for commercial gain but for its significant cultural value and audience response,' he said. - Bernama
Malaysiakini
31-05-2025
- General
- Malaysiakini
Echoes of the gong: Kaamatan and the soul of Sabah
COMMENT | Each year, as May draws to a close, the gentle rhythm of the gong echoes through Sabah's valleys and hills, heralding the Kaamatan festival - a time of harvest, gratitude, and deep cultural reflection among the Kadazandusun-Murut-Rungus (KDMR) communities. Kaamatan, traditionally held at the end of the padi harvesting season, was once a village-scale celebration to give thanks to Bambarayon, the rice spirit. Today, while festivities are larger and more modern, the soul of the festival remains intact, especially for Christians like Mariati Bakait, an ethnic Kadazandusun who hails from Ranau. 'Kaamatan isn't just about merrymaking. It's about honouring the sacrifice that gave us life, like Huminodun's,' said the school teacher, referring to the mythic maiden who gave her body to restore life to the land during a great famine. 'Her story still teaches us what love and courage really mean,' Mariati tells Malaysiakini.
