Sabah Fest 2014 – Aki Nabalu

Every year the Sabah Fest brings these groups together to celebrate Sabah’s cultural diversity and unique heritage. The celebration and theme of the Sabah Fest this year focuses on Sabah’s mystical and iconic landmark, Mount Kinabalu. Towering over the island of the Borneo above a rugged landscape of mountain ranges, river valleys and plains. Mount Kinabalu has bewtowed the land we know as Sabah another mythological moniker,” the land of the sacred Mountain”. Sabah Fest this year is from 2nd May 2014 to 4th May 2014.

The Theme for this the celebration this year is drawn largely from local indigenous beliefs and diverse practices of the Kadazandusun and Murut. Seven ethnic groups have been identified to illutrate and present both the cultural and religious aspects of Kinabalu . There are :

Segment 1 : Pampang – The creation Story (Kadazandusun People)
Segment 2 : Monolob – Appeasing the spirits of Aki Nabalu (Dusun, Ranau)
Segment 3 : Humabot – Summoning the spirits of the Bambaazon (Rice)(kadazan, Penampang)
Segment 4 : Mogimbadi – The Meeting Point (Kota Belud Weekend Market)
Segment 5 : Mogkodim Do Hatod – Calling back the spirit of a sick person(Dusun Rungus, Kudat)
Segment 6 : Mohlukas – A Housewarming Ritual (Dusun Lotud, Tuaran)
Segment 7 : Mansilad – A ritual healing ceremony (Murut NabaI, Keningau)
(information and writeup provided by Sabah Tourism Board, Photos by Adam Lai

Pampang – The creation Story