May is Kaamatan month!

Paddy to be harvested on harvest season. Photo is by me so credit to me !

     Hi all. It's May and for the Sabahans, you know what this particular month is famous for-KAAMATAN! So what is Kaamatan, you may ask me. Well, it's an annual cultural event of the KadazanDusuns(Kadus) people as well as several other ethnics in Sabah since time immemorial.  The word Kaamatan is derived from the root word 'tomot', a Kadus term for 'harvest'. So basically Kaamatan is Harvest Festival. 'In it's deepest sense, Kaamatan festival is a manifestation of Creator and Creation relationship, as well as Inter-Creations relationship'-Wiki. The influence of the Christian missionaries during the 20th century had resulted in Christianity rising to prominence among the native Sabahans especially among the Kadus, Murut and Lundayeh people. Thus, Kaamatan is no longer associated with the traditional Kaamatan animistic rituals. However, a small minority still practices them. 

2012 State Level Unduk Ngadau

    Unduk Ngadau is like the phenomenal event every time Kaamatan is celebrated each year. It is a manifestation to the deep sense of respect and admiration the Kadus people have for the legendary Huninodun. Every year, most districts in Sabah would hold Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant to choose a representative to represent their districts to the state level Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant which would be held at KadazanDusun Cultural Association (KDCA) in Penampang.

   

     However, many critiques have voiced out their opinion that Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant has become just another vain beauty pageant. Blogger Jesse Jeremy Joy wrote in his post entitled 'Unduk Ngadau : Beauty or Cause?' that Nadira Ilana, a Sabahan filmmaker told him that 'the Unduk Ngadau is meant to embody the spirit of Huminodun whereby she represents kindness, wisdom, humility, generosity, selflessness and those origins of her beauty'. These days, Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant is more focused on the concept of physical 'beauty'. According to Jesse, Nadira expressed her concern about the growing number of 'pageants' that only focus on women's physical appearances. 'There's wisdom, values and attributes behind it that the contestants should manifest', Jesse said. The legend behind Unduk Ngadau is what makes this pageant a unique one. The contestants should strive to show their inner beauty instead of flaunting their so called physical natural beauty because the body will change as time passes by but the charisma and wisdom one embody will remain. 

* For further reading, visit Jesse Jeremy Joy's blog Jesse Joy - Unduk Ngadau : Beauty or Cause?

    Anyway, I simply want to share my opinion. I don't mean to say that the crowned Unduk Ngadaus don't deserve the title.  Now I would like to share to you some of the State Level Unduk Ngadau winners. 

Daphne M. Iking, 2003 State Level Unduk Ngadau. She represented Klang Valley.

Madelyne M. Nandu, 2005 State Level Unduk Ngadau. She represented Penampang district.

Joanna Sue Henley Rampas, 2007 State Level Unduk Ngadau.  She represented Tuaran district.

Botiza Arthur Disimond, 2011 State Level Unsuk Ngadau. Again, she's from Penampang.

Melinda Louis, 2012 State Level Unduk Ngadau. She  represented the Telupid district. 

     I know right. They are all gorgeous. Well physically that is. However, being the curious type of person, I've gone to the net and read articles about them. I've  also heard stories from friends who happened to know them. Nevertheless, good job Unduk Ngadaus. May all of you continue to be the ambassadors of our beloved 'Land Below the Wind', that you all are. 

That would be all for now people.

 Kotobian Tadau Tagayo Do Kaamatan (I am a Dusun by the way. That is why I say 'tagayo' instead of 'Tagazo'). Aramai tiii!!

*Photos found in Google.