Promote traditional Sabahan food as well

KOTA KINABALU: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun has suggested that the traditional food of Sabah be promoted alongside with other State cultural programmes.

He said since traditional food is still relatively unpopular to many people it can be promoted as a tourism product in events such as the Sabah Cultural Fest and Sabah International Folklore Festival to allow visitors to taste local cuisine.

Masidi also noted that there is no restaurant in Sabah specialising in local cuisine even though he believes it has huge potential.

“Four out of 10 visitors I meet ask me where to find local food and I think this is a business opportunity we should consider venturing,” he said at the closing ceremony of the inaugural Traditional Food Festival 2011 at the Sabah Cultural Centre here yesterday.

In fact, the arrival of visitors to Sabah has gone up in the first three months of this year compared to the same period last year.

“Even though Japan was hit by the recent tsunami, the Japanese still travel and their arrival to Sabah has gone up by 32 per cent in the first quarter while those from China and Korea respectively went up by 42 per cent and 41 per cent,” he stated.

“All these figures give us the confidence that we are on the right track and making the right move in promoting the tourism industry,” he said.

As such, he called on the people to become spokespersons or ambassadors of the state by acquiring at least some knowledge of the state so that when they are asked by tourists they know what to tell them rather than answering “I don’t know”.

He said this approach was adopted successfully by the people in Bali as they always know how to promote their tourism products and give recommendations to tourists on places to visit in the island.

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The Colourful and Beautiful Sabah Fest

KOTA KINABALU: Some delays and minor technical hindrances, but otherwise the Sabah Fest 2011 musical theatre, staged at a leading hotel here over the weekend, was a resounding success.

It drew about 1,000 people, approximately half of them being tourists, both foreign and domestic.

Sam, who was in a group of travel agents from Australia and was visiting Sabah for the first time, was impressed by the musical, titled “Papakang – The Odyssey of Seven Brothers.”

“Very colourful, very beautiful!” he exclaimed.

Asked whether there was anything in the show that the group might not be happy about, Sam replied, “The delays, and we didn’t understand what the actors were saying.”

He added that the audience was aware that the delays were not the organiser’s fault. But he thought, apart from the narrator, there should be a translation projected onto the screens set up on the stage. This would allow foreigners to understand the dialogue between actors, which were spoken in local dialects.

Entrepreneur Hashim Ahmad and his wife, both from the peninsula, were also awed by the dance performances which nailed home the fact that “there are so many tribes in Sabah.”

While this was only his second visit and his wife’s first to Sabah, he said they were not totally ignorant about the people of the Malaysian Borneo state.

“Over there we tend to identify Malaysians as Malay, Chinese and Indian. Only when you are in Sabah, and I suppose Sarawak, too, that you begin to realise how narrow your perception of being Malaysian is.

“People from the peninsula should come to the Sabah and Sarawak and experience being ‘Truly Malaysian’, and Sabah Fest is a wonderful eye-opener too,” he added.

The Sabah Tourism Board (STB) has been organising Sabah Fest, this being the 23rd year, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd, which began the festival in 1988.

Continue reading at: The Colourful and Beautiful Sabah Fest
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Sabah Fest 2011 - A Colourful Cultural Extravaganza

KOTA KINABALU: The annual Sabah Fest, a cultural extravaganza, the state’s largest and most colourful cultural event of the year is here again.

It started yesterday with the Cultural Extravaganza while the Premiere Show will be held today at the Magellan Grand Ballroom, Sutera Harbour Resort at 7pm.

The grand launching will be carried out by the Head of State Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Juhar Mahiruddin, who will be accompanied by his consort, Toh Puan Datin Seri Panglima Norlidah Datuk R.M Jasni at the Magellan Grand Ballroom of Sutera Harbour Resort at 8pm.

At a recent press conference, the Minister of Tourism and Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun revealed that the 23rd edition of Sabah Fest will bring to the audience the story of ‘Papakang – The Odyssey of Seven Brothers’, a one-hour musical theatre-style production based on a local folklore of the legendary Nunuk Ragang.

Guests can hope to be entertained by a dazzling display of Sabah’s traditional songs and dances, as the legend unfolds.

The story is about the seven sons of the Nunuk Ragang, chief of Kampung Tompios in the district of Ranau, who coveted the mystical Papakang stone.

They looked for it but it was the youngest son, Aki Lintobon, who successfully retrieved it from the bottom of the river.

After he retrieved it however, the brothers squabbled over who would possess the stone.

Seeing this, their father smashed the stone into seven pieces and gave each son a piece, telling them that this would serve as a reminder of their identity as siblings and their origin.

As time passed, food became scarce in that area and famine began to beset the land.

They were more quarrels as they strived to survive.

They fought amongst each other and headhunting became rampant.

The people had no choice but to make an option; migrate and look for better land or risk starvation.

They took the latter and the the six older brothers led their people to different areas.

They began their journey towards other part of the land one day, holding on to the stone their father gave them so that they may identify their people in other parts of the land one day.

The youngest named Aki Lintobon, remained in Tompios and even as he watched his siblings walked away, he vowed to seek and reunite his brothers.

The years went by and one day Aki Lintobon decided that it was time to bring his family back together again and thus began the amazing journey of Aki Lintobon across the land to look for his family and the stone of Papakang.

Guests tonight will see the depiction of this journey through the drama and dance.

Continue reading at: Sabah Fest 2011 - A Colourful Cultural Extravaganza
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Exhibitions to enhance cultural experience at Sabah Fest

KOTA KINABALU: While the Sabah Fest 2011 performance nights will be a dazzling display of traditional dances and musical presentations, the Sabah Fest exhibition also to be held on April 30 and May 1 is set to feature Sabah’s unique craft creations, ethnic recipes and locally made products.

More than 30 booths comprising handicraft stalls, traditional food and beverages, Borneo pearls, batik and exquisite paintings of local artists will be at the foyer of the Magellan Grand Ballroom from 10am to 10pm to enrich the Sabah Fest 2011 experience.

This exhibition is open to the public for free.

Visitors will be exposed to the art of the locals and craft stalls are each manned by the Kadazandusun, Murut, Rungus, Bajau, Bajau Laut, Iranun, Lundayeh and Brunei Malay communities. They will be displaying and selling crafts unique to their culture.

This is a perfect time to see skilled crafts people at work and a chance to purchase hard-to-find items, from hand-woven baskets to intricately-carved Sea Bajau lepas (wooden boat replicas).

Beads-making specialist Nonjiring Mantuku from Kampung Tinangol in Kudat, who has been in this industry for 45 years, will also be presenting her works.

Textile lovers of traditional woven cloths of Dastar, Mugah and Sambitan will have the opportunity to meet well-known Hajah Pandian from Kota Belud, who has been in involved in the local tapestry industry for 50 years. She will be showing how these clothes are woven.

Another highlight of the two-day event is the food exhibition consisting of local cuisines, local snack or kuih-muih such as Kuih Cincin, Ampalang and Kekara.

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The first Sumazau dance of Kadazan newly-weds

Kota Kinabalu: Most Sabahans may think they have seen it all - the Kadazan Sumazau dance. But what about a specific dance called Sumazau mingkung - the first dance together for newly weds?

That could be new for many attending the Sabah Fest 2011 cultural extravaganza on April 30 and 1 May, at the Sutera Harbour Magellan Grand Ballroom.

For Kadazans of Penampang, the Sumazau Mingkung is a specific dance performed especially as a tribute to a newly-married couple.

On wedding day, the groom heads for the bride's house in a procession with the bridewealth (nopung) on hand.

On arrival, gongs beat and the nopung is taken from him, the bride appears at the entrance and the bobohizan (ritual specialist) uses a popodu - a bunch of five types of leaves to sprinkle water to perform a ritual called vokis, to bless the newly weds.

After the blessing, the couple place a foot each on a round stone called pampang at the bottom of the stairs while the bobohizan symbolically holds the conical hats called seraung, over their heads.

The stone and the hats symbolize strong and lasting marriage while the hats represent shields to protect them from evil on wedding day and thereafter.

After a few short mantras, the bobohizan would then enter the house.

In the house, the couple performs their first Sumazau dance together as a married couple with the bobohizan and other elders surrounding them, performing that specific dance called Sumazau mingkung.

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Sabah Fest to kick off with cultural extravaganza on April 30

KOTA KINABALU: More than 1,700 people are expected to patronise Sabah Fest 2011, the state’s largest and most colourful cultural event of the year.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun said at a press conference on the upcoming event yesterday that the event will be preceded on April 30 with the cultural extravaganza and followed with the premier show on May 1.

Both events will take place at the Magellan Grand Ballroom of Sutera Harbour Resort near here.

The state government will spend some RM700,000 for the two-day event and patrons will have to purchase a RM50 ticket for admission.

“We’re hoping for more local support. We also want our locals to consider the RM50 ticket they have to purchase for the show as a symbolic gesture of their support towards the local theatre community,” he said.

More than 600 dancers, musicians and skilled handicraft makers in the state will be at the venue over the two days.

“The event is to provide both visitors and locals alike the opportunity to witness Sabah’s rich and unique culture,” he said.

The grand launching shall take place during the premier show on May 1 by the Head of State, Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Juhar Mahiruddin and his consort, Datin Seri Panglima Hajjah Norlidah Datuk R M Jasni.

Patrons of the 23rd edition of the Sabah Fest will be entertained to a one-hour musical theatre style production based on a local folklore of the legendary Nunuk Ragang entitled ‘Papakang – The Odyssey of Seven Brothers’.

Continue reading at: Sabah Fest to kick off with cultural extravaganza on April 30

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Sabah Fest 2011 To Highlight Story Of 'Papakang: The Odyssey Of Seven Brothers'

KOTA KINABALU -- The state's largest and most colourful cultural event of the year, Sabah Fest, is back again and will be held this April 30 to May 1, this time highlighting the story of 'Papakang: The Odyssey of Seven Brothers'.

Besides the usual cultural performances, exhibition and demonstration booths, this 23rd edition of the Sabah Fest would see a one-hour musical theatre production based on a local folklore of the legendary Nunuk Ragang, said Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.

"Through a dazzling display of Sabah's traditional songs and dances, the legend tells about the seven sons of Nunuk Ragang, chief of Kampung Tompios in the district of Ranau, who all covet the mystical 'Papakang' stone.

"The story will also share the journey of his youngest son, Aki Lintobon, across the land to bring together his family and the stone of 'Papakang," he said at the press conference on the event, here, today.

The two-day event, to be held at the Magellan Sutera Harbour Resort, will be launched by Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Datuk Seri Juhar Mahiruddin on the second night.

While the handicraft and food showcase from 10am to 10pm on the two days is open to the public, entry to the night show performance which starts at 7pm, is priced at RM50 (RM30 for students).

Masidi said there would be 1,000 tickets allotted for the first night and 700 tickets for the second night, which is the premier show with the attendance of the head of state.

Besides that, Sabah Fest 2011 will also highlight the unique dances and rituals from eight districts, namely Ranau, Pitas, Kudat, Kota Belud, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Keningau and Penampang.

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Fascinating Murut Paluan dances in Sabah Fest

KOTA KINABALU: The finale to the Sabah Fest 2011 will see a fascinating performance by the Murut Paluan, one of the many Murut sub-ethnic groups in Sabah.

The Murut Paluan from Kg. Dalit, Sook in Keningau will perform a blend of two choreographed dances, using old objects as dance props. The first dance is called Alang Piring which involves symbolic gestures to welcome guests during festive gatherings.

The second dance is a hybrid presentation that uses the elements of argus bird feathers called lalandau, a blowpipe called sapuk and a ceremonial sword called pailang, while dancing on the bamboo poles of the Magunatip dance.

The original dance without the props was performed to commemorate the success of head hunting parties in the olden days.

The music that accompanies this dance is a fusion, combining the rhythmic beating of old empty tortoise shells called pakukang of legendary origins, and a set of a hanging gongs called ripason.

The Sabah Fest 2011 will take place on the 30th April and 1st May at the Magellan Grand Ballroom, Magellan Sutera Harbour Resort starting at 7pm on the first day with the Cultural Extravaganza show and the Premiere Show the following day.

Themed “PAPAKANG, The Odyssey of Seven Brothers”, the highly anticipated show will tell the tantalising and compelling legend behind the origins of the largest ethnic community in Sabah, the Kadazandusun, as told through the journey and experience of a young boy called Aki Lintobon.

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Sabah Fest 2011: Pa'pakang, the Odyssey of Seven Brothers

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Sabah Fest 2011: Cultural extravaganza in store

Kota Kinabalu: First started as a street parade, Sabah Fest 2011 enters its 23rd anniversary with a cultural extravaganza themed "Pa'pakang, the Odyssey of Seven Brothers" scheduled on April 30 at Sutera Magellan Grand Ballroom, said Sitti Damsal, General Manager of Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd, Thursday.

A public premier show follows on May 1, starting at 7pm. Sabah stands out as the richest State in terms of ethnic and cultural diversity which, however, is often hidden, in deep interior of far-flung coasts or even islands.

Which raises the question: How to make this proud and exclusive heritage visible to the world.

The answer is an annual Sabah Fest which congregates all 32 indigenous groups in one place, dressed in full traditional costumes with a maximum display of their variant cultural elements - such as dance, music, cuisine and handicraft.

Because it is more than two decades old, Sabah Fest has gained a good measure of maturity, with a quality show that comes along with it.

Year in and year out, the big 'do' still surprise visitors and even locals, when they actually see the sharply contrasting depth and extent of ethnic possibilities as organisers take pains to extract real indigenous ethnic groups from their original village roots and concentrate them in one place each year, for a musical theatre style hour-long production based on Sabah's many legends.

As Sabah Tourism Board Chairman, Tengku Datuk Dr Zainal Adlin, has put it: "The beauty is not necessarily in colourful costumes but ethnic authenticity."

Add a unique traditional tolerance to ethnic diversity, Sabah brands itself positively to the outside world who often say they like what they see.

Legends may not be historical facts but they nevertheless tell stories around which musical directors can cast diverse ethnic groups like contrasting characters in one single production.

So the story of this year's legend centres around seven contentious sons of Nunuk Ragang Chief of Tompios, who coveted a mystical stone called Pa'pakang. But only one wins - Aki Lintobon, the youngest son, who succeeded in retrieving it from the river bottom. Being covetous, the brothers fought for ownership of the stone.

Continue reading at: Sabah Fest 2011: Cultural extravaganza in store
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