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Kadazan-Dusun

Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience

Joanna Datuk Kitingan with traditional Dusun priests during a cultural celebration in Sabah.

The Kadazandusun people are an ethnic group from Sabah, Malaysia. They are made up of the closely related indigenous Kadazan and Dusun peoples and are the largest group in Sabah. They mainly live in areas such as Kudat Division, West Coast Division, and Interior Division, as well as parts of Sandakan Division and Tawau Division.

Traditionally, the Kadazandusun are farmers who celebrate the annual Kaamatan festival to honor the spirit of rice. Their main leader is called the Huguan Siou, meaning "brave leader." Many Kadazandusun now follow Christianity or Islam, but they once had a traditional religion called Momolianism.

The Kadazandusun call themselves Mamasok and Momogun, meaning "indigenous people" and "people of the land" respectively. They are recognized as an indigenous nation of Borneo, with their heritage documented by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 2004. As part of the bumiputera in Malaysia, they have special rights related to land, rivers, education, and their own customs.

Etymology

The name "Kadazan" is used by the Tangara/Tangaa’ tribe along the west coast of Sabah, Malaysia, to describe themselves. Other tribes living farther inland call themselves "Dusun."

Historically, rulers from Brunei called them "Orang Dusun," meaning "orchard people." British colonial leaders later used "Dusun" for many tribes in the area.

Over time, tribes along the west coast, like the Tangaa’, began calling themselves “Kadazan,” meaning “people of the land.” In the 1980s, leaders tried to unify these groups. In 1989, they created the term “Kadazandusun” to include both Kadazan and Dusun people, helping to bring the community together.

Origins of the term 'Kadazan'

The exact origin of the name "Kadazan" is not clearly known. Some local people believe it came from words like "kakadazan," meaning towns, or "kadai," meaning shops. This idea suggests the name might have described people living near shops or in towns. This explanation comes from a Tangaa' dialect and was discussed by Richard Francis Tunggolou. However, records show the term was used even before the 1950s. In 1929, Owen Rutter noted that some Dusun people called themselves "Kadazan," especially in areas like Papar.

Origins of the term 'Dusun'

The Dusun people do not call themselves 'Dusun'; this name was given to them by others. The word "Dusun" means "farm" or "orchard" in the Malay language. It is believed that the term 'Orang Dusun' was used by the Sultan of Brunei, a leader from Malay culture, to describe the farming communities living in the inland areas of what is now Sabah.

Genetic relatedness

Scientists looked at the genes of people from Northern Borneo, such as the Sonsogon, Rungus, Lingkabau, and Murut groups. They found these groups are closely related to people from Taiwan, like the Ami and Atayal, and to some groups in the Philippines, such as the Visayan, Tagalog, Ilocano, and Minanubu. They are not as closely related to other groups living in different parts of Borneo.

Origins of the Kadazandusun people

Some people have thought the Kadazandusun people might come from China or be related to the Bunun tribe in Taiwan. But studies have shown these ideas are not true.

Scientists studied DNA and found the Kadazandusun people have many different DNA groups. One group, called Haplogroup M, was found most often. These DNA groups show that the Kadazandusun have been in Sabah and Borneo for a very long time.

They also studied DNA and found another group, called O2-P31, which is very old—about 34,100 years. This helps show that the Kadazandusun people have lived in Sabah and Borneo for thousands of years and are one of the original groups in Southeast Asia.

Culture and society

Religion

Most Kadazandusuns are Christians, mainly Roman Catholics and some Protestants. Islam is also practised by a growing minority.

Harvest Festival

Main article: Kaamatan

The Harvest Festival, or Pesta Kaamatan, is an annual celebration for Kadazandusun people in Sabah. It lasts for a month, from May 1 to May 31, with big celebrations on May 30 and 31. Today, it includes beauty pageants, singing competitions, food stalls, and cultural performances.

In the past, Kaamatan was a way to thank ancient gods for good harvests. Now, people still celebrate Kaamatan to honour their ancestors and spend time with family.

Food

Traditional foods include hinava (sourced fish), pork soup, lihing (rice wine), and chicken soup.

Traditional costumes

The traditional Kadazandusun costume is called Koubasanan, made from black velvet with beads, flowers, buttons, golden laces, and special embroidery. The design varies by region.

Traditional dance

The Sumazau dance is a traditional Kadazandusun dance usually performed by a pair of men and women in traditional costumes. It is accompanied by gongs. The dance includes arm and foot movements that mimic a flying bird.

Traditional music

Kadazandusun traditional music uses instruments like the bamboo flute, sompoton, togunggak, gong, and kulintangan.

Traditional handicrafts

Kadazandusun people make handicrafts from natural materials like bamboo, rattan, and wood.

Headhunting

The Kadazandusun people, along with the Rungus and the Murut, had some old traditions. These traditions included special rituals and beliefs to protect homes and places. For example, they believed certain items could guard houses from harm. They also had customs for new bridges to keep the water spirit, called tambaig, peaceful. Today, these old practices have stopped, and they are no longer part of life for the Kadazandusun. Some stories say a few remote groups might still follow these traditions, but there is no proof of this.

The Kadazandusun used various tools and weapons in the past, such as Ilang, sakuit/mandau machetes, gayang swords, tandus/adus spears, and wood as shields.

Kadazandusun languages

Kadazandusun people speak Dusunic languages. These languages are part of the Austronesian language family. People mainly use them in the northern part of Borneo.

EnglishKadazanDusun
What is your name?Isai ngaan nu?Isai ngaran nu?
My name is JohnNgaan ku nopo nga i John.Ngaran ku nopo nga i John.
How are you?Onu abal nu?Nunu kabar nu?
I am fine.Noikot vinasi.Osonong kopio.
Where is Mary?Nombo zi Mary?Nonggo i Mary?
Thank youKotohuadanPounsikou/Kotoluadan
How much is this?Pio hoogo/gatang diti?Piro gatang diti?
I don't understandAu zou kalatiAu oku karati.
I miss youHangadon zou diauLangadon oku dika
Do you speak English?Koiho ko moboos do Onggilis?Koilo ko mimboros do Inggilis?
Where are you from?Nombo o nontodonon nu?Honggo tadon nu?
RiverBavangBawang

Notable people

Here are some well-known people from the Kadazan-Dusun community:

Related articles

Malaysia
Sabah
Indigenous peoples
Interior Division
Borneo
China

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Kadazan-Dusun, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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