Kadazan Dusun

The  Kadazan language  has adopted several loanwords, particularly from other northern Borneo indigenous languages and also Malay. There are claims that Penampang people speak Kadazan Tangaa' dialect while the Papar people generally speak Kadazan. The use of the language has been declining due to the use of Malay by the Malaysian federal government and by the use of English by missionaries, which was done through the method of language shift enforced by the work of both the colonial and federal governments. The state of Sabah has introduced policies to prevent this decline, which is also happening to other native Sabahan languages. This included the policy of using Kadazan and other indigenous languages in public schools. Efforts have also been done to allow the language to become official in the state. In an earlier 2005 Unesco’s report, the Kadazan-Dusun language was classified as an endangered language, spoken by a mere 300,000 people. The language has apparently joine...

The majority of the Kadazans are Christians, mainly  Roman Catholics [4]  and some  Protestants . [5]   Islam  is also practised by a growing minority. [6] [7] [8]

The Kadazans have also developed their own unique dance and music.  Sumazau  is the name of the dance between a male and female, performed by couples as well as groups of couples, which is usually accompanied by a symphony of handcrafted bronze gongs that are individually called  tagung . The  sompoton  is another musical instrument. A ceremonial ring of cloth sash is worn by both male and female. The  Sumazau  and gong accompaniment is typically performed during joyous ceremonies and occasions, the most common of which being wedding feasts. The Kadazan have a musical heritage consisting of various types of  tagung  ensembles  - ensembles composed of large hanging, suspended or held, bossed/knobbed  gongs  which act as drone without any accompanying melodic instrument. They also use  kulintangan ensembles  - ensembles with an horizontal-type melodic instrument. [2] [3] The late Chief Priestess Bobohizan, Bianti ...

Traditional Kadazan cuisine involves mostly boiling or grilling which employs little use of oil, and with locally unique modifications and nuances as well as particular usage of locally available ingredients, particularly  bamboo shoots ,  sago  and fresh water fish. From simple appetizers of unripe mango dressed with soy sauce and chili flakes to a variety of pickled foods collectively known as  noonsom , tangy and pungent flavours from souring agents or fermentation techniques is a key characteristic of traditional Kadazan cooking. One of the most well known Kadazan dishes is  hinava , which is similar in concept to the South American  ceviche . It is a salad made with pieces of raw fish marinated in citrus juice, ginger, onion and other ingredients like bitter gourd and grated dried  bambangan  seed which is similar in texture to desiccated coconut strands. This dish is sometimes served in certain Sabahan restaurants which do not otherwise h...

Kadazan culture is heavily influenced by the farming of rice, culminating in various delicacies and alcoholic drinks prepared through differing home-brewed fermentation processes.  To'omis  and  linutau  are the main rice wine variants served and consumed in Kadazan populated areas, and are a staple of Kadazan social gatherings and ceremonies. The most important festival of the Kadazans is the  Kaamatan  or harvest festival, where the spirit of the paddy is honoured after a year's harvest. This takes place in May, and the two last days of the month are public holidays throughout Sabah. During the celebration, the most celebrated event is the crowning of the  Unduk Ngadau , the harvest festival beauty queen. Young women of Kadazan, Dusun, Murut or Rungus descent from certain districts compete for this title. The beauty pageant is held to commemorate the spirit of Huminodun, a mythological character of unparalleled beauty said to have given her life i...

While it is widely believed that the term itself was a political derivative that came into existence in the late 1950s to early 1960s, no proper historical record exists pertaining to the origins of the term or its originator. However, an article by Richard Tunggolou [1]  may shed some light. According to Tunggolou, most of the explanations of the meanings and origins of the word ‘Kadazan’ assumed that the word was of recent origin, specifically in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Tunggolou further claimed that some people have theorised that the term originates from the word ‘kakadazan’ (towns) or ‘kedai’ (shops), and from the claim that Kadazan politicians such as the late Datuk Peter J. Mojuntin coined the term. However, there is evidence to suggest that the term has been used long before the 1950s.  Owen Rutter , in his book,  The Pagans Of North Borneo , published in 1929, wrote: “The Dusun usually describes himself generically as a tulun tindal (landsman) or, on t...