Kaamatan
Next: May 30, 2027
Thanks for every grain.
The story
Where it comes from
Kaamatan is the harvest festival of the Kadazandusun and other native peoples of Sabah, in Malaysian Borneo. Its story is a sacrifice: when the people faced hunger, the creator Kinoingan gave up his only daughter, Huminodun. From her body grew rice and other crops, and her spirit became Bambarayon, the spirit of rice. Kaamatan thanks Kinoingan for the harvest and honours Huminodun's act of love. The festival month begins on 1 May in a chosen district and ends with a two-day finale on 30 and 31 May.
How it's celebrated
After the harvest, a bobolian, a traditional priestess, leads the Magavau ritual, chanting to call the scattered rice spirit home. The finale at the Hongkod Koisaan cultural centre in Penampang brings Sumazau dancing, the Sugandoi singing contest and, on 31 May, the crowning of the Unduk Ngadau, a harvest queen chosen for Huminodun's grace and kindness. Many people come in their community's finest traditional dress.
Did you know
- Magavau means 'to recover' in the Kadazandusun language, because the ritual gathers back the rice spirit scattered during harvesting.
- In the ritual the rice spirit is represented by the Toguruon, seven ears of paddy raised on a bamboo pole.
- The Sugandoi contest grew from Monugandoi, the old harvest custom of trading witty songs, riddles and songs of praise.
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