KADAZANDUSUN ROOT
Kadazan-Dusun (also written as Kadazandusun) is the term assigned to the unification of the classification of two indigenous tribes in Sabah, Malaysia—the ethnic groupsKadazan and Dusun. This is the largest ethnic category in Sabah and is predominantly wet rice and hill rice cultivators. Their language belongs to the Dusunic family and shares a common animistic belief system with various customs and practices. Their ancient beliefs on the verity that everything has life - the rocks, trees, and rivers are all living things.
Murut group: Tagol Timugon Paluan Keningau Murut Baukan Tenggara of Ulu Kinabatangan,Sandakan Lun Dayeh Tidong Okolod,Selungai and Serundung Murut near Kalimantan
Orang Sungai group: Abai Sungai of Kuala Abai,Kinabatangan Sungoi Sungai of Beluran,Sandakan Tambanua Lingkabau Dumpas Dusun Ulu Kinabatangan(Rumanau/Tampias Lobu,Lanas Lobu,Lobu,Makiang,Kolobuan,Sinobu and Malapi)
They have souls and spirits that must be appeased from time to time through specific rituals. In these modern times, some of the rituals are less performed accept during certain festivities.
Customs & Beliefs
Pesta Kaamatan or Harvest Festival is a unique celebration of Kadazandusun society. It's a celebration to honour the Rice Spirit - Bambaazon or Bambarayon and giving thanks for yet another bountiful year. The festival begins on the first of May at many district levels. The rites and customs of the Pesta Kaamatan is a tribal practice of Kadazandusun and also Murut peoples. The Bobohizan or Bobolian who are the High Priests or Priestesses (depending on the district/area undertaking the preservation) will conduct the ritual. In different districts, the priests or priestesses may be addressed to differently, for instance in Tambunan district they are known as Bobolian, in Tuaran as Tantagas and in Penampang as Bobohizan.
It is believed that rice in whatever form embodies Bambaazon that must be protected from harm. The homecoming of Babaazon is an integral part of the Harvest Festival. Ancient folklore tells of the ultimate deed of Kinoingan or Minamagun - The Almighty God or Creator, who sacrificed his only beloved daughter, Huminodun so that his people would have food. Various parts of her body were planted from which plants grew. During the Magavau ceremony, the Bobohizan will select some stalks of rice that are left undistributed until the harvest is over. In some districts, the chosen stalks are cut before the field is harvested and are then brought into the owner's house. The task of Bobohizan is to search and salvage the lost Bambaazon who are hurt or separated from the main mystical body. In the old days, this ceremony was often performed in freshly harvested fields during the first full moon after the harvest to invoke the rice spirit.
The language used by Bobohizan is archaic whose meanings have been buried in time and known only to the few remaining Bobohizan these days. The vital aspect of Magavau is the paraphernalia used to summon Bambaazon. The sacrament of Magavau may vary according to district practices but the ceremony always ends with food offerings to Bambaazon and merry making for the village folks.
The highlight of Pesta Kaamatan is the selection of the pageant queen or "Unduk Ngadau" which can be literally translated as "Zenith of the Sun". It conceptually derives from the sacrifice of Huminodun. The maiden who has the honour of being selected should bear semblance to Huminodun and will represent all that is virtuous in the revered Huminodun.
| Total population |
|---|
| 538,168 a |
| Regions with significant populations |
 Malaysia: Sabah |
| Languages |
| Religion |
Christianity (majority), Islam, Animism |
| Related ethnic groups |
| Footnotes |
| a Yearbook of Statistics: Sabah, 2002 |
Kadazandusun is the collective name for more than 40 sub-ethnic groups which can be divided to three main groups:the Kadazan/Dusun,Murut and Orang Sungai.
Kadazan/Dusun group: Central Dusun(Bundu-Liwan of Ranau,Tambunan,Keningau and Papar that is the largest Dusun,Tindal of Kota Belud,Tuaran and Tamparuli,Sinulihan of Kiulu,Penampang,Inanam,Menggatal and Telipok,Tagahas of Ulu Papar in Penampang and Papar interior and in western Tambunan,Tuhawon of Kg. Tikolod,Tambunan,Tolinting of Kg. Tolinting,Ranau, and Tibabar of Kg. Tibabar,Tambunan)
Kimaragang Dusun(Tobilung,Tagas,Talantang/Tandek/Maragang,Sandayoh,Sonsogon,Sukang and Tagaro) Kadazan/Tangarah/Tangaa'(Kadazan Penampang,Kadazan Papar) Kadazandusunusun of Klias that is Tatanah,Tutung and Kadazan of Membakut,and Bisaya Dusun Lotud of Tuaran Rungus of KUdat,Langkon(Kota Marudu) and Pitas Dusun Kwijau/Kuriyou/Kuyau of Ulu Monsok and Bingkor Keningau Dusun Gana of Bingkor,Keningau Dusun Bonggi of Pulau Banggi,Kudat Dusun Minokok of Ulu Kinabatangan Dusun Mangkaa'k of Beluran Dusun Pingas of Ulu Kinabatangan
Murut group: Tagol Timugon Paluan Keningau Murut Baukan Tenggara of Ulu Kinabatangan,Sandakan Lun Dayeh Tidong Okolod,Selungai and Serundung Murut near Kalimantan
Orang Sungai group: Abai Sungai of Kuala Abai,Kinabatangan Sungoi Sungai of Beluran,Sandakan Tambanua Lingkabau Dumpas Dusun Ulu Kinabatangan(Rumanau/Tampias Lobu,Lanas Lobu,Lobu,Makiang,Kolobuan,Sinobu and Malapi)
The Kadazandusun ethnic group make up 1/3 of 3.2milion Sabah's population. 600,000 are the Central Dusun.
