Sabah’s Kaamatan goes online – and global

 

Among the highlights of the Kaamatan festival is the Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant. This year, it will be held virtually, reaching a global audience. (Bernama pic)

KOTA KINABALU: With the pandemic still wreaking havoc, the annual Kaamatan or Harvest Festival will be held online this year – and it has turned out to be a huge blessing, with Sabah being able to showcase its famous celebration to the world.

Last year’s Kaamatan, one of the many unique cultural festivals in the country, was scrapped due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases throughout the nation.

Deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan said the virus would not halt this year’s much-awaited month-long festival, which starts annually on May 1.

Kitingan, who is also the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association deputy president, said this year’s state-level celebration would be held virtually, allowing people around the globe to access what the festival, and Sabah, has to offer.

The proceedings will be held in accordance with the new norms and strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) by the government to curb the spread of Covid-19.

“Since we are going global, this is our opportunity to really show to the world our culture. It is going to be a fully digital celebration and we must be careful with what we want to show and project to the world,” he said in a statement.

“There are many benefits to this. We can take this opportunity to promote our culture, tourism, investment and trade prospects, education, technology and at the same time, promote peace.

“We have to create the best impression of our culture. So, we need to discuss how and what to share with the global audience.”

The organising committee, chaired by Kitingan, has decided that this year’s theme will be Kaamatan Aiso Wolit Montok Piompunan om Pibabasan, meaning: A borderless Kaamatan for reconciliation and peace.

“We felt that this theme is appropriate for this year after all that has happened, especially because of Covid-19,” Kitingan said.

He said the opening and closing ceremonies would be held at the Hongkod Koisaan in Penampang near here, the traditional venue for the festival, and would be broadcast online.

However, he said all the districts would hold their own district-level Kaamatan celebration, with strict SOPs.

“There is also a possibility that the situation might change in May that would enable us to hold the festival both online and offline, and the people can physically join in,” he said.

The Sugandoi singing competition and the Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant will also be held virtually.

Meanwhile, Kitingan said Malaysians, especially Sabahans, should be the priority and the main spectators of the celebration. He therefore hoped TV stations would broadcast the full programme.

He said this was because many Sabahans still did not have reliable internet connection to watch the festival online. - FMT