Sabah Ethnic Culture

Multi-racial Malaysia has over 22 million inhabitants today. Made up of three main racial groups that are Malay, Chinese and Indian , minority groups like Sikh, Punjabi, along with other aboriginal groups indigeneous to the country, Malaysians live in unity despite its diversity. This living harmony has long been the nation's pride, glory and identity.

Reflecting the multiracial population, languages spoken are also varied with the most widely spoken ones are Bahasa Malaysia, the national language, and English, its second language. Other languages are Tamil and Mandarin with spoken dialects such as Hokkien, Hakka, Teow Chew and Cantonese.


Kadazan/Dusun
A third of the Sabah's population is made up of the Kadazan/Dusun ethnic. The people are mostly concentrated on the West Coast of Sabah. As agricultural people, they have many beliefs unique to themselves. As their main source of income is rice production, their spiritual beliefs also are intimately linked to these activities. Among the rituals are rice-planting and harvesting with a female priestesses ethnically known as 'bobohizan'. Within the Kadazan/Dusun people too, there are subgroups such as the Rungus, Lotud, Tambanuo, Kimarangan, Sanayou, Minokok and Tenggera.


Bajau
There are two sides of story to that of the Bajau people, those living on the west coast and the ones from the east coast. In fact, these Bajaus portray difference in terms of linguistic and culture. The Bajaus in the west make a living through farming and other agricultural domain. They are renowned 'horsemen' who rear farm animals like buffaloes, ponies and cattles. Not only are they reared to help with the farmwork, these animals are also traded for income at the Kota Belud market called 'Tamu' every Sunday. Respectively, for the ones residing in the east coast of the state, their activity is completely different. They are fishermen by nature and nurture. Known to be 'Sea Gypsies', these Bajaus spent most of their lives seafaring. They ride and face the storm fearlessly, and usually come home only to bury the dead.


Murut
Ever heard about the headhunters? They are the Muruts. You will encounter them in the South West part of the state. They are centred deep between the town of Keningau and the borders of Indonesia and Sarawak. Today, many of them still dwell in longhouses. Although the era of headhunting has long passed, they remain great hunters with fascinating skills when using blowpipes, spears and poisoned darts. Murut, nevertheless, consists of several tribes which include the Nabai, Peluan, Bokan, Tagal and Timogun.

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