(16th November 2021)

Hi. My name is Atalia Mae Albert Jaua. I am 20 years old this year. I am originally from Penampang, Sabah but currently staying in Putrajaya. I am a student at UiTM, Shah Alam.

            During last Kaamatan, I had a chance to go back to Sabah, my hometown in April. I did a swab test and all before going back to Sabah. So basically, I spent my Kaamatan which is in May in Sabah. I stayed with my grandmother, cousin and uncle. What we did during the last Kaamatan was, we just gathered around with our closest family because at that time the COVID-19 situation was still very bad, but then we were all near each other, like only few houses away. So, we just got together and ate. My grandmother taught my cousin and I (on) how to make ambuyat, or nantung (from the interior trunk of the sago palm). The dish ambuyat is the general name of the famous dish known to Sarawak, Sabah and even Brunei. Growing up, my grandmother introduced the dish to me as nantung, which is probably the name of the dish for the Kadazan Penampang. My grandmother taught my cousin and I how to make both nantung and hinava (pickled raw fish in lime juice). We then took pictures together in traditional costumes at home.

            Having spent time together with family this year was memorable. I believe it was better than what we have experienced during the previous years of Kaamatan. The previous year (2020), I was busy with my school work, and since I run an organisation called Komuhakan (Youth in the local language) so, we tried to make a video, giving greetings to everyone (and wishing Happy Kaamatan) and made articles about Kaamatan – yeah, that’s how I celebrated for the last Kaamatan.

 

(Different experience before and within the pandemic?)

The only difference is that in the previous Kaamatan (before pandemic), I went back to Sabah as usual, but I also went to celebrate at the KDCA building, a place where Kaamatan is annually held, ada makan-makan (there’s food there) and Unduk Ngadau (cultural beauty pageant). I went there to makan (eat) and hang out with my friends. Besides that, I would say it is still feeling the same – spending time with my family at home. (Although) I would go to the big celebration (at the KDCA) in previous years, I prefer to be there for only few hours and (then) go back (home). But still, I feel sad because I want to experience that (again at the KDCA).

 

(Is Kaamatan only celebrated in the KDCA building, or is it also celebrated on a smaller scale/ in villages?)

The main event one is located at the KDCA. Kaamatan is also celebrated in each district, let say, if I am from Penampang, there will be an early celebration. They had planned the celebration at the district level earlier than the main event, which takes place on the 30^th and 31^st. There is also a small Sabahan community in Putrajaya (who choose not to go back home to Sabah during the celebration). We will gather and makan-makan (have some food).

 

(How do you feel about the online celebration held by the KDCA?)

Yes, I forgot to mention about the online celebration through Facebook. I watched as well, but it doesn’t feel the same – I felt kind of lazy to watch it and just briefly watched to only know about winners of the Unduk Ngadau and Sugandoi. It doesn’t feel the same, I would say it was less merry than previous years. From my experience, even before this, when I attended the celebration at the KDCA, I never entered the main building (where the VVIP did the launching ceremony) because I knew there would be a lot of people, and I just stayed outside. I never experience the live version of it; instead, I watched videos and photos of what happened in the main building online (through online news).

 

(Can you describe your activities during Kaamatan (before the pandemic)?)

Since the KDCA building opens to public in a month during May, I would ask my friends or my family members to go there. In the morning, the first thing we would do is to find food (stalls in the KDCA compound). After that, we would look around for accessories and clothes. We took pictures together. We enjoyed performances, dances, traditional games. After three to four hours of walking around, we go back home. At home, I spent time with family – eating, listening to music, keeping updated news with the Unduk Ngadau winners’ results of Top 20 or Top 50. Then, I rest a bit. Actually, it feels the same as my normal holiday. For me, the Kaamatan is a festival that we can visit each other. Later in the evening, my uncles’ families invited us to their houses – we would be eating, chatting and singing karaoke.

 

(Then, how was your Kaamatan last May (2020)?)

It was limited. The night before, my family bought groceries so, we prepared food in the morning. I learned cooking, we gathered around and then we ate together, chatting with each other. At that time, around 10 family members were there (visiting us) – we took pictures. After that they went back, because it was very limited [Atalia was referring to the SOP imposed during the celebration that restricts gathering for an extended period of time, and the family was being cautious during the pandemic]. In the evening, we did our own thing. I briefly watched the Unduk Ngadau, but it’s not like I had spent 24 hours in front of my laptop screen. After the Kaamatan, I delayed my plans to go back to Putrajaya for another five months - I arrived in Sabah in April and then I returned back here in Putrajaya in October.

 

(How do you see your identity as a Kadazan during this celebration? What is your own reflection during Kaamatan?)

Every Kaamatan, I was thinking ... If we follow the answers in the textbooks, we have to strengthen our identity, remember back (our ancestors) and history and this and that … that’s how I have been thinking at the back of my mind. But then, in the current context, my first excuse (for this Kaamatan) is to go back to my hometown, Sabah. Then, I’ll meet my friends and family, which is also what Kaamatan is about – it’s a reconciliation, it’s part of the spirit of Kaamatan like what has been told in the myth of harvesting paddies. Within my family circle, I also learned cooking, speaking Kadazan language. But for me, learning my culture does not specifically occur during the Kaamatan; I continuously improve myself throughout the year, throughout my life.

 

(What is your view of Sabahan leaders attempts to bring Kaamatan online?)

There must be some efforts to maintain the celebration even though through online. They should maintain the Unduk Ngadau and Sugandoi competition. It’s good that they always find ways to continue it, because if, in two to three years straight, we go without Kaamatan, it would be dangerous. Maybe, for the adult generations, they would feel fine without it but for the younger generations, they should feel the celebration. Without the Kaamatan, people might feel a bit of culture shock, they would forget about the celebration. I think it’s a good effort.

 

(Do you feel the online Kaamatan was authentic enough/objectified culture? Do you feel the online celebration should be maintain in the future?)

I think their intention and effort to sustain the celebration was good and they’re not wanting to show off, but then I think I have a mixed feeling ... some says it’s not authentic because it is a new thing (doing via online). They cannot please everyone. (However) I think they tried their best to satisfy everyone. In the current situation, people use social media a lot. So, moving to online platform is not a bad idea. I myself always broadcast my love for Kaamatan and my culture on social media since I was in secondary school until now. I would always make efforts to go back to Sabah even though there is no big celebration in the month of May.