The 8th Sabah Fest: Discover a New Side of Malaysia

As I woke up this morning, it struck me with full force that March was tip toeing close and that means messy tax time! But once I’ve paid the tax man, it leaves me free to plan my summer vacation and that’s a cheerful thought! So cheerful, in fact, that I’ve already started planning and this year I think it will be a Malaysia trip. But oh! Not your typical run of the mill shopping/sightseeing kind of holiday; you’ll find me off the beaten track on the island of Borneo in Sabah discovering a new Malaysia.  

Truly enchanting - Sabah's beauty casts a spell on anyone who comes here!

Why Sabah? Sabah is a beautiful patchwork of different people and colourful cultures. But the most important reason for choosing Sabah over the others is the Sabah Fest; one of the most vibrant cultural festivals in Asia. The fest will be held in May from the 3^rd to 5^th so book your tickets and pick your hotel. Meanwhile, here’s everything you need to know about the festival.

Celebrating a Rainbow

Sabah is the second largest state in Malaysia and home to nearly 33 ethnic groups speaking even more dialects. Sabahans comprise Kadazandusun, Bajau and the Muruts among several other groups. Each one has its own customs, festivals and way of life melting together in a crucible of cultures that is distinctly Sabah. The Sabah Fest celebrates this harmony of diversities with 3 exciting days filled with music, dance, theatre & drama and recitals enthralling the crowds. The venue where nearly 400 performances are slated to take place is the auditorium at Kompleks JKKN Sabah in Kota Kinabalu.

Musical performance at Sabah Festival....

Sabah Fest is celebrated before the annual state-wide harvest festival – Pesta Kaamatan – in the first week of May. Based on a different theme every year; the 8^th edition of the fest will showcase the ethnic Murut people, their unique culture and rich heritage. Once known for their fierce headhunting practice, the Murut people are among the largest indigenous groups on the island. The fest will focus on the building of the critical North Borneo Railway that was designed by British engineer Arthur J. West with loads of help from a Murut man – Gounon. Through the fest you will be able to witness the building of Borneo’s oldest railway line and how it made an impact on the lives of the local people.

Photo Credit: udeyismail / Wikimedia

But that’s not all; the Fest also promotes traditional handicrafts and local art through fringe events, stalls at the venue and this will be a great place to buy some traditional Murut handicrafts like wood carvings – pick up decorative warrior shields and weapons or carved wooden mugs. Other worthy buys would be the beaded necklaces of the Rungut people, the Parang sword used by the Bajau, pottery, native hats and the colourful Tudung Duang (food covers) – a very typical Sabah craft.

Sabah Fest is a beautiful expression of the diverse ethnic cultures on a wide canvas. It offers you an opportunity to soak in the sights and sounds of the state’s rainbow culture. So make your Malaysia trip truly memorable and ditch the city lights for some local colour at the Sabah Fest!