Make your Kaamatan different by celebrating it with Kadaiku™! Known as an exuberant festival that celebrates the unity of Kadazandusun culture, here are a few must-haves for you to make your Kaamatan celebration this year merrier!
- Lihing
Lihing Nilyn is a family-made Kadazandusun traditional rice wine of Sabah. Lihing is a staple in most kitchens and at celebrations, particularly during weddings and during the Harvest Festival.
You can find this beautifully packaged rice wine at Kadaiku™ and enjoy it as an alcoholic beverage or to spice up a cocktail. Lihing is also ideal for adding zest to a savoury dish. Purchase a bottle or two as a gift and enjoy a traditional taste of Sabah.
- Himpogot and Tangkong
Himpogot and Tangkong are usually worn on the hips worn as belts as a part of the female Kadazandusun traditional costume. They are usually worn during grand celebration such as Kaamatan and even during weddings.
The Himpogot is made up of silver coins chained together and are usually antique family heirlooms which a mother hands down to her daughters. While the Tangkong is made of brass rings which are looped through thin strips of rattan.
- Sigah
The Sigah is a traditional ceremonial headgear where the various foldings and shapes represent different ethnic communities. The cloth is called Kain Dastar and the tapestry is handwoven by the Iranun people of Kota Belud, Sabah. Kadaiku™’s Dastar tapestry collection has always gained much attention for its meticulous design of striking colours interweaved with gold metallic threads.
- Musical Instruments (Bungkau, Suling, Gong, Sompoton)
Bring the sounds of Sabah home with you with Kadaiku™’s collection of traditional musical instruments ranging from the sweet whistles of the Suling and Sompoton, to the deep vibrations of the Gongs.
- Bungkau
This jaw harp is made from the outer skin of a palm known as polod among the Kadazandusun community. The lamella in the centre is meant to vibrate by striking the end of the instrument with the thumb. The vibrating strip makes very little sound by itself, but if held before the opened mouth, the player can gently magnify the sound by resonance.
- Suling
This bamboo musical instrument hails from Tambunan, Sabah. Originally, the suling was often played when there was a death in the community as it represents the cries of a woman mourning her loved one. The suling makes an ideal gift for music-loving friends and families back home.
- Gong
The gong is undoubtedly the backbone of most traditional musical ensembles in Sabah. The unmistakable boom of the gong is often heard resounding in the air during festivities, namely the Harvest Festival, weddings, birthdays and other cultural celebrations.
- Sompoton
The Sompoton is a traditional music instrument made by the Kadazandusun community of Tambunan, Sabah. The instrument’s name closely derives from the word miampot, which means in unison. By blowing or sucking the mouthpiece, the player can produce soft sweet harmonies. It is made of a double raft of eight bamboo pipes inserted into a dried gourd.
