PAGINATAN: The younger generation needs to understand that Kaamatan is more than just a month of entertainment and public holidays, said State Assemblyman for Paginatan Datuk Rusdin Riman.
He said, this profound reminder serves as the heartbeat of this year’s harvest celebrations in the highlands of Ranau. For him, Kaamatan is not merely an annual event but an “open cultural classroom”—a vital institution of life designed to preserve the identity of the Dusun community amidst the rapid currents of modernity.
Rusdin, a native of Ranau who rose from a career in senior civil service to become a key political figure, emphasizes that the true essence of Kaamatan lies in its roots.
The word itself originates from the Dusun root omot, meaning “to harvest.” However, he stresses that its significance transcends the physical act of gathering crops.
It is a collective memory and a symbol of identity that must be passed down to the Sukod Wagu (the next generation) to prevent the festival from eventually becoming an “empty shell.”
To ensure this continuity, he advocates for a hands-on approach to heritage. He encourages parents to bring their children down to the paddy fields, allowing them to feel the mud and understand the hardship of planting seedlings.
This environment, he explains, teaches children to live inclusively, build empathy, and help one another regardless of age or background. “If we fail to teach them the value of hardship and brotherhood today, the true meaning of Kaamatan will be lost,” he warns.
This theme of education through experience extends to the traditional activities held during the festival. Each event carries a specific moral philosophy: tug-of-war represents mitatabang (cooperation), milokod symbolizes piobpinaian (brotherhood), and Sugandoi reflects kointutunan (identity).
Even the Kinomulok Nunuk Ragang is more than a beauty pageant; it is a platform to honor grace, wisdom, and the mastery of the mother tongue, encouraging youth to reclaim their cultural roots.
Beyond its educational value, Kaamatan remains a powerful bridge for social unity. In Paginatan, the proverb “Misompuru miiso ginawo” (united in heart and spirit) is a lived reality.
During the season, Muslim and Christian communities work side-by-side to prepare traditional delicacies like linapot and hinava. At the dining table, racial and religious lines vanish.
“We celebrate our shared humanity,” Rusdin says, noting that the festival effectively breaks down prejudices and strengthens the social fabric of Sabah.
The festival also serves as a micro-economic catalyst, proving that traditional culture has high commercial value when managed authentically. The surge in demand for traditional attire, Rinugading weaving, and instruments like the sompoton provides vital income for local artisans.
Furthermore, the temporary markets (tamu) act as social training grounds where children learn communication and marketing skills by interacting with tourists from across the globe.
Ultimately, Rusdin said, Kaamatan in Paginatan is a celebration of gratitude—not just for the harvest, but for the resilience of a culture that continues to adapt.
Whether it is a young professional returning from the city to give thanks for a successful career or a child learning the rhythm of the gong, the spirit of Kaamatan remains the same.
“It is a testament to a heritage that is very much alive, rooted in the soil of the past but flourishing in the hearts of the future,” he said.
