Tombonuos keep their culture alive
VILLAGE chief Suana Kabora has a mission in his life -- to preserve the identity of the minority Tombonuo ethnic group in Sabah.
A replica of a traditional Tombonuo house erected at Dataran Bengkoka, Pitas. Pix by Kristy Inus
With an estimated population of about 30,000, the Tombonuos are mainly concentrated in far flung Pitas district, about 180km north of here, but many of them are either ignorant or unsure of who they really are.
Rubber tapper, Suana, 53, got involved in documenting and researching his community over the last 25 years when he realised not many people knew of their existence.
"It was while attending a course organised by the Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry when I realised this."
Suana teaches the younger generation of the community's unique yet eerie Sumanggak dance and music normally performed at funerals.
His effort started small, from his home at Kampung Tambilidon, but soon it began spreading to other villages in the district as well as other districts such as Beluran and Kota Marudu.
Sumanggak performances were soon introduced in festivals, gatherings or functions. The performers also got to display their colourful costumes.
According to historical records, the Tombonuo is one of 10 sub-ethnic groups of the Paitanic or Orang Sungai people. All these come under the Kadazandusun race.
Suana said the name Tombonuo came from the Suluk word of tua benua, which means the original people.
He believed most of the community originated from the banks of Sungai Paitan, which flows from Pitas to Beluran.
Traditionally, the Tombonuo people were pagans or animists but many of them have embraced Islam or Christianity, one of the main reasons why its culture and traditions are gradually fading among the younger generation.
The Tombonuo People of Pitas Sabah Association president Akian Ahkiew, agreed that it was now crucial more than ever to start collecting reference materials and conduct studies on their traditions.
Akian, a businessman, said the main challenge now was preserving the culture and language.
A traditional skirt is also adorned with plant motifs.
The association is now working with the Kadazandusun Cultural Association in collecting information and publishing books related to the community.
"When both parents no longer speak their mother tongue and the children grow up with the national language, the culture is at risk of facing oblivion," he added.
Mariah Doksil, 28, one of the few Tombonuos who made it good after moving here, said being isolated has kept some of these communities intact with their traditions and cultures. However, they realise that they, too, have to keep abreast with the world and the key here is education.
"We want our people to be well educated and develop their economies in order not to be left behind. In return, the current generation must realise their role in preserving their heritage and not to lose their identity.
"We cannot help moving forward with globalisation and developments and all, but we should save whatever we have now."
Hopefully the Tombonuos ethnic culture will be passed down from generation to generation. Its a shame to see that many younger generation no longer speak their mother tongue and the culture is slowly getting extinct.
BalasPadamMemang sayang kerana anak-anak muda sekarang dah semakin melupakan warisan mereka.
PadamWhile moving forward with globalization, we should ensure that we do not lose our identities. Hope that there are efforts to promote the culture.
BalasPadamBetul itu. Tak salah hanyut dalam arus globalisasi cuma pastikan dalam masa yang sama culture tetap terpelihara.
PadamSetuju, kita tidak wajar melupakan budaya dan warisan kita walaupun dunia semakin membangun.
PadamSemoga bangsa dan warisan Tombonuos dapat dikekalkan.
BalasPadamDiharapkan Kementerian Pelancongan dan Budaya akan membantu mempromosikan Budaya etnik Tombonuo kepada orang ramai supaya ia tidak akan pupus.
PadamGenerasi muda sekarang ramai yang kurang fasih bertutur dalam bahasa ibunda mereka. Masalah ini harus diatasi dari awal, bermula dengan peranan ibu bapa dalam membiasakan anak mereka bertutur dalam bahasa ibunda.
BalasPadamLebih ramai generasi muda yang mengagungkan bahasa asing dari bahasa ibunda. Pergaulan juga salah satu puncanya bahasa ibunda kian terhakis.
PadamJangan lupa ada juga parents yang tak tahu bercakap bahasa ibunda, jadi macam mana anak @ generasi muda nak fasih bahasa ibunda? huhu
PadamMungkin kaum Tombonuo pun mempunyai pesta/perayaan tradisi mereka. Boleh juga jadi salah satu tarikan pelancong seperti pesta kaamatan dan pesta kalimaran.
BalasPadamYa jadi dengan cara ini, kaum ini secara automatik semakin dikenali:)
PadamMariah Doksil??? Macam kenal dengan nama ni pula.
BalasPadamSemoga warisan budaya Tombonuo kekal dipelihara dan sebaiknya diperkenalkan kepada umum supaya lebih ramai lagi yang tahu perkara ini.
BalasPadamJarang sudah kita nampak rumah2 tradisi seperti tu lagi.Jadi memang patut dijaga suapaya generasi akan datang dapat melihatnya.
BalasPadamKebanggan etnik di Sabah harus dilindungi
BalasPadambudaya dan warisan kita harus dipertahankan, jgn biarkan ia ditelan zaman.
BalasPadamIdentiti tidak akan terpadam jika warisan sentiasa dipelihara.
BalasPadampilihara la ia sebelum pupus.
BalasPadamSetiap Etnik di Sabah sememangnya perlulah mengekalkan dan memperkenalkan kebudayaan mereka yang menarik kepada umum.
BalasPadamtidak ada kaum lain yang boleh menjaga budaya kaum lain.. kaum itu sendiri perlu berusaha menjaga budaya mereka agar tidak pupus ditelan zaman..
BalasPadamIn the Global arena, Malaysia, with its credentials of preserving cultural heritage in the country, is keen to take this to the world level.
BalasPadamDeputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Malaysia had many trained experts in the field of archaeological, natural and cultural heritage protection and management.
BalasPadamSuch expertise could be tapped to improve the protection of the world's cultural heritage, he said when addressing the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) executive board meeting.
BalasPadamOffering to play a more important role as a member of the World Heritage Committee if elected this year, Muhyiddin said Malaysia had been actively promoting and preserving its natural and cultural heritage, as mandated by its National Heritage Act.
BalasPadamApart from that, Malaysia had earned the Unesco Memory of the World recognition, World Heritage Site inscriptions and is also on the register of the representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention, 2003.
BalasPadamMuhyiddin commended Unesco's commitment to the preservation of world heritage and shared its view that joint responsibility is required to ensure heritage sites are protected and sustained as a symbol of peace, dialogue and reconciliation.
BalasPadamMalaysia, therefore, is keen to offer its services towards the protection and preservation of the world's cultural heritage for the betterment of our future generation.
BalasPadamOn Unessco's Education for All campaign, Muhyiddin, who is Education Minister, reiterated Malaysia's support of its efforts to widen access to quality education.
BalasPadamHe told the meeting that quality education was a key element in its Government Transformation Programme.
BalasPadamHe added that under its National Key Result Areas (NKRAs) for education, Malaysia was increasing the pre-school enrolment rate, enhancing student literacy and numeric skills, creating high performance schools and providing incentives for excellent school leaders and teachers to improve teaching quality.
BalasPadam