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KAAMATAN AND COVID19: THE EFFECT OF THE PANDEMIC ON THE

KADAZANDUSUN CULTURAL FESTIVAL (SABAH, MALAYSIA)

WRITTEN BY: TRIXIE M TANGIT

This study focussed on how Malaysians are mitigating the problems brought about by the COVID19 pandemic, particularly in the area of
cultural celebrations. The impetus of this study is the decision of the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA), the main cultural
promotion body representing the Kadazandusun groups in the state of Sabah, to cancel the Kaamatan events for 2020, a celebration that
occurs yearly in the month of May for a duration of 3-days with extensive concurrent celebrations held at the village and district levels.
Using the case study of the Kaamatan, the nature of Kadazandusun people’s relationship with their cultural events was investigated to see if
the COVID19 pandemic had a lasting and permanent effect. Participant-observation, in depth interviews and netnography (#Kaamatan) were
methods used to obtain data capturing activities that Kadazandusun people engaged in during the 2021 Kaamatan festival given how direct
(face-to-face) participation in Kaamatan events was strictly prohibited. An online gallery of photos and videos from participants during the
Kaamatan lockdown were also collected and curated for an online gallery. This study shows how important festivals are in preserving culture
and communities with festival attendance a crucial act in generating and sustaining the social existence of the Kadazandusun people.