Traditional dances of Sabah
Najjua Zulkefli
Updated 6 years ago ·
Published on 25 Oct 2017 10:00AM ·
CLOTHES, food, dances and language make the people. And in Sabah, there around 32 ethnic groups. Here are some of them.
Experts believe that in ancient times, the Sabah indigenous communities, especially the Kadazandusun Murut, did not have the knowledge on how to dye their costumes. Black makes up most of their clothing. They believe the colour gives them some sort of protection against evil spirits.
Colour eventually came from the Filipinos’ influence, who were more advanced in terms of textile. The Filipino descendants like the Bajau may have learnt how to dye clothes from the Spanish, the colonial masters of the Philippines from 1521 to 1898. – October 25, 2017.
A dancer in a Murut traditional costume performing at the Creative Ethnic Dance competition in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 25, 2017.
Dancers in Murut ethnic traditional outfits preparing backstage before the start of the Creative Ethnic Dance competition in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 25, 2017.
A dancer in a Bajau traditional costume grooming backstage prior to the Creative Ethnic Dance competition in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 25, 2017.
A dancer in a Bajau traditional costume waiting backstage at the Creative Ethnic Dance competition in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 25, 2017.
Dancers in Bajau Samah traditional costume preparing backstage at the Creative Ethnic Dance competition in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 25, 2017.
A dancer having her make up done backstage before the start of the Creative Ethnic Dance competition in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 25, 2017.
Dancers in Bajau traditional costume getting ready to perform at the Creative Ethnic Dance competition in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 25, 2017.
Dancers in Bisaya traditional costumes preparing backstage at the Creative Ethnic Dance competition in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 25, 2017.
Young dancers in Bajau traditional costumes waiting for their turn at the Creative Ethnic Dance competition in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 25, 2017.
Dancers in Murut traditional costumes waiting to perform at the Creative Ethnic Dance competition in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 25, 2017.
Dancers wearing Bajau Samah ethnic traditional costume perform during Sabah's Creative Ethnic Dance competition in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Malaysia's Borneo state of Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 25, 2017.
Spectators taking shelter from the rain as they watch a performance during the Creative Ethnic Dance competition in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 25, 2017.
Dancers in Bajau Suluk traditional costumes in action during the Creative Ethnic Dance competition in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 25, 2017.
Dancers in Bajau traditional costumes posing for photograph at the Creative Ethnic Dance competition in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 25, 2017.
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