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SABAH 2

The largest group, the Kadazandusun, live on the west coast and in the interior. They are one of the first groups you'll come into contact with, especially if you're in town during their Pesta Kaamatan, or harvest festival, held during May, where the high priest or priestess presides over a ceremony designed to appease the rice spirit. Although it's a Kadazandusun tradition, it is celebrated by all.
Cultures in the state. While this group is the main agricultural producer of the state, these days most members hold everyday jobs and live in cities. The exception to this trend is the Runggus, the last group of Kadazandusun to live in a traditional longhouse community, where they're famous for exquisite basket weaving, fabric weaving, and beadwork.

The Bajau migrated from the Philippines. On the eastern coast of Sabah, these people live their lives as sea gypsies, coming to shore only for burials. On the west coast, they live on land as farmers and cattle raisers. Known as the cowboys of the east, their men are very skilled equestrians, and are usually pictured on horseback. During festivals, their brilliant costumes and decorated ponies almost always take center stage.

The third most prominent tribal group, the Murut, shares the southwest corner of Sabah with the Bajau. Skilled hunters, they use spears, blowpipes, poisoned darts, and trained dogs to hunt their prey. In past days, these skills were used for headhunting, which thankfully is not practiced today (although many skulls can still be seen during visits to their longhouse settlements). One nonlethal Murat tradition involves a trampoline competition. The lansaran (the trampoline itself), situated in the community longhouse, is made of split bamboo. During Murut ceremonies, contestants drink rice wine and jump on the trampoline to see who can reach the farthest. A prize is hung above for the winner to grab.
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