Sherry Anne Laujang crowned Penampang Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan (2016)

Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan is a beauty pageant unique to the state of Sabah and it is normally held during the closing ceremony of harvest festival celebrations. The picture above shows the final ten of the contestants after going through the preliminary round.


Unduk Ngadau hopefuls invite guests (VIPs in this case) to dance the Sumazau, traditional dance of the ethnic Kadazan


Reigning UNK 2015 making appearance for one last time before passing the baton to the next person.

Here are some of this year's participants:














From the 10 contestants in the second round, 7 were chosen after going through interview in their mother tongue








Last three standing...


...then down to two. 'Senyum dalam debaran' - waiting anxiously at the next words of the Emcee


...and she did it. Miss Sherry Anne waves to the cheering crowd as her name's announced as the winner.


"Congratulation!", says the out going UNK


Crowning by Penampang District Officer, Pn. Luvita Koisun




Full result of the 2016 Penampang Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan contest:-

Unduk Ngadau: Miss Sherry Anne Laujang (representing Kg Ramayah)
1st Runner Up: Miss Fayelina Rudolf Labangka (Penampang Proper)
2nd Runner Up: Miss Carrey Evanne Kim Lee (Kg Koidupan)

Others in the top seven:

Miss Angel Sungkadhamai Motiung
Miss Deborah Wilson
Miss Joyce Liew Mei Ling
Miss Sabrina Tubong







Miss Sherry Anne Laujang is Penampang Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan for 2016



Congratulation to Sherry Anne who will represent Penampang District in the state-level UNK at KDCA hall in Penampang on 30-31 May 2016.

Best of wishes!

KOTOBIAN TADAU DO KAAMATAN FROM THE GREEN MECHANICS

Harvest Festival and Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan Penampang 2013

It's nearly the end of June now but I guess the Harvest Festival celebration is not yet over. Some districts in Sabah are just preparing to hold such festivals at their level - village, district, etc.

Here is a revisit of the one for Penampang District, back in May 2013, mainly focused on the final day where Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan pageant was held.

 Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok 'harvested' the first bunch of paddy to officiate the event.

 The Sumazau do by the VIP

 Winners of the Penampang District Sugandoi 2013 (A singing competition in mother tongue)

Let the Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2013 competition begin..!  (16 contestants).

Smile for the cam! This year's panel of judges include Mandy Nandu (middle)

 Introducing themselves.

 

 Sanggulan hebat! This is the gong-hairstyle.

 Heavily laced with live flowers, this one.

 The Penampang costume looks simple and neat.

All smiles!

Dedie Phang is Penampang Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2013.

Congratulations to everyone!

Penampang Harvest Festival 2012

A bit about Penampang

The name Penampang in contemporary usage refers more often to the district, with the town of Donggongon as the main town within the district. Donggongon means 'shelter' or 'rest area' in the native Kadazan language, referring to its historical role as a stop-over for people from the hills who journeyed down the coast for trade.

Penampang is often considered a stronghold of the Kadazan community, and the main centre for their political and cultural development. The Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) community hall hosts many of Kadazan's traditional festivities, chief among them the annual Kaamatan or 'harvest festival', their most important cultural event. [wikipedia]

Penampang Harvest Festival 2012

May is a busy month for the Kadazan, Dusun and Murut ethnic groups,  as this is the month that they celebrate and show appreciation for a bountiful harvest of their staple food -  rice. Similar to all other districts in Sabah, Penampang hold its Pesta Kaamatan (Harvest Festival) annually and this year that happened on 19 May 2012. This year's Kaamatan theme is:

"Kobingginavaan Do Koubasanan Kohodi Sunduvan Di Obingginavo"

"Love for Culture Creates a caring Society"

"Cinta Terhadap kebudayaan Membentuk Masyarakat Penyayang"

(In Kadazan, English and Malay respectively)

Daytime activities : held at District Council football field (near Tun Fuad Stephen Hall)
Evening activities : at Buhavan Square, starting at 7.15pm

Tan Sri Bernard Dompok is seen officiating the event

Penampang district winner of the choir competition

Magavau ritual performed by young lads

Traditional Kadazan dance - The Sumazau

Young Kadazan dancer in full traditional costume

Local singers with one of the Penampang 'Sugandoi' winners.

The peak of the district level harvest festival celebration was marked with the crowning of the 2012 Unduk Ngadau beauty late in the evening. A total of 20 young ladies took part in the competition.

So, let the Unduk Ngadau extravaganza begin....

The ladies introducing themselves

The 10 finalists:

The 10 finalists standing infront of the judges

From 10, now it's down to the two of them. Anxiously waiting for the announcement of the 2012 winner.

'Tarik nafas panjang-panjang, kio'

..and Miss Samantha won it this year.

I think she's got the approval of the crown judging from the thunderous applause from them.

Penampang Unduk Ngadau 2012: Miss Samantha Sharon Laujang

Congratulations! 

 The top 7 with their prizes

Miss Samantha will represent Penampang district at the state level Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan beauty peagant on 30-31 May 2012 @ Hongkod Koisaan KDCA in Penampang.