Battle of the queens: 49 women will vie for the title in the 2024 Unduk Ngadau Sabah finals scheduled for May 31 in Penampang.
KOTA KINABALU: A little-known fact about the Unduk Ngadau, a traditional beauty pageant held during the Kaamatan festival here, is that it has also been celebrated in the peninsula over the past 21 years.
Sabah Unduk Ngadau committee chairman Joanna Kitingan said this year, six Unduk Ngadau from the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) branches in the Klang Valley, Putrajaya, Johor, Melaka, Perak and Penang were crowned.
She said the six representatives, one delegate from Labuan and Sarawak, and 41 participants from Sabah will vie for the title in the 2024 Unduk Ngadau Sabah finals scheduled for May 31 in Penampang.
“This year marks the 64th anniversary of the Unduk Ngadau since its inception in 1960. As for Peninsular Malaysia, it was first held in 2003, involving the Klang Valley KDCA branch.
“It has been also held in the peninsula for the past 21 years, with other states gradually participating within a span of six to seven years.
“This shows how the Unduk Ngadau and the Kaamatan festival serve as symbols of unity. Besides fostering camaraderie, it allows those outside Sabah to appreciate our culture and traditions, enabling us to celebrate together as Malaysians,” she added.The annual Unduk Ngadau – also known as the harvest festival queen, a heritage of the Kadazan Dusun community – has evolved into a showcase of cultural diversity and heritage in Sabah, promoting unity, Bernama reported.
In 2003, Daphne Iking, who hails from Keningau, Sabah, clinched the inaugural Unduk Ngadau title at the Klang Valley level, while Carol Abbey Gail from Papar was crowned Unduk Ngadau Sabah.
To date, Romandawi Gapari, Allvera Azerra Jaunik, and Qheesthyna Issandra Ladzrus were crowned Unduk Ngadau for Johor, Putrajaya and Sarawak, respectively.
Kitingan said the Unduk Ngadau contest in the peninsula was organised to provide an avenue for Sabahans, specifically those of Kadazan Dusun descent living outside the state, to participate in the Kaamatan festival.
“Even after marrying into various other cultural backgrounds in Malaysia, these individuals continue to cherish Sabah’s traditions and heritage. Contestants in this competition come from multicultural backgrounds spanning both the eastern and western regions of Malaysia,” she added.
On May 26, she said all 49 participants would assemble in Sabah for a series of preliminary events and briefings, before the final competition in Penampang where they will compete for over RM100,000 in prizes.
This year’s Kaamatan festival, themed “Kaamatan Beyond Food Security,” was launched on May 1 in Ranau district and is being held in various districts until the grand finale in Penampang.
