Tabi basa semua! Pada kebiasannya, saya akan berkongsi cerita-cerita daripada Bumi Kenyalang, namun pada hari ini ada istimewa sedikit, iaitu berkenaan sumandak dari Negeri Di Bawah Bayu, Sabah. Bagi yang tidak tahu, sumandak adalah perkataan Kadazan-Dusun yang membawa maksud “gadis”, dan “olumis” pula maksudnya cantik.
Pertama kali saya jumpa sumandak Sabah adalah semasa saya belajar di Labuan. Dari sana juga saya belajar lagu Sayang Kinabalu. Macam dalam lirik lagu itu, sumandak sumandak pun ramai menunggu, tapi bukannya menari lenggang sumayau, tapi tunggu kawan di kantin dekat Blok C & D. Kebanyakan mereka berkulit putih-putih. Tidak payah kamu cari orang Korea. Pergi saja kamu cari sumandak Sabah. Cantik-cantik, berkulit putih, berperwatakan menarik dan kebanyakkannya “wife-material”.
Teringat kawan-kawan saya, sekali melihat mereka banyak yang berkulit putih melepak, terus jatuh hati. Banyak juga yang kapel sama sumandak-sumandak masa itu. Pura-pura rajin ikut “gathering” di KML, padahal mau mengurat sumandak. Duduk di belakang sebab mau “scan” yang cantik moleh. Nah, bocor sudah rahsia kamu.
Satu lagi yang saya perasan, kebanyakkan sumandak-sumandak Sabah ini pandai nyanyi. Ada juga yang bilang, cara-cara sumandak Sabah bercakap seksi, bikin jantung bergagar. Yang paling kurang pun masih boleh bawa lagu Beyonce. Yang paling power ni balik balik menang battle of the band atau pertandingan nyanyian. Rupanya di Sabah memang terkenal dengan budaya nyanyian. Asal musim Kaamatan, mesti ada pertandingan nyanyian yang dikenali dengan nama Sugandoi.
Pertandingan ratu cantik Kaamatan pula digelar Unduk Ngadau, sempena memperingati semangat Huminodun, gadis sempurna dari aspek hati, minda dan semangat. Perkataan “Unduk Ngadau” berasal dari perkataan “runduk tadau” yang membawa maksud “gadis yang dimahkotakan sinaran cahaya matahari”. Dikatakan, selepas Huminodun dikorbankan oleh Kinoingan, selepas tujuh hari Unduk Ngadau muncul dari “kakanan” dan dipercayai sebagai jelmaan semangat Huminodun. Unduk Ngadau juga dikatakan sebagai orang yang pertama mengajar Bobohizan mentera yang diamalkan sehingga sekarang. Setiap tahun, akan ada pertandingan Unduk Ngadau di Sabah, bermula dari peringkat daerah sehingga ke peringkat akhir, iaitu peringkat negeri. Semenjak pertandingan Unduk Ngadau diadakan pada 1960, daerah Penampang telah menang 15 daripada 59 pertandingan, diikuti oleh Inanam (7 kali). KK, Papar & Tanjung Aru pula telah masing-masing menang 5 kali. Francisca Ester Nain dari Karambunai adalah Unduk Ngadau pada masa sekarang. Dia telah dimahkotakan oleh Hosiani Keewon @ Hosiani James Jaimis dari Inanam pada Unduk Ngadau 2019 tanggal 31 Mei 31, 2019, di Dewan Hongkod Koisaan, Kadazan-Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA), Penampang.
2020 tiada Unduk Ngadau kerana COVID-19. Pada tahun 2021 pula bertemakan “Kaamatan Aiso Wolit Montok Piompunan om Pibabasan” (Kaamatan Tanpa Sempadan Demi Pendamaian dan Keamanan) yang bersesuaian dengan norma baharu kita. Banyak cerita menarik sepanjang Unduk Ngadau “Borderless”. Yang paling terkenal adalah kisah bapa si Tracie Unduk Ngdau Tambunan, Encik Sinidol, yang post “Good Luck to my sweetheart for your competition tomorrow” (versi pendek). Punya banyak jejaka-jejaka komen di sana, berharap dapat perhatian si angkol dan Tracie yang dikatakan mirip Mira Filzah. Namun, tiga hari lepas, jejaka-jejaka itu kecewa kerana melihat si Tracie post gambar dia, mak dia dengan Mayon, Mr Kaamatan 2017, yang banyak orang percaya “bakal” dia. Kita hening sejenak untuk berdoa buat tanakwagu (lelaki dalam Kadazan-Dusun) yang kecewa. Walau apapun, selamat maju jaya buat peserta-peserta peringkat akhir Unduk Ngadau 2021.
Di Sabah, tidak wujud isu perkauman kerana seperti di Sarawak, mereka terdiri daripada lebih daripada bangsa yang hidup harmoni bersama-sama. Yang besar sekali adalah kumpulan orang Kadazan-Dusun. Pakaian tradisional orang Dusun juga berbeza-beza mengikut kawasan.
Perkahwinan campur pun biasa juga dilihat di Sabah. Yang pasti, kalau berani kahwin dengan sumandak-sumandak, tidak kisah lah dari daerah mana, jangan takut kalau berbicara soal berian sama bakal mentua. Ok tompinai?
Kalau ada mau tambah, taip saja di ruangan komen. Itu saja saya mau cerita ini kali. Sekian, teima kasih.
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Tabi basa everybody! Today’s sharing is about stories from Land Below The Wind, Sabah. For your info, “sumandak” means girls, and “olumis” means beautiful. Sumandak olumis means beautiful girl.
First time I met sumandak Sabah is when I studied at Labuan. From there I learned about Sayang Kinabalu’s song. Just like in its lyrics, sumandaks are waiting, not dancing, but waiting for their friends at the cantin near Block C & D of KML. Most of them are fair-skinned. There is no need for you to look for Korean maidens. Just look for sumandak Sabah. Beautiful, fair-skinned, good attitude and mostly are wife-material.
I still remember my friends, once they laid their eyes upon these maidens, they fall in love. A lot of them are in a relationship with sumandaks when they are in KML. They pretend to actively joining fellowship gathering, but actually they want to win sumandak. They sat at the back because they want to scan the best ones. Ooops, the secret is out.
Another thing that I noticed is most of these sumandaks are a good singer. Some say that their voice is sexy and can make your heart race. The least of them still can sing Beyonce’s song. The best one of them will bag winnings from battle of the band and singing competition. I found out that at Sabah, singing is part of their culture. During Kaamatan, there is a singing competition called Sugandoi.
Their beauty pageant is called Unduk Ngadau, in honour of the spirit of Huminodun, the girl who is beautiful in heart, mind and spirit. The word “Unduk Ngadau” originates from the word “runduk tadau: that means “the girl who is crowned with sunlight”. It is said after Huminodun was sacrificed to Kinoingan, seven days after that, Unduk Ngadau appears from “kakanan” and believed to be the incarnation of Huminodun. Unduk Ngadau also is said to be the first person to teach Bobohizan the spells & rites that is being used until now. Every year, there will be an Unduk Ngadau at Sabah, from district level until the final state level. There, you will the best and the most beautiful sumandaks all around Sabah compete for the title Unduk Ngadau. Historically, since the first Unduk Ngadau competition in 1960, Penampang district have won 15 out of 59 competitions, followed by Inanam (7 times). 5 times winning are shared between KK, Papar & Tanjung Aru. Francisca Ester Nain of Karambunai is the current Unduk Ngadau. She was crowned by Hosiani Keewon @ Hosiani James Jaimis of Inanam at the Unduk Ngadau 2019 on May 31, 2019, in Hongkod Koisaan Hall, Kadazan-Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA), Penampang.
For 2020, there was no Unduk Ngadau. However, in 2021, the theme is ‘Borderless Kaamatan for Reconciliation and Peace’ (Kaamatan Aiso Wolit Montok Piompunan om Pibabasan). There was a lot of funny stories happening throughout the competition. One of the most memorable thing happening and went viral is when Mr Sinidol, father of Tambunan Unduk Ngadau Tracie, Mira Filzah lookalike, wish her good luck to my sweet heart for your competition tomorrow (short version). There is a lot of bachelors (or not) commented at the comment section, all trying their luck to win her father’s heart. But just short 3 days ago, these men were devastated when Tracie posted a picture of her, her mother and Mayon, Mr Kaamatan 2017, what many believed to be her future husband. A moment of silence to the fallen “tanakwagus”. Anyway, wish all the best to the Unduk Ngadau reps 2021.
Just like in Sarawak, Sabah has no racial issue because there is also a lot of races that live harmoniously with one another. Mixed-marriages is commonly seen in Sabah. One thing for sure, if you want to get married to a sumandak, doesn’t care from which district, don’t be afraid when it comes to talk about dowry with your future in-laws. Ok tompinai?
That’s all I want to share today. If you have anything to add, just write down in comment section below. Thank you!
p.s. Ponsikou busski tu nakawi kou mambasa ti penulisan ku
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Tukang Rantek,
Claudius
Claudius is a Miri-based Boudoir & Portrait Photographer, from Kpg Piching, Serian.
“Tukang Rantek” means photographer in Piching dialect.
Sekalung penghargaan buat penyumbang-penyumbang berikut:
1. Freddy Au Photography
2. Lydia “Bulan” Pius
3. Christy Vyra James & friends
4. Ivy Elora George
5. Fenella Carmen
6. Lydia Be Kotiu
7. Shelvee Eve Bidu
8. Patricia Elsa
9. Melinda Louis
10. Eva Sebastian
11. Avie Jaine
12. Didie Phang
13. Ledesma Steven
