200 share Kaamatan joy in UK celebration
Published on: Tue, Jul 08, 2025
By: Lorena Binisol Text Size: The guests dancing away during a 'Sumazau' session. Kota Kinabalu: Some 200 guests took part in the Kaamatan celebration organised by the Sabahan Abroad UK (Sauk), which was held at Old Basing Village Hall in Hampshire, United Kingdom. Themed 'Kaamatan for Everyone', the event brought together Sabahan families and friends from across the UK, as well as guests from France, Norway and Germany. Their presence added warmth and strengthened the bonds of a growing diaspora community there. Sauk, a non-profit organisation active for nearly a decade, aimed at uniting Sabahans living in the UK through cltural events, friendship and heritage preservation. With an estimated 5,000 Sabahans residing in the UK, including professionals, students, and second-generation Sabahan-British, Sauk continues to build a sense of home away from home. The day-long celebration featured traditional games like 'mimpulos' (arm wrestling) and 'tarik tali' (tug-of-war), a lucky draw for charities in Sabah as well as a lavish spread of Sabahan and Malaysian cuisine, including bambangan, tuhau, hinava, basungan and a variety of Malaysian pastries. Guests were welcomed with Lihing shots (rice wine), produced by Nelda Hendon, who also demonstrated the art of Lihing-making. Cultural highlights included the Momokis ritual performed by Jennifer Lasimbang, the Magavau chant led by Olga George Kiloh, a Huminodun sketch directed by Savillah Angell, and a poem reading by Alfred Raymond Lee. The Kulintangan dance crew, led by Jessie Roberts, delivered captivating performances, while the evening's Magagung session, led by Hayden Hansanon, a student from Penampang, captured the Kaamatan spirit. A key moment was the Unduk Ngadau pageant, where five young women of Sabahan heritage – Mia, Anya, Cami, Maya, and Clara – graced the stage with pride and poise. Mia Ming-Steel was crowned Sauk Kaamatan 2025 Unduk Ngadau, earning admiration for her cultural pride and grace. The event also received personal greetings from Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor and Sabah Tourism Board Chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, recognising the community's efforts in preserving and promoting Sabah's heritage abroad. Now in its eighth year, Sauk's Kaamatan celebration continues to grow in scale and significance, serving as a bridge between generations and geographies. Sabahans abroad are keeping their culture alive and sharing it with the world through such events. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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