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Kumpulan Penari Limbai Karamaian. Kampung Kelampun. Jalan Beaufort - Menumbok, 89740 Kuala Penyu, Sabah.
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Introduction and history
The Sayau Kedayan, also known as Sayau Moginum, is a popular traditional dance among the Dusun Tatana tribe in the Kuala Penyu. Historically, this dance originated from the Moginum ritual, a ceremony conducted to invite the spirits of ancestors or deceased family members to participate in a celebrated event. However, as early as 1961, during the Kaamatan Festival, the dance transitioned into a public performance, serving as an artistic showcase of the Dusun Tatana culture.
Traditionally, these dances were performed exclusively during Moginum ceremonies or rituals. Among the Dusun Tatana tribe, several distinct types of Moginum rituals are practised, including the following:
Moginum Kahwin – a ritual performed during traditional wedding ceremonies, specifically for daughters.
Moginum Kaul – a traditional healing ritual conducted to treat illness.
Moginum Loyob – a ritual ceremony performed to honour the spirit of a deceased person.
According to traditional beliefs, the Sayau Kadayan dance plays a central role in all three Moginum ceremonies, serving to invite and appease the spirits of ancestors or deceased family members to attend the event.
Over time, however, these dances have evolved into performances for social gatherings, public entertainment, and a cultural emblem of the Dusun Tatana community. It is particularly prominent during traditional celebrations such as the Kaamatan Festival and the Odou Bakanjar Festival. Despite this transformation, the dance continues to retain its original function and significance within traditional ritual ceremonies to this day.
Female dancers wear an outfit called Sira Lambung, embellished with beadwork forming floral patterns across the chest. The Sira Lambung is designed similarly to a kebaya blouse but features slits on the sleeves, paired with a striped fabric known as Piwaris.
Around the waist, female dancers wear a sarong tied diagonally in a 'V' shape and secured with a Botungkat, a silver belt that serves as an additional accessory. Decorative accessories usually include silver Dokoh (pendant necklaces) paired with bracelets made of silver or copper. For head adornments, small flowers are used to cover the dancer's bun.
For male dancers, the attire worn is called Sira Dambia. This outfit features a pocket in the shirt, accessorized with a handkerchief. Sira Dambia is typically paired with a Sandai, a long sash draped diagonally over the shoulder and wrapped around the dancer's body. Meanwhile, the male accessories are limited to the headpiece, consisting of a Sigar or headgear with a tail-like knot at the back.
The dance is accompanied by traditional musical instruments, including the Kulintangan, gongs, and drums. The musicians are typically male and consist of a designated group of seven performers: five gong players, one Kulintangan player, and one drummer.
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Reference Source
(n.d.). Etnik Tatana: Kepercayaan & Amalan (pp. 1–7) [Review of Etnik Tatana: Kepercayaan & Amalan]. Lembaga Kebudayaan Negeri Sabah. Retrieved November 11 C.E., from https://culture.sabah.gov.my/sites/default/files/uploads/products/files/2023-02/e-book%20Etnik%20Tatana.pdf
Kitingan, J., P. (2012). Kadazan Dusun. Institut Terjamahan & Buku Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur
Pusing, M. (2001). Upacara moginum dan bobolian: upacara perubatan traditional masyarakat Dusun-Tatana di daerah Kuala Penyu, Sabah. (Doctoral dissertation, Jabatan Sosio-Budaya Melayu, Akademi Pengajian Melayu, Universiti Malaya, 2000/2001.).
Shafiia, A. H., Ishakb, S., Hassanc, H., Ghouse, M., & Beguma, M. (2016). Babalian and community rituals of Dusun Tatana Ethnic in Sabah, Malaysia: A preliminary study. In International Soft Science Conference.
Sri Ningsih Sukirman, & Patricia Jipoh. (2023). Elemen Penyokong Persembahan Tarian Sayau Moginum, Dusun Tatana, Kuala Penyu, Sabah : Supporting Elements Of Sayau Moginum Dance Performance, Dusun Tatana, Kuala Penyu, Sabah. Jurnal Gendang Alam (GA), 12(2). https://doi.org/10.51200/ga.v12i2.4286
Location
State JKKN Contact Information
Encik Hassanal Redzuan
Cultural Officer
Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara, Sabah
Kompleks JKKN Sabah,
Jalan Tasik off KM4 Jalan Penampang,
88200 Kota Kinabalu
SABAH
088-205070
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