HUMINODUN THE DIVINE HUMAN MYSTERY | KOPISUNDUAN Series #02 |

in culture •  7 years ago  (edited)

I have always longed to write about my own people and culture and was fascinated by a chance meeting one afternoon when I was able to meet up with Dr. Benedict Topin, an anthropologist who is also the Head of Documentation, Research and Communication of the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA). This has prompted me to put all this information into writing. I feel called to write about the Divine human mystery of our indigenous people of Sabah.  

He mentioned that, "In order for us to understand the significance of Huminodun in Unduk Ngadau, and Unduk Ngadau in the Kaamatan festival, we must first familiarize ourselves with the socio-cultural and spiritual concepts and context of the Kaamatan festival within the Kadazandusun traditional worldview and momolian belief system", to start our conversation.  


Momolian is the spiritual world of the Kadazandusun. The meeting has further inspired me to proceed with an in depth study and write about my own culture.  

Sabah State level Unduk Ngadau (Beauty queen) 2017 winners. Photo credit: Nelson Michael Jr.

Dr Benedict presented a summary overview of the Kadazandusun genesis and the cosmological flow of events leading to Ponompuan (Huminodun's salvific sacrifice) as a symbol of the Greatest Love of All.  He hoped that the revelations will enlighten our people to understand the heritage worldview and philosophical foundation of the Huminodun or Unduk Ngadau's institution within the Kadazandusun cultural heritage being practised today. This knowledge is entirely new to me and I believe that it is important enough to be shared with our younger generations. 

In the summary written by him, he described that the cosmological flow of events leading to the Kaamatan Festival beauty pageant has a lot to do with this chronology of events;  

  1. Kinoingan (the God of Kadazandusun) and Sumundu (Kinoingan's wife) are the supreme Duo Creator Deities. 
  2. Ponompuan was Kinoingan and Sumundu’s benevolent redeemer daughter.
  3. Ponompulan was Kinoingan and Sumundu’s malevolent rebel son.
  4. Kinoingan and Sumundu created Libabou (Upperworld) and Winorun (Earth)
  5. Kinoingan and Sumundu created Sunduan (Devine Spirits) of Libabou
  6. Kinoingan and Sumundu created Rusod (Devine Spirits) of Winorun.
  7. Kinoingan and Sumundu created the Kadayan (human beings) of Winorun.
  8. Kinoingan and Sumundu emplaced Diwato (Divinity in Humanity)
  9. Kinoingan and Sumundu emplaced Koduduo (Humanity in Divinity)
  10. Ponompulan and Ponompuan were Custodians of Kadayan and Winorun
  11. Kadayan were given to live in Dusuns (Eden-like Gardens in the Forests)
  12. Then arose Kinobolingkangan id Sawat (a celestial calamity)
  13. Kinagaga’an (Rebellion) of Ponompulan against Kinoingan and Sumundu
  14. Ponompulan was relegated to Sinorindak - the fourth level of Libabou
  15. Ponompulan continued his evil intentions and actions (Ruminutum)
  16. Ponompulan was banished from Sinorindak and entire Libabou
  17. Ponompulan created Kolungkud, Kalayapan and Karaganan
  18. Ponompulan become Rogon Gayo - The devil chief and source of evil
  19. Rogon gayo and Karaganan are the cause of Winorun and Kadayan downfall
  20. To discipline the Kadayan, Kinoingan exacted Seven Scourges
  21. The last Scourge was prolonged severe drought, seedlessness and famine
  22. For Redemption Ponumpuanan was sacrificed and became Huminodun
  23. Huminodun is the soul of Bambarayon
  24. Bambarayon is the Soul of Rice
  25. Rice is the spiritual food of the Kadayan
  26. Other physical parts of sacrificed Huminodun enriched the Dusuns floral resources
  27. Huminodun is idolized as Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan
  28. Huminodun thus, is the soul of the Kaamatan Festival
  29. Huminodun in Unduk Ngadau is the soul of the Kaamatan Festival
  30. Kaamatan Festival is the rejuvenation of Holy Communion of Divinity and Humanity
  31. As Kadayan consume rice and drink rice wine, Huminodun communes with Koduduo
  32. Kaamatan Festival is a commemorative feast of Huminodun’s greatest love of all
  33. For Huminodun gave up her life for the salvation of the Kadayan and Winorun
  34. So the Kadayan celebrate (Rumamai) and sing their praise and thanks (Sugandoi) to God
  35. For Huminodun gave up her life for the salvation of the Kadayan and Winorun
  36. So the Kadayan celebrate (Rumamai) and sing their praise and thanks (Sugandoi) to God

Since Huminodun sacrificed herself to safe the Kadazandusun, the people will never grow hungry to the point of dying if they keep faithfully observing the tradition. Huminodun has been idolized as Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan. Hence, Huminodun herself is the soul of the Kaamatan Festival

 My favourite 2017 Unduk Ngadau is from Tambunan district, Miss Bibiana Artecca. Photo credit: Nelson Michael Jr.

The fact that not so many people especially the younger generation let alone the Kadazandusun community know about this legend.  I feel therefore that it is perhaps an opportune time for me to write about it for the benefit of our next generation which I hope can be a source of reference to anyone interested in knowing about this legend. 

Thank you for visiting my blog and stay tuned for Series #03.


Love and light.

@madeve

 P/s I would like to thank my friend Nelson Michael Jr. from Penampang, Sabah who has been a freelance photographer over the past 6 years, for giving me his permission to use his beautiful photographs in this story. As part of my effort to promote local talents, any reader would like to know more about Nelson's work can always check his Facebook 

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 If you feel that my 21st article and my effort has contributed to the educational views of the world, please feel to put your comment below or at least to upvote and follow me. I will appreciate all good comments as this will encourage me to keep on writing on socio-cultural and education that shall contribute towards the growth of creative industries and sustainable future of my people. 


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thank you for this sharing, i like it.

Cheers for the support. Stay tuned for Series #03 today.

bagus post awak ni. salam from Aceh

Terima kasih. I have 20 Kopisunduan Series all together. Read from #01, #02 and #03 and you can join the stories. All the stories are from my personal experience and most are untold stories from the old folks . Stay tuned for #04 soon. Thanks again. 😃

Yes do write more 😃

Thank you for supporting. I still have 18 series to go. =)

Wow .. now that's great!

Thanks

Upvoted and commented.

Cheers for the support!

This post recieved an upvote from minnowpond. If you would like to recieve upvotes from minnowpond on all your posts, simply FOLLOW @minnowpond

Cheers for the support.

Cheers for the support.

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Thank you for sharing this info. I don't know much about Kadazan folklore and history even though my husband is a Kadazan.

Really? I'm glad to furnish you some information about our roots. Kindly check all the series if you have time. I'm going to post Series 4 today. Stay tuned 😃

Yes sure thanks. I am giving you follow now :)

Thank you so much!

I like what you write madeve! You are bringing our 'Sunduvan' to the world to know. Our ancestors would be delighted with your effort in 'preserving' our culture in your own right!

I feel obliged to answer this call Lorena. Cheers!