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Tarian Sumazau: Sabah's Kadazandusun Dance Explained

✅ Verified 10 October 2026

What is the Sumazau?

The Sumazau is the traditional dance of Sabah's Kadazandusun people. Dancers move their outstretched arms slowly, in a way said to mirror birds (or eagles) in flight, to the beat of gongs. It is danced at the Kaamatan harvest festival, at weddings and at other occasions, and anyone of any race or religion may dance it.

What the Sumazau is

The Sumazau is a Kadazandusun dance. The Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) has stressed that it is not a worship dance and is separate from the Magavau ritual, and that anyone of any race or religion may dance it (Borneo Post, 13 September 2012).

The slow, graceful arm movements are described as mirroring birds in flight (Borneo Post, 2026), or the flight of eagles (The Vibes, 2025), and the dance is performed to gongs.

When it is danced

Kaamatan: at the harvest festival (Borneo Post, 2012), including on the Humabot stage (Sabah Tourism). See Kaamatan.
Weddings and other formal or informal occasions (Borneo Post, 2012).
On stage abroad: the Sabah Cultural Board dance troupe performed it at the United Nations in Geneva, in a showcase arranged by the Sabah Tourism Board (Sabah Tourism, 2022).
As a crowd event: thousands once danced it together at the Likas Sports Complex (The Star, 2016).

Styles of Sumazau

Sabah Tourism names several regional forms seen at Kaamatan: Sumazau Penampang, Sumazau Maragang and Sazau Papar, alongside the Rungus mongingol sumundai (Sabah Tourism's spelling).

Ringkasan (BM)

Tarian Sumazau ialah tarian tradisional kaum Kadazandusun di Sabah. Penari menggerakkan tangan yang didepangkan secara perlahan, dikatakan meniru burung atau helang yang sedang terbang, diiringi bunyi gong. Ia ditarikan untuk menyambut tetamu semasa Pesta Kaamatan, di majlis perkahwinan dan majlis lain. Menurut KDCA, Sumazau bukan tarian pemujaan dan boleh ditarikan oleh sesiapa sahaja.

FAQ

Q Apakah maksud tarian Sumazau?

Sumazau ialah tarian tradisional Kadazandusun. Menurut Persatuan Kebudayaan Kadazandusun (KDCA), ia bukan tarian pemujaan dan boleh ditarikan oleh sesiapa sahaja tanpa mengira kaum atau agama (Borneo Post, 13 September 2012). Gerakan tangannya dikatakan meniru burung, atau helang, yang sedang terbang.

Q Is the Sumazau a religious dance?

No. A KDCA vice-president said the Sumazau is not a worship dance and is separate from the Magavau ritual. Anyone of any race or religion may dance it (Borneo Post, 13 September 2012).

Q What music is the Sumazau danced to?

Gongs. Sabah's gong ensembles are described on our kulintangan page.

Sources & References 6 sources

Last verified: 10 October 2026