KDCA: Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association
What is KDCA?
KDCA is the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association, established in 1966. Based at Hongkod Koisaan in Penampang, it represents 48 indigenous communities, plays a central role in the Kaamatan harvest festival and runs the Koisaan Cultural Village.
KDCA at a glance
The Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) is the leading cultural umbrella body for Sabah's largest group of indigenous peoples. It works to preserve language, custom and heritage while bringing together a wide range of related communities under one organisation.
KDCA is best known to the public for the Kaamatan harvest festival and its cultural village in Penampang, but its work also covers language preservation and publishing. For background on the people themselves, see the Kadazan-Dusun people guide.
Cultural body established in 1966; represents 48 indigenous communities and hosts the Kaamatan festival at Hongkod Koisaan.
History and roots
KDCA was established in 1966 and traces its roots to the Society of Kadazan Penampang, formed in 1953 (KDCA, checked 6 October 2026). From the start its purpose was to safeguard the language, traditions and identity of Sabah's indigenous communities.
Its name, Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association, reflects the wide span of related groups it serves, recognising both Kadazan and Dusun communities within a single shared body.
Hongkod Koisaan headquarters
KDCA is based at Hongkod Koisaan, Km 8, Penampang Road, Penampang (KDCA, checked 6 October 2026), a short drive from Kota Kinabalu. The centre is the focal point for the association's events, ceremonies and administration.
During the Kaamatan season the headquarters becomes the heart of celebrations, drawing crowds from across the state and beyond. The official website, kdca.org.my, carries details of programmes, the cultural village and the association's wider work.
48 indigenous communities
One of KDCA's defining features is the breadth of peoples it brings together. The association represents 48 indigenous ethnic communities (KDCA, checked 6 October 2026), spanning a remarkable range of languages, dress and custom across Sabah.
This makes KDCA more than a single-group body; it is a shared platform for many related communities. By uniting them, the association helps smaller groups keep their traditions visible within a wider Kadazan Dusun cultural framework.
Kaamatan and Unduk Ngadau
KDCA's most visible activity is the Kaamatan harvest festival, a celebration rooted in gratitude for the rice harvest. The association organises the festivities, which blend ceremony, music, food and community gathering.
A central highlight is the state-level Unduk Ngadau, a cultural pageant held during Kaamatan. The 2026 final took place at Hongkod Koisaan, with finalists representing KDCA districts and branches (KupiKupiFM, checked 6 October 2026). It honours the spirit of the harvest and showcases the heritage of the communities KDCA represents, making it one of Sabah's best-known cultural events.
Discover more about the people behind these traditions in the Kadazan-Dusun guide, or browse other bodies on the Organizations page.
Language and cultural village
Beyond the festival, KDCA carries out steady work in language preservation, including the publication of a Kadazandusun-Malay-English dictionary and related books (KDCA, checked 6 October 2026) that help keep the language alive for younger generations.
The association also runs the Koisaan Cultural Village, which gathers 13 traditional houses of various Kadazan Dusun groups alongside an events space (KDCA, checked 6 October 2026). A draw for visitors, it offers a living look at the architecture and customs of Sabah's indigenous communities.