Nyiru ~ Sabah Traditional Paddy Winnowing Fan

Round and oval shaped Nyiru

In Sabah, paddy winnowing fan or in malay called 'nyiru', was traditionally used to separate the paddy grain from its chaff.  It was an agricultural method developed by ancient cultures and adopted by paddy farmers all over the world.  Winnowing using 'nyiru' is a simple form that involves throwing the paddy into the air so that the wind blows away the lighter chaff, while the heavier grains stayed in the 'nyiru'.  Winnowing process requires skills and techniques.

 

Winnowing process

The winnowing fan or 'nyiru' is made of bamboo, woven in a different shapes.    The Kimaragang Dusun, an ethnic of Sabah, called the rounded nyiru as Saab and the oval as Rilibu.  Its uses are almost the same, but for Kimaragang Dusun, Saab is used for winnowing newly harvested paddy while Rilibu is used for winnowing paddy that has been pounded or milled.

Different sizes of Nyiru

Nowadays, the modern machines have taken over winnowing process and nyiru are still crafted as one of the Sabah handicrafts.  You can easily find nyiru in handicraft shops or market.  Buy the smaller size nyiru and bring it home as souvenirs or gift to friends and family.

 

Sompoton ~ Sabah Traditional Music Instrument

Sompoton traditionally came from Kampung Tikolod, Tambunan, 80 kilometers east of Kota Kinabalu. Sompoton is a traditional Kadazan music instrument for the Dusun tribes.  The Sompoton is now prevalent among Dusuns and Muruts.   The Sompoton is a mouth organ that is similar to 'khene', a mouth organ from Laos.

It is made from a dried gourd with eight small bamboo sticks arranged in two layers.  The bamboos are inserted into holes drilled on the dried gourd.  Bee wax is used to attach the stems and to tighten area around it so that when a musician blows the Sompoton, it will not exit through the slit of the bamboo. 

Out of eight bamboos, one does not work but it is designed in such a way just to balance the position of the tool. Several small pieces of bamboo plates are placed on the bottom edges of each bamboo.  This is to produce sound of musical code that has been determined. 

To play the Sompoton, a musician can blow through the gourd while their fingers play around the holes of the bamboos by closing and opening it. This will make the instrument vibrate and produce tones with harmonious sound.  Sompoton can be played by individuals for personal entertainment or in groups to accompany dance performance.  Nowadays, Sompoton is often played in weddings and seasonal events.

For tourist, Sompoton can be a collection of souvenirs to bring back home.  You can easily find a Sompoton in souvenir shops around Kota Kinabalu.

Duang ~ Sabah Traditional Lid

Colorful Duang

If your are in Sabah, be sure to drop by Kota Belud and go to its famous weekly Tamu, a traditional open air market of Sabah.  This is a venue where local traders gather and sell their products.  In Tamu Kota Belud, you will experience a kaleidoscope sights, sounds and smells. Lots of colorful and attractive local products vary in sizes and patterns will catch your eyes and make you want to bring it home.

Local traders selling Duang in Tamu Kota Belud

One of the popular products in Tamu Kota Belud is Duang lid that is commonly used to cover food laid on a table.  Duang lid is a traditional product crafts by the Bajau ethnic of Kota Belud, Sabah.  It is weaved from serdang leaves, coconut leaves, pine leaves and bamboo.  Some Duang lids from serdang leaves are also coated with velvet.  Bamboo is usually used to formed the framework of a Duang.  Processed pine leaves are dyed and woven to produce the Duang.  Once completed, patterns are designed and colored with the desired colors.  

In the old days, Duang is used by the Bajau Kota Belud as a tray to put in cooked food and exchange them with neighbors during Eid celebration.  It is similar to exchange of gifts during Christmas.  This tradition of exchanging food in a Duang is known as 'Ngeduang'.  Through this tradition, the Bajau Kota Belud is able to strengthen family bond and unite the community.  However, this tradition is diminishing and only few villages in Kota Belud such as Kampung Labuan, Kampung Tanjung Pasir and Kampung Kuala Abai still practicing this tradition.   

Duang in different patterns and designs.

You can get a small size Duang (5"x3.5") at RM10.00 and RM15.00 for large size (20"x14").  It is cheaper in Tamu Kota Belud but you can still get it from Gaya Street, an open market located in Kota Kinabalu.

Barait ~ Sabah Traditional Basket

A Barait made from synthetic material

A Barait woven from sliced rattan

Barait is one of Sabah traditional handicraft.  In the olden days, the Sabah ethnics transported everything from fruits, to firewood, to padi stalks in these baskets strapped on their backs, leaving their hands free to carry even more load.  Barait is made from bamboo, rattan and bark. These baskets have now been adapted for more commercial demand and has evolved according to shifting uses and needs of contemporary life. 

The core group of basket makers is predominantly drawn from the older generation.  The knowledge of acquisition and transmission in the collection of plant, preparation and weaving techniques is now diminishing and eroding.  In fact, some basket objects have been substituted by modern wares that are more convenient or practical. Meanwhile other basket types have undergone a ‘makeover’, and are now made out of synthetic materials instead of plant resources. Another influence is the introduction of new types of basket from other ethnic groups in Sabah. This adaptation and transformation in basket is partly a result of increased accessibility to readily available goods in marketplaces.

A Barait with colored sliced rattan

Barait is a traditional basket weaves among the Murut communities of Sabah.  It is similar to a modern backpack.  Barait is made of rattan that grows near river banks and streams, however good quality resources especially rattan is now harder to find in the surrounding forests as they have been diminished by land clearing, forest fires and over harvesting.  The frame of the base and top of a Barait are made from either rattan or softwood.  Meanwhile,  the body, back straps and tying material are woven from rattan strips from various species of  Calamus, Korthalsia and other genera of Arecaceae.  However, as mentioned earlier, these plant materials are now being substituted with readily available synthetic materials (e.g. colored plastic strips). This saves on the time-consuming collection and preparation of the rattan. 

The process of weaving a Barait is tedious and depending on the intricacy of the design and motifs adopted.  Only few have the skills to weave a Barait and in fact this tradition of weaving a Barait is not being passed on to the younger generation. Weaving a Barait often takes about 3 to 7 days.

In the olden days, the barait was carried everywhere and is the constant companion of the Murut folks.  It is used to carry water containers to collect water from rivers for daily use or to carry paddy from paddy fields, to carry crops or hunted animals such as deer. Its role to the community is very significant. Barait is also very sturdy and lasting and one Barait can cost around RM70.00 above, depending on the size and the design.