The Kadazan Community
There are several theories and explanations about the origin of the term 'Kadazan'. Some says that the term was of recent origin as coined by politicians while others claimed that it had existed long before the arrival of the Europeans to North Borneo. To me, every group of people, have their own term to what to call themselves and that should be the term accepted by others outside that group.
Not knowing what term to call this particular ethnic group, the early British settlers simply classified them as 'Dyak' together with other indigenous people in the interior of Borneo.
The Kadazan population of Kunak is estimated at around 600 (based on a 1999 census of 445). Their ancestors were from all over Sabah and most of them reside in Kampung Kadazan, a kampong within the boundary of Sime Darby Plantations.
According to Valentine Sebastian, a local community leader, the area of Kampung Kadazan is about 4.5 acres and is situated in the area of Mostyn Estate.
The area was allocated by the British Abaca Limited (BAL) Plantations to its Kadazan employees in 1958. At that same time BAL Plantations also allocated areas to its employees of the Cocos ethnic at Batu 2 Kunak (now known as Kampung Selamat) and to miscellaneous groups at Kampung Sri Bahagia.
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A postcard published in 1906-1920 showing 'Dyak' women of North Borneo. Details at: NorthBorneoStamps |
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Unduk Ngadau Kampung Kadazan Pesta Kaamatan 2009 |
Apart from working in plantations, the first Kadazan generation of Kunak also grew vegetables for their own consumption as well as sold for extra income. In the early seventies they ventured into cocoa cultivation. Albeit with small area to begin, it exposed the people to the intrinsic aspects of commercial plantation. Today, many Kadazan families in Kunak have their own oil palm farms and they are among the prosperous people of Kunak District.
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