KOTA KINABALU: Two Sabahans are travelling across the state to learn and preserve traditional Dusun craft heritage that is in danger of being lost.
Johann Adam Kitingan and Faridahwati Sarto @ Frida, both in their 30s, are visiting different districts and going deep into the interior to learn about the various tribes and help them to preserve their artistic traditions.
Adam, known as Sang Tukang, forges brass jewellery and is also involved in other native crafts, while Frida makes Sabah wildlife theme soft toys and bags under her brand name “Kakamot” – a venture that they went into full-time towards the end of 2015.
Adam, who has an academic background in multimedia design from Australia, said he quit his job in Kuala Lumpur because he wanted to work on something that was more fulfilling.
He said he had been interested in ‘seeing patterns in nature and surroundings’ since he was a child, and has been incorporating Dusunic motives in his brass jewellery, including rings and bangles.
“In the beginning, I got interested in tattoos, but it was not practical as not everyone can have tattoos, especially when it is related to the olden days of headhunting, as we no longer practice it,” Adam said at a bi-monthly artisan market here recently.
“So, I thought I could transfer the cultural imprints and motives to brass instead.
…I have used motifs and designs from sub-ethnic groups such as Murut, Liawan, Rungus, Kadazan and Orang Sungai.”
Adam, who started to learn the Dusun language last year, said he had felt ashamed that he could not speak his mother tongue.
He said he and Frida started on their journey when they realised that the younger generation did not know much about their own history and traditions.
First, he said, they visited a remote village in Kudat to learn to play and make a traditional Sabahan lute called sundatang.
Earlier this year, he said they spent two months with a family in Kampung Bongkud, Ranau, to learn to weave the barait, the iconic Dusun basket bag.
The couple share their cultural journeys through their Instagram account “dusunography”.
“Through networking, we get in touch with local artisans to learn their trade, and through a skills-exchange programme, I taught them jewellery-making techniques using brass,” said Adam.
“We have just come back from Long Pasia. I will be incorporating Lundayeh elements into future pieces.”
Adam said it was his dream to cooperate with craftsmen from Kalimantan, Sarawak and Brunei.
He also expressed hope that the state would set up a cultural promotion centre.
“The native/indigenous groups are having an identity crisis now as we are not taught enough in school about our culture.
“The souvenir shops which are supposed to act as culture ambassadors are not authentic. They are selling items that are not locally made. Some are from China.
“Such a centre which could house a school to teach the skills, and a library or resource centre for information keeping, could very well be the key in our cultural revival and preservation.”
He said there was a need to expose the younger generation to traditional crafts and come up with innovative ways to use raw materials in a sustainable manner
“For example, the barait is traditionally made of rattan, but due to the scarcity of materials and to allow mass production, we are using polypropylene as it is stronger and easier to source,” said Adam.