Tales & Traditions from Sabah

With the publication of “Tales and Traditions from Sabah”, the Sabah Society once again fulfills its objects in stimulating ” an interest in, and knowledge of, the prehistory, history, natural history and geography of Sabah and the cultures and customs of its people”. The Sabah Society is taking a lead in documenting the oral traditions of Sabah. In fact, this is the first of a series of folk-tales and legends from various districts in the state to be compiled and put on record be the Sabah Society. Iggy Marsh, the compiler, herself of Murut ancestry, has presented a collection of oral traditions which will not only educate the present and future generations of Malaysians but also make Sabah better known elsewhere. This book and its illustrations will no doubt interest those who are learning about or are unfamiliar with Sabah’s oral traditions. It is also hoped that it will inspire similar work from among readers. The stories in this book were originally written 18 years ago by the students of St. Francis Xaviers Secondary School School, Keningau. The students collected these stories from their parents and elders in their respective kampungs (villages) as part of the activities of the school’s Folklore Club.The cultures they represent are mostly those of the Kadazan and Murut people from the Interior Residency of Sabah, specifically Tambunan, Keningau, Tenom and Pensiangan Dsitricts. One of the stories also describes a historical event of wider significance in Sabah – the Rundum rebellion of 1915.