Kadazan Penampang Monogit Rice Cleansing Ritual & Humabot/Magavau Rice Harvesting Ritual (Malaysia)

Kadazan Penampang Monogit Rice Cleansing Ritual and Humabot/Magavau Rice Harvesting Ritual

Performed by: Persatuan Seni Budaya Sabah (PSBS), Penampang, Sabah, Malaysia

Synopsis / Description
The performance is a combined composite enactment of two important annual rice ceremonies called monogit and humabot, divided into 6 parts. It describes the processes to bridge the secular and the spiritual worlds that are essential to obtaining a successful rice harvest. They are:
▪ Mamason
▪ Modsuut
▪ Magampa
▪ Mundang and Sumazau Miontong
▪ Magavau
▪ Sumazau
Each part is articulated by a particular performance and music. It culminates with the successful intervention of the priestesses, the bobohizan, with the spirit world in bringing home the rice spirits, the Bambaazon that have gone astray during the harvesting. Each successful return is reflected in the pangkis, the loud cries made by the male leader brandishing the sword heading the magavau procession. With much rejoicing, feasting and drinking, the sumazau dance is performed to pay tribute to Bambaazon to ensure a successful harvest the following year.

Act 1: Invitation to the spirits to partake in a rice ritual ceremony (Mamason)
Mamason is an invitation to the spirits to partake in a rice ceremony to be performed.

Act 2: Summoning the human being and paddy spirit abducted by the malignant spirit (Modsuut)
The modsuut is a form of ritual communication that takes place at nightfall with the priestess reciting special prayers at a selected space.

Act 3: Cleansing and purifying the spirits of paddy and human being (Magampa and Momuhangga)
Magampa is a process of cleansing or purifying by the priestess who will conduct special prayers and ritual actions called momuhangga. Both the malignant and benign spirits summoned at the mamason to attend are expected to remove the impurities and dirt or the “heat” affecting the padi, family and household.

Act 4: Ritual parade and dance offering to the malignant spirits (Mundang and Sumazau Miontong)
The climax of the ritual is divided into two parts. The first is the mundang during which the priestess performs a ritual parade, brandishing a ceremonial sword while dancing towards the sacrificial pig. The second part consists of the priestess performing the sumazau miontong whereby she performs a sumazau dance dedicated to the spirit of the household called miontong. This spirit is responsible for the well-being of the household of the family who is sponsoring the ritual ceremony.

Act 5: Recalling and rejoicing for the recovery of the paddy spirits that have gone astray (Magavau)
The magavau refers to the successful recovery by the bobohizan of the lost spirits and their being brought back home. The Kadazan people believe that the rice spirit is embodied in every part and form of rice. It is therefore imperative that the main body of the Bambaazon remains intact or whole. Due to the carelessness of humans during harvesting, transportation, winnowing, pounding or milling processes of paddy, they can go astray and become lost. The magavau is a procession of men and women participating together with a priestess and a male lead brandishing a sword to recover the lost parts of the Bambaazon.

Act 6: Honouring the spirits of the paddy called Bambaazon (Sumazau)
The climax of the rice ritual is celebrated with drinking accompanied by sumazau dancing. During the rice ritual ceremony, sumazau is performed to honour the rice spirits Bambaazon. Tributes must be paid to the spirits of rice so that the following year’s harvest will be bountiful and bring more good fortune to the family. The music for sumazau is played on the sompogogungan ensemble, which consists of six hanging gongs, and a drum or gandang.

Credits:
Group Leader
▪ Mr Robin Fedilis Lojiwin

Props and Costumes Supervisor
▪ Ms Judeth John Baptist

Ritual Performers
▪ Priestess / Bobohizan: Ms Levina Mindong
▪ Ritual Apprentice: Ms Jacobina Peter Lojiwin
▪ Ritual Apprentice: Ms Augusta P. Lojiwin
▪ Ritual Apprentice: Ms Maria binti Muni

Dancers
▪ Ms Rita Tati Ondu
▪ Ms Lydia Chua
▪ Mr Havier Adam Michael
▪ Ms Linda Edip
▪ Mr Azizan bin Alimat

Musicians
▪ Gong: Mr Danny Basir Rungusan
▪ Gong: Ms Rebecca Anne J. Thomblon
▪ Gong: Mr Rendy Joyl
▪ Gong: Mr Stenley bin Peter Pitol
▪ Gong: Mr Speedy Jominun Jr

*This performance was showcased on Day 2 of SEAMEO SPAFA's 'Spiritual Dimensions of Rice Culture in Southeast Asia - Performances and Seminar' held from 11-14 May 2015 at Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand. http://www.seameo-spafa.org/spiritual...