IGAL DANCE EMBODIES HERITAGE, PRIDE AND IDENTITY OF BAJAU COMMUNITY

By Noorazlina Jindeh

SEMPORNA, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- The Igal dance, performed by the Bajau community of eastern Sabah during official ceremonies and festive events such as the annual Regatta Lepa in Semporna, is more than just a graceful form of art; it is a living symbol of heritage, culture, and dignity.

It is no surprise that many Bajau people master the Igal, as the dance is taught from childhood. One of its notable practitioners is 2012 Lepa Queen, Elina Jikanari, 42, who began learning the dance at the age of seven.

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Since earning her title 13 years ago, Elina has seen the Igal gain recognition beyond Semporna, particularly with Regatta Lepa’s inclusion in Sabah’s tourism calendar.

“Interest in Igal is very strong here. Children as young as seven usually start showing a passion for it.

“Each year, more tourists come for Regatta Lepa, and they’re fascinated by the uniqueness of the dance movements,” the mother of two told Bernama here.

Elina, one of 23 Igal Queens through the festival, said performers traditionally wear black, yellow, or green kebaya outfits without beads or sequins.

Their headpieces — known in the Bajau language as mahakuttak, ladjuk, and jabang are complemented by ornate nail adornments called salung kuku, janggai, and solengkengkeng.

“During performances, the Lepa Queen holds wooden clappers called bolak-bolak, which produce rhythmic sounds,” said Elina, who has performed as far as Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in 2019.

Meanwhile, Nur Aina Naziha Abdul Ghafor, 32, another Lepa Queen crowned in 2018, said the title carries the duty of promoting Igal and preserving Bajau traditions among younger generations.

She also uses social media to share knowledge and raise awareness about Bajau culture.

“I hope young people will better understand and celebrate our traditions, not only in Semporna but across Malaysia,” said Nur Aina, who also represented Malaysia at the Bajau Kalimantan Berau Festival in Indonesia in 2019.

Datu Sabri Datu Alawiddin, 33, winner of the 2024 Igal Lallah Dorongan (Best Male Dancer) title, said mastering the dance requires learning four key rhythms or titik — kuntau, tabawan, tarirai, and lellang.

His passion for Igal began in primary school and led him to study dance at Sultan Idris Education University.

“I plan to conduct Igal workshops to promote this traditional art beyond our community. If not us, who else will preserve it?” he said.

Meanwhile, Khalid M. Taib, chairman of the Semporna Bajau Arts, Welfare and Heritage Association, expressed hope that Semporna will one day have its own cultural hall to nurture Bajau arts and engage more youth in cultural activities.

“Kota Kinabalu has KDCA for the Kadazandusun, and Tuaran has a Bajau hall. Semporna deserves a dedicated centre too, a place to preserve and showcase Bajau culture and heritage,” he said, noting that Regatta Lepa has been celebrated for over 30 years.

Lepa Queen is the title given to the winner of the Regatta Lepa, a traditional water festival honouring the Bajau people’s seafaring heritage.

The event, first held in 1962 as Tamu Besar Semporna, was revived in 1995 under the initiative of then Sabah Head of State Tun Sakaran Dandai, a native of Semporna.

-- BERNAMA