PENAMPANG: Kaamatan International Week (KIW) is promoting Sabah’s traditional cuisine and indigenous knowledge on the international stage through food and cultural heritage initiatives, said Dato’ Petinggi Andrew Ambrose.
He said KIW had, over the past three years, invited 60 international experts and speakers to contribute ideas, research papers and cultural knowledge related to indigenous heritage and festival development.
“The initiative has also produced 600 pages of reference materials contributed by experts, cultural activists, government representatives and individuals involved in cultural and festival-related activities,” he said during the launch of KIW 2026 and Jungle Food Labs 2026 at Hongkod Koisaan, Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA), here.
The event was officiated by Deputy Chief Minister I and State-level Kaamatan Festival Main Organising Committee chairman Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, together with KDCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
Andrew, better known by his stage name Atama Katama, said the report was designed to help younger generations better understand the future direction of Kaamatan celebrations and the preservation of indigenous culture.
He said KIW was also linking its international cultural initiatives with youth participation through food heritage programmes.
Andrew said last year an experimental forest food programme was conducted in Tambunan involving 11 participating groups, with the winning team selected based on presentations combining forest resources, food and culinary storytelling.
He said traditional knowledge related to forests, rivers, ecosystems and indigenous ingredients was gradually disappearing and needed to be preserved for future generations.
Andrew noted that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) was placing increasing attention on traditional food systems and indigenous ecological knowledge.
“This initiative is suitable for Kaamatan because it attracts young people and connects them to indigenous philosophy and heritage,” he said.
Andrew, who is also the founder of the Global Indigenous Youth Forum (GIYF) at the United Nations, said Sabah would once again participate in international indigenous food and cultural discussions this year.
He said Heraldine Jamain from Kampung Sunsuron, Tambunan, had been endorsed by the Sabah government and KDCA to represent Sabah and Malaysia at upcoming United Nations food-related forums in Rome, Italy.
“She will not only speak on behalf of Malaysia, Sabah and Tambunan, but will also cook and showcase Kaamatan food to representatives from 175 countries,” he said.
The events include the World Food Forum scheduled for October and the Indigenous Youth Forum expected to be held in November or December at the FAO headquarters in Rome.
Andrew said the participation formed part of KIW’s long-term strategy to internationalise Kaamatan and connect Sabah’s indigenous culture with global policy discussions and cultural exchanges.
“We want Kaamatan to connect with global conversations and create spaces for indigenous communities to engage internationally,” he said. – Wu Vuide
Andrew said the report was designed to help younger generations better understand the future direction of Kaamatan celebrations and the preservation of indigenous culture.
