Kadazan Customs and Traditions on Mourning Observances – By Odu Rosenani Sogondu. Odu Rosenani Sogondu is one of the few elderly Kadazan woman from Penampang, a Catholic by faith and who is also well-versed with the paganism practices and its related Customs and Cultural Traditions of the Kadazan community, especially those related to Mourning Observances expected from the Widows /Widowers. In the past during her younger days she had been regularly sought by the bereaved family to attend to the mourning widows/widowers in ensuring that the Kadazan Customs and Cultural Traditions are strictly adhered to during and after the mourning period. Failure to observe those rigid cultural observances might bring to those non-observers and their surviving children of untold sufferings of bad luck and/or undesired happenings affecting their way of life. Indeed such bad luck or unfortunate things had actually happened and befallen to those who infringed those ‘pantangs’ (observances) in the past, according to Odu Rosenani Sogondus observations and experiences. Similar happenings though unwritten incidents, might have happened in the past as related to her by her mentors. In some cases there have been notable proofs to show that such misfortune had happened to certain widower who ignored her advice against non-observance of the ‘pantangs’ during and after the mourning period. According to Odu Rosenani Sogondu the widower who intends to get re-married, must first get the consent from one of her wife’s relatives by giving her a ‘sogit’ during ‘Monodung’ – a ritual requirement. In the absence of the deceased relatives the widower has to satisfy this cultural tradition requirement by planting a ‘parang’ on the wife’s grave in order to completely cut off the husband-wife relationship before he could get re-married. Such is the strict requirement of this ‘pantang’ that compelled Odu Rosenani Sogondu to have these observances recorded in audio or video recordings with the objective of preserving these Kadazan Cultural Traditions. Similar audio interview recordings have already been compiled by RTM, Kadazan Section for the same objective. Odu Rosenani Sogondu related those customs, traditions and observances in great detail. These are ‘Pantangs’ for strict observances during the period from the funeral service until the 7th day of mourning. She also discussed the undesired effects on the infringements of these Customs and Traditions. In this video there are 9 segments on ‘Mourning Observances’ in Kadazan Customs and Cultural Traditions as follows: 1. Pantang-Pantang tonudon poguhu ih do momohobong; (Traditional restrictions prior to funeral service). 2. Ko’otulan do Manahakoi; (Guidelines to complete mourning period). 3. Ko’otulan mugad momohobong om Pantang di tuhun Mobpuod; (Guidelines prior to funeral service and Traditional restrictions for observation by the Widow/Widower). 4. Ontok Mogukas – Ko-Tuu Tadau; (The 7th Day Ritual Observance and Celebration). 5. Pantang di tuhun mobpuod om manatak do Puod; (Traditional restrictions and guidelines on how to drop the mourning period by the Widow/Widower). 6. “Manahakoi”. (To pay a visit to another grieving family before the funeral service takes place on that particular day. This is the Final Ritual and Observance to completely end the mourning period). 7. Kaantakan di tuhun mobpuod aiso pantang. (The undesired results affecting the Widow/Widower for non-observance of the ‘pantang’). 8. Monodung poguhui’ manansavo vagu. (Ritual requirements before getting re-married). 9. Kootulan manatak do Puod. (Guidelines on how to cease mourning period). Odu Rosenani Sogondu who is already in her eighties, can no longer render her service due old age and health reasons. However she finds it appropriate and proper to pass down to the younger generations to put into practice and to preserve these Mourning Observances. It is with this unselfish dedication that she agreed to have her interviewed on video for the benefit of future generations to practice, observe and preserve. Hence, it was for this purpose that Batholomew Jingulam, Secretary General of Kadazan Society Sabah (KSS) and I took this opportunity to visit her at her residence on 31-12-2013 to interview Odu Rosenani Sogondu, who herself is also a Life Member of KSS, and also the KSS Guardian of the Kadazan Customs and Cultural Traditions. The Kadazan Society Sabah (KSS) wishes to take this opportunity to record its thanks to Odu Rosenani for her unselfish cooperation to have this video recorded for the benefit of the Kadazan community. (The above article may not be reproduced in part or in whole without the expressed consent of the writer). Sylvester J. Disimon KSS Deputy President, Videographer and Producer. 30-06-2014
Posted on: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 08:19:48 +0000
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