Exploring Indigenous Spirituality

The Religio-Cultural Background of the Indigenous Peoples of Sabah

Abstract

The indigenous peoples in Sabah, Malaysia, who comprise diverse ethnic communities such as the Kadazandusun, Murut, Rungus, Lundayeh, and Bajau are identified as bumiputera (Sanskrit: bhumiputra), which means “sons of the land” or “sons of the soil.” There are many traditional stories about the belief systems of the indigenous peoples of Sabah which are not documented but only transmitted through oral tradition. These stories are quite similar and yet distinct from one another depending on each particular ethnic group. This article discusses the religious and cultural background of the indigenous peoples of Sabah, specifically the Eastern Kadazandusun, in an attempt to explore their spirituality.