Dusun

Dusun is an indigenous ethnic group native to Sabah, Malaysia. They are one of the largest indigenous communities in Sabah and form part of the broader Kadazandusun ethnolinguistic group, which includes the Dusun, Kadazan, and related peoples. The Dusun are primarily concentrated in central and western Sabah, in districts such as Penampang, Tambunan, Tuaran, and surrounding valleys, living in villages and, historically, in longhouses.

The Dusun language belongs to the Dusun-Kadazan branch of the Austronesian language family. It has multiple dialects and is closely related to Kadazan; many Dusun are bilingual, speaking Malay or English and the local language. In contemporary Sabah, some people identify as Dusun, while others identify as Kadazan or Kadazandusun.

Traditionally, the Dusun practice paddy farming and other subsistence agriculture, with rice as a staple crop. They engage in horticulture, animal husbandry, and, in customary times, river fishery. The community observes Kaamatan, the harvest festival, together with ritual rites, traditional dances, music (including gong ensembles and the sompoton wind instrument), and other cultural expressions. Social life centers on villages, clans, and kinship networks.

Today Dusun people follow various religions, with significant numbers of Christians (primarily Protestant and Roman Catholic) and Muslims, alongside adherents of traditional beliefs. Education and state-level governance have integrated Dusun communities into Sabah’s society, with cultural associations like the Kadazandusun Cultural Association promoting language and cultural preservation.