Kadazan

Kadazan are an indigenous ethnic group of Sabah, Malaysia. They form one of the two largest subgroups within the Kadazandusun ethnolinguistic community and are traditionally associated with western Sabah, including districts such as Penampang, Kota Belud, Papar, and Tambunan. In Sabah, the term Kadazan is often used interchangeably with Kadazandusun, though some communities distinguish Kadazan as a distinct subgroup of Kadazan-speaking people.

Language is a key marker: the Kadazan language belongs to the Dusun branch of the Austronesian language family. It is closely related to other Dusun varieties, and most speakers are bilingual in Malay, the national language.

Traditionally, Kadazans depended on paddy farming and hill agriculture, with rice as a central cultural element. Social organization emphasized extended family networks and customary law, or adat. Traditional music and dance, such as the Sumazau, and crafts like beadwork and weaving, are notable features of Kadazan cultural heritage.

The Kaamatan harvest festival is the major cultural celebration among Kadazans and other Sabahans, observed annually at the end of May. It includes thanksgiving rituals and the Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant, which celebrates the legendary harvest heroine.

Contemporary Kadazans practice a range of religions, including Christianity and Islam, alongside influences from traditional beliefs. The religious landscape reflects Sabah's broader religious diversity.

In Sabah, Kadazan and Dusun are often grouped as Kadazandusun in official contexts, and Kadazan-Dusun identity has been a focus of cultural revival and political representation in the state.