Regatta Lepa 2009


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Regatta Lepa XVI
Semporna
2009

18th to 19th April 2009

“This event has proven to be successful to strengthen the spirit of camaraderie and unity among the people in Sabah ............... The more than 31 ethnic groups in the state live in peace and harmony.........”

Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman
Chief Minister of Sabah
during the opening ceremony of Regatta Lepa on 18 April, 2009.

http://paradise-log.blogspot.com/2009/04/regatta-lepa-lepa-semporna.html

Sunday, April 19, 2009
Regatta Lepa 2009

.....I was once again in Semporna to capture the cultural atmosphere and learn more about the traditional houses in this East Coast region of Sabah. The ten-hour bus coach ride from Kota Kinabalu to Semporna from the Inanam Bus Terminal left me a bit nauseous, but it’s all part of the adventure of getting to Semporna town by land...

.....How do we keep this unique boat making culture alive? I believe that the key of protecting our cultural heritage rests with our youth – the next generation.

Could learning a traditional craft such as traditional boat carving be incorporated as part of Kem Bina Negara (Malaysia’a National Service)? Rather than have kids running around collecting garbage and going through obstacle courses, an alternative option would be to teach them an interesting skill, such as take part in the making an actual Lepa boat.....

read this blog by:
Richard Nelson Sokial
http://sabahwarriors.blogspot.com

SELAMAT DATANG
PESERTA LAWATAN INTEGRASI SEMPENA
PESTA REGATTA LEPA-LEPA 2009
DAERAH SEMPORNA, SABAH
16-21 APRIL 2009

Regatta Lepa 2009

Venue : Semporna, Sabah.
Date : 18th to 19th April 2009

Day 1 : Regatta Lepa 2009 launching, Bajau Cultural performances (Igal–Igal Dance and Joget Semporna)

Day 2 : Traditional boat tug of war, boat racing competition (Keleh keleh), Lepa boat parade.

Four traditional huts were as show case for the festive at the Central Pardang. These sample huts giving the local ethnic groups in Semporna a chance to highlight their living cultural heritage of dance and music.

The turquoise-colored sea where Semporna folks, mostly Bajaus, moor their lepa (traditional boats) at the waterfront of Tun Sankaran Marine Park.

For 2 days, from April 18-19, the small bay between the Seafest Hotel and Dragon Inn Resort was turned into a vibrant dockyard of LEPA.

On the ground, huge sambulayang lined the main road leading to the town centre where the Semporna Municipal Field was located.

All this is definitely a contrasting change from the otherwise laid-back fishing town that Semporna is.

While the waterfront became a stage for beautiful lepa and sports activities, a different kind of celebration was going on at the Semporna Municipal Field. Bajau traditional houses were erected to showcase Bajau culture that included traditional dance and music, food, costume and art deco.

The festival ended with the announcement of winners for contests which included the main titles for the Best Lepa, the Best Bajau House, the Ratu Lepa and other smaller contests.

The excited crowd packed the streets and cars moved slowly, as locals and tourists alike gathered to watch this annual event.

The town of Semporna is setting a good example for the architectural heritage conservation effort in Sabah, and hopefully it will spur other local towns to consider restoring significant local buildings which are historical to their native communities.

There are two types of boats; the elaborately decorated Lepa, and its smaller, less ornate cousin, the Kumpit.