Penampang is a district as well as a small town (Penampang Proper)
It has virtually become a suburb of Kota Kinabalu which is Sabah's capital.
Its population was estimated to be around 132,002 in 2000, with ethnic
Kadazan-Dusun as the majority.
The name penampang came from an old village within the district. The village's
name in turn originates from a Kadazan word that means "big rock". This is
because huge rocks were easily found within the vicinity of the village a long
time ago.
The name Penampang in contemporary usage refers more often to the district, with
the town of Donggongon as the main town within the district. Donggongon means
'shelter' or 'rest area' in the native Kadazan language, referring to its
historical role as a stop-over for people from the hills who journeyed down the
coast for trade. Other towns or sub-districts within Penampang are Putatan and
Lok Kawi.
Penampang is often considered a stronghold of the Kadazan community, and the
main centre for their political and cultural development. The Kadazandusun
Cultural Association (KDCA) community hall hosts many of Kadazan's traditional
festivities, chief among them the annual Kaamatan or 'harvest festival', their
most important cultural event.
The Monsopiad Cultural Village is in Penampang. Monsopiad was the name of a past
warrior who was known for decapitating the heads of his enemy and hanging the
skulls at the entrance of his home, to warn his enemies of his powers.
Penampang is administered by Majlis Daerah Penampang (Penampang District
Council).