SABAH > TAWAU DIVISION > SEMPORNA TOWN >  Regatta Lepa-Lepa > LEPA Water Festival 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

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.