Cowboys of the East: Still holding the reins on tradition

Bajau Sama horsemen at Kota Belud's tamu Besar. That young lad in red is a rare sight nowadays as many of the area's youth are leaving in search of opportunities in big cities. — CLEMENT LIEW

THE annual grand market held towards the end of the year in Kota Belud, Sabah, is not just about stalls hawking wares and food and a parade of folk decked out in their traditional best.

The state’s oldest tamu besar – which means big meeting or market in the local dialect – also marks a gathering of Bajau horsemen, an increasingly rare sight nowadays.