Maxis celebrates the true spirit of Kaamatan-Gawai with real stories told well with technology

• Collaborates with content creators on #MenuaiKisah campaign to gather stories from communities in Sabah and Sarawak in conjunction with the Kaamatan-Gawai festivities
• Stories told through the lens of Sabahans and Sarawakians in mini documentaries, video logs and interviews to reveal inspiring traditions and perspectives
• Empowering Malaysians to Always Be Ahead by sharing culture and heritage using everyday technology

The Pesta Kaamatan and Hari Gawai harvest festivals in Sabah and Sarawak respectively are steeped in the rich culture and tradition of thanksgiving for bountiful rice yields. Recognising that this heritage forms a big part of the people of East Malaysia, Maxis in collaboration with local content creators and individuals to go on a journey to gather stories from the communities to reconnect with their traditions and rediscover their roots.

Anchored by its #MenuaiKisah campaign, Maxis is empowering East Malaysians to document and share their stories of the festivals’ cultural significance using everyday technology, and to interpret each festive element in their own unique way.

“The captivating stories of the way of life in East Malaysia clearly show us why tradition and technology can and should co-exist. Through our campaign, we want to enable people to leverage the immense power of technology to celebrate culture and heritage so that it can be brought to more Malaysians, even the generations to come. For Maxis, it is about bringing together the best of technologies to enable people, individuals and the nation to Always Be Ahead in a changing world,” said Tai Kam Leong, Head of Brand & Marketing, Maxis.

Bringing #MenuaiKisah to life through the lens of the locals

Maxis is co-creating authentic content through the lens of local communities, through mini documentaries, video logs and interviews using everyday tech. In collaboration with Vivo, the content is shot entirely on their X60 series phones:

• Music with the Sundatang: Musician Mayabayu started fusing her Kadazandusun heritage into her music, which became her own blend of tribal pop music. Playing the Sundatang is one of the many ways she is doing this, including learning traditional Kadazandusun poetry.
• Remembering Rice: Food Instagrammer Pison Jaujip, who specialises in native food and recipes, honours the importance of rice as he travels to a village to talk about the significance of rice to the community and the harvest festival.
• Kampung from the Future: Community filmmaker Didi Nelson takes us to Ulu Papar, home of the Crocker Range Salt Trail to see how the indigenous community there is interconnected with nature, earning them the status of a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
  
• Searching for Huminodun: Actress and TV presenter Alex Alexander who is a former Unduk Ngadau beauty queen reflects on the matrifocal culture of her people with her mother. From the legend of the goddess Huminodun, they share the qualities that modern-day women of her community can embody.
  
• Stories of Home: Two Sarawakian mother-daughter pairs recount their best memories celebrating Gawai Dayak in an interview with The Rakyat Post, and the differences of how they celebrated it during their generation.
  

Four mini extensions will explore these elements in greater detail – special recipes, the deeper meaning to celebratory dances, traditional costumes and the significance of ‘ngiling tikai’ or rolling of the mat at the end of Gawai.

To learn more about #MenuaiKisah, visit https://www.maxis.com.my/en/campaigns/menuaikisah/