Magunatip

The Magunatip, Magunatib or Lalatip dance is a traditional energetic dance of Murut ethnic groups living in the inlands of Tenom, Keningau, Nabawan (formerly Pensiangan), several other districts within the interior division of Sabah, Malaysia, as well as North Kalimantan, Indonesia. The word "magunatip" comes from the word "atip" which means to press between two surfaces. Specifically, it refers to the act of pinching the two surfaces of the bamboo stick, which is used as the main instrument in this dance. Magunatip dancers require high skill and agility to dance across the bamboo sticks ("atipan") struck together simultaneously to produce the sound and rhythm of the dance. Typically, the magunatip dance does not require any musical accompaniment since the sound of the bamboo being played already creates a rhythm and beat. In the past, the dance was performed to welcome the returning of Murut warriors after their successful ngayau (headhunting) traditions. Since the abolishment of headhunting throughout the British and Dutch periods, the dance is performed to welcome guests as part of the ethnic cultural ceremonies. In 2012, magunatip was listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Malaysia in the category of Intangible Heritage Object Categories under the Department of National Heritage. In 2017, Indonesia listed the lalatip dance of Bulungan, Malinau, Nunukan, and Tana Tidung regencies of North Kalimantan as an intangible cultural heritage of the republic. Both the Malaysian federal and Sabah state governments including the Indonesian central and North Kalimantan provincial governments have declared the dance, its music, and traditional clothing as a national heritage which includes the ritual processes and tools that are classified as the Murut tangible and intangible cultural heritage.