The Sacred Narrative of Magombok Ritual by Bajau Laut Ethnic in Kampung Gelam Gelam Semporna Sabah

Nor Nabilatul Nisya Azani, Lena Farida Hussain Chin and Amsalib Pisali
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Nor Nabilatul Nisya Azani: Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, Sultan Idris Education University
Lena Farida Hussain Chin: Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, Sultan Idris Education University
Amsalib Pisali: Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, Sultan Idris Education University

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 2025, vol. 9, issue 3, 1513-1522

Abstract: The Bajau Laut community in Kampung Gelam-Gelam, Semporna, Sabah, practices various cultural traditions that have been passed down through generations, one of which is the Magombok ritual. This ritual serves as a traditional healing method to treat spiritual and emotional ailments, and contains sacred values closely tied to beliefs in ancestral spirits. However, there is growing concern among practitioners and the older generation regarding the younger generation’s increasing neglect of the sacred values of this ritual, which threatens its continuation. This research aims to document the sacred narrative of the Magombok ritual by focusing on its structure, symbolic functions, and meanings that contribute to its sacredness. The study adopts a qualitative approach through a case study involving observations, interviews, and document analysis to collect data. Additionally, the data is analyzed through consensus using Turner’s ritual theory to outline the ritual structure as social drama, involving the stages of separation, liminality, and reintegration. Meanwhile, Eliade’s sacred theory is used to explore the symbolic functions and their meanings. Thus, the Magombok ritual can be seen as a form of community unification, a medium for prayer requests, a process of self-purification, an alternative healing practice, as well as a sign of gratitude. All of this impacts sacred communication, playing a role in preserving the cultural heritage of the Bajau Laut community in Kampung Gelam-Gelam, Semporna, Sabah.

Date: 2025
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