The Tribes of Sugud

Written by H. Joplin Mosiun 

April 2, 2023

Dear reader, please acknowledge or cite the blog and author of the article if you wish to use any information on this site. Cheers!

Due to a decline in oral tradition, it has become challenging to identify all the names of the tribes and groups that made up or allied with the Bangkaakon in the early days. Origin stories have become intertwined and convoluted through decades of intermarriages, with old names being attributed new meanings or replaced, adding to the confusion. It is possible that many of these communities discarded their histories when they adopted the Kadazan adat and began identifying themselves as Kadazans. 

I was able to identify some of the original founding groups. Several of these groups were in Tambunan but were pressured to leave when the area came under the control of the Nunuk Ragang tribes. These groups eventually gathered in Sugud and formed the Bangkaakon. The list is as follows:-

Tobilung (Tobihung) - This was the first group to have scouted the area and reported back to Tondulu. Marang, the leader of the Tobilung in Sugud, founded Kg. Maang whilst his brother, Marahang founded villages in Kinarut and Kawang. Marang named his settlement after the name of his tribe. There may have been a dispute between the Tobilung and the other Nunuk Ragang tribes that resulted in the death of their leader, Mondowoi.

Bangkahak - This group came from Tongod and is believed to be the Mangkaak. They were the founders of the Bangkaakon. 

Malapi - A subsection of Sugud is named Malapi which is likely linked to the Malapi people. A prominent figure of this community is Balajai, who later settled in Kawang.

Tagahas - The Tagahas dissidents led by Botulung aligned themselves with the Bangkaakon in Sugud. Botulung was the Huguan Siou of the Bangkaakon.

Mokiang/Tombonuo - This group also came in large numbers. Their culture is evident through the use of wooden totem poles and carvings and is similar to the practices of indigenous communities in Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu and Kunak. Dovook (Toworok) and Bakaon are the names of two of their settlement in Kg. Maang.

Pungiton - This is the name of one of the early settlements in Kg. Maang. This group was associated with the Monongngigi people. The Tobihung and Pungiton were the earliest in Maang before the Tombonuo people open their settlements in the area. Most settlements were concentrated in the Tandarupis, Sugud.

Nambayan/Lambayan - This group came from Nambayan in Tambunan and were the founders of Kg. Nambazan. This group may have settled in Danau long before the arrival of the Nunuk Ragang tribes.

Unknown tribe - A group similar to the Bangkahak lived on Ponontogon hill, a ridge bordering Kg. Maang and Sugud, but its name has been forgotten. They were big people like the Bangkahak.

Montug and Mahanga - These are two more settlements in Kg. Maang but I do not have any information on them. 

These are just some of the groups. I believe they are many more. I did not include the Kadazan and Tuhawon since they came much later after the Bangkaakon was formed. I also did not include Tangara/Tangaa because they did not exist until the arrival of the Kadazan to Putatan.