Kadazan people

The Kadazan people, or simply the Kadazans, are an Austronesian ethnic group indigenous to Sabah, Malaysia. They primarily live in the West Coast Division, in the districts of Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Putatan and Papar, the surrounding areas, and various locations in the Interior Division, such as Beaufort and Membakut, as well as, to a lesser extent, the eastern Kadazans of Labuk-Kinabatangan, as well as in the Federal Territory of Labuan.

The Kadazans form another major indigenous ethnic group within the western coast of the Sabah region with rich traditional heritage, distinct dress, language and customs based on different districts, with an estimated 568,575 (mixed with the Dusuns) spread across the state. They are among the earliest indigenous people within northern Borneo exposed to the early Christian mission and faced various interactions with the Sultanate of Brunei in the 18th century and later the British that resulted in their rapid subsequent modernisation in the late 19th century, when many of the British administration towns within North Borneo were constructed close to many of the Kadazans' homelands. The majority of Kadazans are Roman Catholics although traditional culture remains important to the community, with their Adats are recognised by the Native Court of Sabah.

As a result of integration in culture and language, as well as for political initiatives, the new term "Kadazan-Dusun" was created to combine Kadazan and Dusun as one group. Together, they are the largest indigenous ethnic group in Sabah. They have been internationally recognised as an indigenous group in the northern part of the island of Borneo since 2004 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).