Summary
Highlights
Sepak Manggis is an ancient game where 'sepak' means kicking a ball-like object, and 'manggis' refers to the mangosteen fruit, which likely inspired the game's form or name. Historically, it was played by people of adat (customary law) during significant events.
The game was traditionally played during wedding receptions and as part of nazar (vows). It was also performed to entertain important guests or dignitaries visiting a village or organization, such as schools.
In the past, the manggis (the central object) was adorned with edible items like crackers. Nowadays, the prizes have evolved to include modern items such as mobile phones, which are placed below the manggis for the winner. The manggis itself is no longer disturbed to preserve its decorative appearance.
Sepak Manggis does not require a specific court and can be played in open fields. There's no strict limit on participants; the more people play, the better. When played in teams, a common arrangement is six players, with two players per team responsible for kicking a ball towards the hanging manggis.
The player who manages to touch the manggis becomes the champion. In wedding contexts, the manggis would not be taken down until the groom arrived at the bride's house, regardless of who won, symbolizing a connection to the event. The prizes are typically distributed from below to avoid damaging the beautifully decorated manggis.
The game has been innovated to preserve the manggis's aesthetic appeal, with prizes now awarded from below. The speaker emphasizes that Sepak Manggis is a special game for the Bajau people, particularly in Kota Belud, and hopes it will continue to be played and introduced to future generations to maintain its cultural significance.