About Kg. Sumangkap Gong Factory
Kg. Sumangkap Gong Factory is a traditional brass gong-making village located in Kampung Sumangkap, about 12 km from Kudat town in northern Sabah. It is the most famous gong production centre in Sabah, operated by the Rungus community. The village is notable for preserving the age-old handcrafted method of making gongs from brass, copper and zinc, which are central to Kadazan-Dusun, Rungus and Bajau cultural ceremonies and music.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a small village setting with open-air workshops and family-run factories where artisans demonstrate the entire gong-making process, from melting and hammering brass to tuning and polishing. The area contains display sheds with finished gongs of various sizes, work tools, and furnaces. Visitors can observe craftsmen at work, learn about the techniques, interact with locals, and purchase authentic gongs and souvenirs directly from the makers.
Key highlights
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Live demonstration of traditional hand-beaten brass gong making
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Centre of Rungus brass handicraft heritage in northern Sabah
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Opportunity to purchase authentic, locally made gongs and brassware directly from artisans
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Insight into the cultural role of gongs in Sabah's indigenous ceremonies and music
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Small-scale village workshops preserving generations-old craftsmanship
History of Kg. Sumangkap Gong Factory
Gong making in Kampung Sumangkap has been practiced for generations by the Rungus community, with skills passed down within families. The village developed as Sabah's main brass gong production centre, supplying gongs used historically for communication, ceremonies and as valuable heirlooms and dowry items.
Culture & Context
Gongs hold deep cultural significance for the Rungus, Kadazan-Dusun and Bajau peoples of Sabah, used in traditional music ensembles, weddings, harvest festivals and ritual ceremonies. Kampung Sumangkap represents the living preservation of this intangible cultural heritage and remains a key site for experiencing indigenous craftsmanship in Sabah.
Route
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