Penampang

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Penampang is a town that is located in a district of the same name within the West Coast Division of Sabah, Malaysia. It has virtually become a suburb of Kota Kinabalu which is Sabah's capital. Its population was estimated to be around 86,941 in 1991, with ethnic Kadazan-Dusun as the majority.

The name penampang came from an old village within the district. The village's name in turn originates from a Kadazan word that means "big rock". This is because huge rocks were easily found within the vicinity of the village a long time ago.

The name Penampang in contemporary usage refers more often to the district, with the town of Donggongon as the main town within the district. Donggongon means 'shelter' or 'rest area' in the native Kadazan language, referring to its historical role as a stop-over for people from the hills who journeyed down the coast for trade.

Penampang is often considered a stronghold of the Kadazan community, and the main centre for their political and cultural development. The Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) community hall hosts many of Kadazan's traditional festivities, chief among them the annual Kaamatan or 'harvest festival', their most important cultural event.

The Monsopiad Cultural Village is located in Penampang. Monsopiad was the name of a past warrior who was known for decapitating the heads of his enemy and hanging the skulls at the entrance of his home, to warn his enemies of his powers.

	Sabah
Divisions: Interior Division | Kudat Division | Sandakan Division | Tawau Division | West Coast Division
City: Kota Kinabalu
Towns: Beaufort | Beluran | Inanam | Keningau | Kinabatangan | Kuala Penyu | Kota Belud | Kota Marudu | Kudat | Kunak | Kundasang | Lahad Datu | Nabawan | Papar | Penampang | Pitas | Ranau | Sandakan | Semporna | Sipitang | Tambunan | Tamparuli | Tawau | Tenom | Tuaran
Islands: Banggi Island | Gaya Island | Layang Layang Island | Ligitan Island | Sebatik Island | Sipadan Island