1) Introduction
a) Identity and History of the Tombonuo Community in
Sungai Eloi, Pitas
Sungai Eloi is found in the district of Pitas, Sabah, about 4 hours from Kota
Kinabalu City in the upstream mangrove areas of the Telaga River. The
population of Sungai Eloi Village is around 418 people (2017 census),
where a majority are Tombonuo who practise Christianity or other religions
but still practise traditional Tombonuo beliefs and culture.
Map showing location of Sungai Eloi, Pitas.
In the beginning, the village was known as Sungai Ayo (which means big
river) where the river flowed from Timbou Hill (Seraya Merah Hill) to the
mouth of Telaga River in Marudu Bay. In 1900, the name was changed to
Sungai Eloi in honour of a courageous individual by the name of Iloi.
According to our ancestors, Iloi had his own boat and pier. Anybody who
wanted to borrow his boat had to ask for permission and he would bring his
9|Sungai Eloi Tombonuo Community Protocol