Even using language alone for ethnic identification, the Sabah Linguistic Institute (SIL) managed to count a diversity of 50 or more.

But it looks like ethnic diversity is much richer and bigger when six other distinguishing marks are used, apart from the main linguistic yardstick.

The expanded figure came about after the Sabah Cultural Board decided to conduct a fresh study by incorporating a methodology called the "Self Identification" approach.

This is where the six extra criteria came in.

One - collective name based on historical record; Two - sine qua non, that is, common ancestry; Three - shared history; Four - distinctive shared culture; Five - association with specific territory, that is, homeland territory where they reside, commemorative association, external recognition by non-members of the group; and Six - sense of solidarity.

Using this new methodology, the Sabah Cultural Board's Ethnic Field Research Group, who carried out the study between October and December 2007 for the purpose of establishing an official figure, believe there are over 100 main and sub-ethnic groups in the State, said Joisin Romut, Manager of the Research and Corporate Services Division of the Board.

Key members of the research committee include Datuk Joseph Guntavid, Director of the Sabah Museum (Head), Professor Dr Jacqueline Kitingan of Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Joisin Romut (Secretary), a graduate in cultural studies, etc.

Discovery of a much more diverse ethnic culture definitely raises the significance and attraction of the coming two-day Federal-funded State level Culture Carnival, which Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman will launch on January 26 at Merdeka Padang, Kota Kinabalu. Datuk Rais Yatim, Federal Culture Minister, will also be present.

The centre-piece will be the ethnic exhibits featuring 19 major groups, namely Kadazan Papar, Kadazan Penampang, Tatana (Kuala Penyu), Dusun Ranau, Dusun Tindal, Lotud (Tuaran), Lundayah, Bisaya, Murut, Rungus, Brunei, Orang Sungei, Chinese, Sikh, Bajau (Kota Belud), Bajau (Semporna), Tidong and Idahan.

Apart from cultural conservation and promotion as the core purpose, the exhibition will be a perfect platform to carry out potentially mass ethnic research.

"This is why we are appealing to Sabahans to turn out in hordes to platform for Sabahans to come out in hordes and provide feedback to us on their own ethnic origins," Joisin said.

To help draw attention to the exhibits, a Culture Night featuring top Sabah born winners and finalists at Malaysia's reality show Akademi Fantasia, Linda (Af2), Ekin (Af3) and other well-known entertainers like Abu Bakar Ellah, Clarice J. Matha, Evaritus Gungkit and best of Malaysian composer, lyricist and singer Adam (Af2), after the official launching by the Chief at 7pm on January 26.

The two-day exhibition, however, will start early morning on January 26, Joisin noted.

One of Malaysia's top notch artists, cartoonist-cum-actor A. Rahim Muda, better known as Imuda, will also be at the exhibition for two days in connection with a strong drawing competition and demonstration programme where five booths have been allotted to artists.

The climax to it all will probably be the Carnival Talent Show at 7pm on January 27 where 10 winners of the district-level culture carnivals will fight for the top honour.

Getting Sabahans and Malaysians to better understand one another is actually the supreme objective of the Culture Carnival, Tangau told Daily Express.

"If we look at the linguistic anatomy and traditional food labels of the various ethnic groups, there are actually a lot of similarities," he noted.