Selamat Ngintu Hari Gawai 2014

Nuju Bala Menyadi Semua,

Enggau bas ati besai, Aku blogger Meruanku Ngenang, deka meri jaku basa enggau tabi ngagai bala ti udah nyadi raban ba dalam blog aku tok enggau ngagai semua orang ti ngelala.

Jaku basa enggau tabi hari Gawai baka ke tahun tok dikena aku meri pengaga ati enggau gauk ka semua kita menyadi. Aku deka ngenang semua basa enggau pemanah semua bala kaban belayan ka enggau aku begulai dalam dunia tok. Pia mega enda lama agi aku deka nyambut ari pengada aku ke 25 tahun baka ke taun tok .

Nyau enda berasai bulan beganti, mataari padam, lalu bertukar siang nyadi malam, malam nyadi siang, umai kitai udah mansau, udah ga diketau. Dalam bulan 6 tok, kitai belelak ka ngintu pengaga tegal pemujur udah bulih padi enggau rejeki.

Aku balat meri puji ngagai Tuhan laban balat mujur ka pengidup aku. Taun tok aku deka ngintu Gawai enggau pemisi aku empu lalu merkat ka ruang bilik aku enggau pemujur ka udah diberi Tuhan. Aku berasai gaga meda apai indai aku gaga meda pemujur aku nyadi siku anak ti ulih meri sereta mantu seduai.

Pia mega ngagai bala  kaban aku ka sama sekula suba, kaban sama gerija, kaban sama enggau gawa, ex kaban ka enggau gawa.

Meri Selamat Hari Gawai 2014

Selamat Hari Gawai Dayak dan Kotobian Tadau Do Kaamatan 2012

Adat Enggau Pengarap?

Adat enggau pengarap Iban asal? Tauka Adat? Tauka Pengarap nya sama? Nama reti adat? Adat nya Culture, siti utai ti endang peturun ti dibai aki ini kitai suba. Tang nama pengarap nya ? Pengarapnya believe,  iya nya pasal pengawa besembahka petara. Adat Iban asal endang manah sereta ngembuan basa ti tinggi enggau reti ti dalam. Kemayuh anak bala nembiak rebak batu ( dalam umur 20an-30an) enda entu nemu enggau silik senentang Adat enggau Pengarap Iban asal. 


Nama Adat Iban asal? Aku deka magi enggau berapa iti langgur penemu, keterubah Leka Main asal(pantun, ensera,entelah, biau) kedua ukum( ukum orang belaya, ukum orang butang, ukum ngenchuri enggau etc) enggau jalai ngintu pengawa( orang kahwin,orang parai, jalai idup ba rumah panjai enggau etc). Ketiga iyanya Jaku IBAN.  Baka leka main aku mega deka meri runding pasal biau,ba runding aku leka biau iya siti falsafah kitai iban dalam meri langgur peransang penemu. Bala sida lemambang ngembuan runding ti dalam kelebih agi dalam meri jaku ti mai pemujur. Leka buai biau tau diambik kita nya ka sastera tau ka seni, taja ( ngagai sida ti bepengarap Kristian, enggau ke bukai) orang ti bebiau nganggau ka nama petara enggau ngadu ka piring ( offering) nya ukai seni tauka ka dalam bagi sastera agi laban nya mai pengawa besembah ka petara. Ba penemu aku biau nya nadai salah tang enda ngangau ka nama petara, tang lebih nekan ka penggawa bungai biau. Kati deh enti bebiau enggau manuk enggau piring ading? enti bakanya enda ulih disegulaika enggau pengarap Kristian enggau bukai. Laban udah bebida ari jalai nitih betuai ka Tuhan ti siku aja. Laban enda ulih dua perau. Enti ngagai bala iban ti negmbuan pengarap asal nya nadai penanggul. Ambik ke banding biau pengabang nya enda basa ti manah ke ngenatai ka pengabang. Ulih bebiau enggau manuk nadai salah, tang anang nyayat rekung manuknya alu genselanka darah iya ( ngagai org kristian) aduka nya nyadi simbolik aja. Ngagai orang Kristian ti ba rumah panjai kelebih agi, laban kitai Iban ti tuai ba rumah panjai engka kurang dalam macha enggau belajar ke bup kudus, ari nya pengarap baru enggau pengarap Iban nya dikumbai sida adat, bisi bida runding mimit senentangnya. Utai ngasuh kitai teleba salah dalam pengarap nya, pengarap Iban ti lama dikumbai kitai adat, taja kebendar iya adatnya ukai pengawa ti besembah, adatnya lebih ka kaul dalam pengidup besahari-sahari enggau leka main. 


    Ba runding aku, adat Iban nya bepun ari leka jaku Iban empu. Ambik ka banding dalam jaku sempama, dikelala bungai ari langguk, dikelala bansa ari jaku. Jaku Ibannya endang batu pemun adat bansa kitai, bakani kena ngelai nuan nya IBAN? Keterubah ari DNA nuan, kedua ari bangsa budaya nuan, enggau ketiga ari bansa negara nuan. Ba DNA, kitai iban ngembuan DNA kediri empu, setiap iku bansa bisi ngembuan DNA ti nadai ba bansa bukai. Dalam Bansa budaya iyanya dichuraka ari endur pendiau kitai begulai. Ambik ke banding ari Jaku( cara bejaku oral, cara nulis), cara berunding( cara ngaga pemutus),cara ngaga utai ( chara bumai, chara manduk utai, chara ngaga utai ti dikena). Jaku Iban nya pemadu beguna bendar, engka mayuh bala nembiak Iban ke ba Luar negeri enda entu landik bejaku dalam jaku Iban ti dalam kelebih agi ti besangkut paut enggau jaku sempama. Kediatu Jaku Iban enti dipeda ari segi pelajar endang udah datai ba tikas ti pemadu tinggi, ambik ka chunto di UPSI, jaku Iban udah diajar ba peringkat Universiti ngaggai bala sida ti ngambi krusus nyadi pengajar. Bansa negara mega pasal kitai Dayak ( Iban, Bidayu, Orang Ulu) dalam negeri Sarawak. Ambai Kitai Iban enda jauh bida ari bansa asal dalam Sarawak laban ketegal kitai diau segulai dalam Sarawak, Malaysia. Bangsa negara tok digaga ari proses politik, bangsa budaya ari proses ti diadaka ari kitai ibann empu ari setuju penemu enggau atur ti disetuju ka bala mayuh, lalu ka penudi iya bansa DNA nya endang digaga Tuhan empun ( enti ari Sains nya endang bisi dalam tiap iko kitai iban).


   Diatu aku, deka bekenang ka pasal pengarap. Pengarapnya lebih nuju agi ngagai pengawa besembahka Tuhan( Yahweh, Allah, Budhha, Sengalang Burung etc). Nama reti agama? Agamanya pengarap ti ngembuan kitab suci ( Bible, Alquran,etc), lalu agamanya madah ka pengawa ti salah enggau betul ti patut digaga, pasal serga enggau negara, pasal sapa Tuhannya. Tang enti baka pengawa ka besembah ka pun kayu, betuai ka burung nya dikumbai animisme.  Aku deka bekunsi ka pengarap Kristian kelebih agi, ba penantai Rajah Burak suba mayuh bala orang penginjil dianjung. Alu Kristian majak bala ngerembai diserata menua Sarawak. Nemu kita ba Sarawak bisi Gereja ti endang asal ari menua kitai empu? Sidang Injil Borneo nya endang ditumbuhka kitai Dayak empu. Ba Bakalalan, Orang Ulu udah meda kerja nyelai Tuhan empun din. Dia sida lalu ngepun ka gerija ari kitai Borneo empu. Mayuh mega gerija bukai ti datai ari menua bukai baka Angelican, Khatolik, Medthodist , SDA, Baptis, Hope, semua gerija tok ari menua bukai lalu mai berita manah ngagai menua kitai. Ba bagi gerija mega bisi pengelain ba chara sembiang sida, tang bup kudus enda sigi diguna siti aja lalu nadai bup ti bukai. Aku deka magi ngagai dua jenis gerija iya nya Khatolik enggau Protestan, dalam dua jenis tok gerija protestan dikumbai orang orang kristian aja, taja orang Kristian Khatolik dikumbai orang Kristian Khatolik. Kristian Khatoliknya ba sigi agama lalu iya ukai kristian laban doktrin iya lain ari gerija kristian bukai. Taja Kristian Protestan negmbuan mayuh mahzab tang sida bepanggai ba bup kudus siti aja. Lalu dalam gerija mega bisi bida bisi gerija lebih ngajar ngagai chara besembiang ( gerija tradisi) enggau bisi mega gerija lebih ngagai bup kudus ( pelajaran ti leboh nekan penemu Theology @ Krismatik) .Ambik ka banding dalam Gerija Angelican, sida ngajar ngaga tanda regang, cara macha jalai pengarap, cara sembian ari minggu mesti nitih ka atur, tang ba gerija ti Krismatik baka SIB, Baptis, Hope sida leboh nekan ka ngagai pengawa "worship" iya nya belagu nyembah Tuhan enggau belajarka pengawa  Bup Kudus. Ari peda aku , orang Kristian ti ari Kristian Krismatik lebih likun ba pengarap sida iya, nama kebuah? Laban sida mansik jaku Tuhan enggau lebih dalam. Lalu sida ngembuan pengelaman peribadi begulai enggau Tuhan. Sida ngembuan kesaksian tauka cherita pengidup ngasai ka pemisi Tuhan dalam pengidup sda. Baka aku endang adai ari gerija Iban ti krismatik, aku lebih belajar ka pansik dalam bup kudus enggau kristis. Lalu ba sembiang ari minggu pengajar sembiang endang nekan ka ba isi bup kudus ukai ba pengawa tradisi sembiang baka ator sembiang. Bup kudus ukai semina dibacha aja tang diperati ka enggau dalam.  Pulai baru ngagai pasal pengarap, Kristian nya sebenar iya ukai agama tang "personal relationship with God', laban dalam kristian ukai agama nya ti nyelamat ka kitai sereta meri kitai manah ba mua Tuhan tang ari pengerindu Tuhan empu. enti agamanya leboh ngagai ator sembiang enggau pengawa ti salah enggau betul, tang "personal relationship: iya nuan enggau Tuhan empu. Nuan besampi bejaku enggau Iya, nuan ngasai ka pemisi iya.


     Nama tanggungjawab tauka batang pengawa kitai kristian dalam ngetanka Adat Iban? Ba atur pengidup kitai iban mayuh bendar isu ti nagang kitai meretika reti bup kudus nya. Mayuh bendar bagi adat kitai Iban enda sejalai enggau ajar bup kudus. Taja uatai ka dikerandau aku ditu nama enggau bakani kitai kristian nengah isu-isu tok? Ditu aku deka meri kitai berapa tanya ti selalu diberika kitai Iban dalam ngembuan pengarap kristian.


1. Tau enda kitai agi percaya ka negu?- negu nya bepanggai ba nasib, enti enda negu kitai tulah lalu deka takut kena penusah. Taja ba bup kudus madah pengarap kitai dilempai Tuhan aja, nadai utai bukai. Taja enti nuan negu ketegal nuan bebasa ka orang ti meri pemakai nya tang nuan kenyang ( nya budaya ukai worship) taja nuan anang engkah pengadang nuan ba utai empa, tang ba Tuhan.


2. Tau enda kitai ngirup?- Ngirup tau taja ukai sampai mabuk. ambi kebanding Tuhan Jesus nukar ai nyadi anggur enggau timoti ngirup ai anggur ketegal ngangatka perut iya. Nama tuju ngirup? nya kebendar iya ditekan ka Tuhan. enti nuan ngirup ketegal deka muai masalah, ngenatai ka penusah nya ukai ti dimendarkan Tuhan laban nya meyati diri. Ngirup nya mesti bisi bertakat. Ngirup ai ti diberi maya gawai nya endang basa kitai Iban. (TANG) amaran keras tok. Orang Kristian ti enda MATANG dalam iman anang ngirup manah agi laban kita beda nemu bida, tang orang Kristian ti udah ngasai ka diri udah nemu reti silik dalam bup kudus. Takat ngirup nya mesti diberi dalam diri. Ngirupnya budaya kitai Iban? Tang ngagai sida ti enda ngirup enggau ke biak anang belajar ngirup sekali. Tang ngagai ba orang ti diau segulai ba rumah panjai isu tok endang sigi selalu meri sida keliru. Enti enda ngirup sekali nya manah. Tang enti nuan ngirup ketegal basa enggau ngintu pengerami ( tang ukai tekelalu). Muai ai dulu sebedau ngirup nya pengawa besembah.


3. Tau enda kitai bepantang? Bepantang nya budaya tauka fesyen. Tang nitih ka bup kudus nadai ayat ti jelas madah enda tau bepantang. Tang enti bepantang asal Iban nadai salah ba penemu aku, laban nya budaya kitai, tang enti bepantang ketegal bisi kebuah bukai baka gangster, baka bisi penemu jai, bisi gambar antu nya endang enda tau laban nya endang mandang ka saksi manah. Pengidup roh nya lebih beguna ari pengidup Tubuh, nuan enda tau enda nyaga diri ba pengidup. enti ukir Iban ti endang asal nadai salah, tanag nuan enda tau enda nemu reti pantang nya dulu enggai ka bisi ngembuan sangkut paut ba pengawa sembah.


4. Bakani ngintu orang kahwin enggau orang mati? orang kahwin tau diatur ba rumah panjai enda semesti iya ba gerija, taja ba atur kaunseling enggau jalai pengarap Kristian ( bebini siko aja) nya patut ditanka. Ba orang mati mega ba pengawa mai baya, nyabak ka orang mati, muai ulit, ngintu seratus hari? tau diaduka taja ukai baka orang enda ngelala Tuhan, pengawa nya lebih ka ngagai basa. Nama kebuah bakanya laban orang Iban lebih merening ka ngagai basa ngagai orang, sampai ka sida niang pun endang dibasa. Enti pengawa tok dibuai gerija deka disalahka laban muai adai basa . Aku nemu Gerija deka muai tradisi nyembah petara lama tang basa Iban nya tinggi dalam diri sama diri, uji kitai orang gereja merening ari sukut bukai. 


Nyadi orang Kristian ti bebansa Iban enda sama enggau orang putih. Laban kitai Iban endang sigi kering ba adat enggau basa. kitai patut nyembah Tuhan nya enggau buday akitai empu. Agi aku ingat maya da Gerija Iban suba, kami muji Tuhan ngena ajat, tawak, engkerumung. Ari Musik kami nyampurka alat moden baka sida jita nya ngena alat tradisional, lalu bungai ajat kami nyembah Tuhan ( ukai jengkak2 aja baka lagu Hillsong nya iya) taja ngena ajat Iban. ( chunto ti diberi aku nya ari pengelaman aku aja, enti ari sudut Theology enggau Academic bisi bida mimit) Aku nulis tok pan laban deka bekunsi penemu diri lalu baka pengasai aku udah mela ba sidang Iban, nyadi orang Kristian ba rumah panjai. 


lalu mega mayuh tanya ti bukai tau dianjung kita ngagai aku. Ba pengarap Kristian endang nadai ngagang kitai Iban ngintu adat kitai ( kelebih agi ngagai  basa enggau nyaga pengelikun pangan diri) tang anang aja pengawanya ba aut pengawa besembah. Nya udah salah, laban enda nyembah Tuhan siuk aja. As long  pengawa dikerja kitai nya ukai nyembah, nya nadai salah. Kayu ukur kena aku ditu iay " BASA" . Adat nya basa ti besai ti dikembuan kitai Iban. Adat mega paptut berubah nitih ka awak enggau ator menua awak ulih fleksible enggau orang diatu. Kerja ngetan ka semua utai patut diadu ka ngena pendidikan formal enggau enda formal. Uatai bepun enggau ajar apai indai, ari Ketuai Gerija enggau pengawa perintah megai menua. Taja pan pia anang kita nitih ka jakau ajar Ketuai Gerija enggau Ketuai perintah megai menua, laban sida nya bisi kepentingan magang. Utai ti patut dipegai kitanya "BUP KUDUS". 


           Ba aku ti benung nyadi siku Mahasiswa, lalau nama utai ti udah dikerja aku ngetan ka Iban iya nya enggau bekaul manah enggau bala Iban kebukai, meransang sida dalam pengarap, nulung naka ulih enti sida bisi penanggul. Meri diri dalam pengawa mela Tuhan, jaku Iban nya nyadi Identiti aku. kelebih agi lebuh aku bejaku enggau Iban sama Iban. Ba pengawa ngajat aku endang sigi nemu. Kami ditu endang mai pengawa ngajat nyadi ka budaya kitai Iban.


Jaku Pesan: Enti kitai bisi utai tanya, tauka buah runding ti manah tau dikenatai ka enggau nulis. Aku semina ka nguji bekunsi ka pengasai ati aja laban aku balat akun ka bansa diri. Tja meh diatu orang musim orang peresa, aku enda ulih macha bup maya tok, laban nya aku nulis blog tok laban ka merindang diri nulis sereta bejurai ke penemu. Terima kasih Tuhan Merkat.

Nguai: Adat ti patut ditan ka tauka nithka pemansang dunya kemaya hari?

 Siti ari adat ( pengawa ti diturunka aki inik kitai ari suba) baka nguai enda sigi ngembuan chukup meri "human rights" ngagai sida ka  indu lebih agi. Lebuh mansik enggau silik senentang adat iban kelia, endang sigi dijuraika enggau basa. Ambik ke banding ari segi hak nyadi siku mensia, lelaki tau ka indu sigi nadai bagi. Aku endang sigi puji ngagai adat enggau basa ti udah diberi tauka dipeturunka aki ini kitai suba, endang sigi nadai meri bida entara laki enggau indu. Laban dalam adat tuai kelia, lebuh siku indu udah jadi enggau laki iya ( sida enda semesti iya nitih ka laki sida tang bisi mega polisi ba rumah panjai 'sida ti laki tau nitih ka indu' ) reti iya nya nguai ( bebini nguai, belaki nguai)

Engka kala kita ninga lagu siku penyanyi iban iya nya Linda a.k.a Simai ( Tusah belaki Nguai), dalam artikal tauka blog aku, aku nguji minta penemu bala mayuh senentang pekara tok laban adat nguai tok selalu nya ketegal bisi sekeda pengerindu tetanggul laban enda ulih nguai ngagai sapa. Nama reti nguai kebendar iya? Nguai reti iya ( nitih ka utai ke temu aku pia) kitai nya laki tau ka indu nitih sereta enggau pulai ka bilik bini tauka laki kitai. Nyadi enda diau di bilik asal. ( begulai enggau mentua kini). Dulu suba ( maya agi bedau dunya mansang) orang enda sigi terit bekaul enggau adat nguai, tang diatu ubah dunya udah majak meri tinjau tu baru. Nama kebuah? Laban dunya lebih agi meda dini endur periuk asi ( endur gawa). Aku sigi muji endang udah mayuh bansa kitai Dayak mujur dalam pengawa sekula lalu udah bekerja di mengeri besai. Dia kitai meda tinjau ( view) diatu dini endur periuk asi kitai diatu enggai ke suba. Ambik ke banding orang dulu suba idup ba rumah panjai endang sigi bemuai sereta bekebun enggau nupi jelu tupi. Orang ke bekerja ( endang begunaka pengering mensia ti mayuh enggau chukup) beempu ruang bilik ti besai ( mayuh anak endang sigi bisi pengelebih) laban sigi kena beguna amai lebih beumai betaun. Bisi orang enggau ngetau padai sereta bumai taun. Laban ekonomi dulu suba endang sigi ngidupka diri sebilik aja, ulihnya pengawa nguai enda sigi balat beguna kena ngiga ruang bilik ti besai agi ambik ka nyamai endur bekerja.

Nama kebuah enggai nyadi nguai? Enti iya nya siku ja lalu nadai menyadi, enti iya anak tuai ( indu enggau laki sama). Tang bakani sida ti mayuh anak? bisi mayuh indu laki dalam sida menyadi? sigi besai amai peluang nguai ke urang laban mayuh mensia enti dbida ka enggau orang ti nadai entu tubuh dalam diri sebilik. Enti iya anak empik mega sigi jarang ka nguai laban balat dikesayau ke apai enggau indai iya.

Bakani deka ngatur ka pengawa nguai? Ba peneleba aku, aku kala meda lebuh orang nanya indu sida deka dulu nanya ka sapa bagi nguai dulu. Ditu endur bala orang tuai deka mutus ka aum. Enti nitih ka atur bup kudus ( laban mayuh orang iban udah bisi megai pengarap kristian) pengawa nguai endang nadai salah ba ator Bup Kudus kebuah pia laban Allah Taala endang ngaga mensia endang baka mua iya empu ( Pemungkal 1:27) reti iya laki indu sigi nadai bida ba " rights". Indu enggau laki endang sigi sebaka. Tang dalam bup kudus madah sida ti laki patut nyadi ketuai mai bilik sida iya lalu indu nya ka tawing ( ukai reti indu baruh ari laki tang nyadi " pelengkap") Dua iti tubuh saum nyadi siti lalu bempu pangan diri. ( nadai bida) .

Patut ke enda penagawa ngaui diteruska? Bagi aku endnag patut laban nya meri "win-win" ngagai laki enggau indu, lalu bakani seduai iya meri diri nya bepanggai bakani seduai ulih percay ake diri sam adiri. Tang nyadi siku orang lelaki kitai enda tau meda sida indu nya baruh ari kitai, sida endang bisi hak (human rights). Tang awak ke meh pilih tauka titit k ator tu meri penyamai ngagai seduai nuan empu. Ngambi ke banding bisi mega orag diatu nadai ngena atur nguai agi laban tegal bagi pengawa lalu nya meri reti seduai iya sama enda belebih pangan ba ator magi apai indai enggau kaban belayan. Enti sema orang nya nguai, maya Gawai endang kelebih agi endang puali ngagai rumah laki ti endur sida nguai tauka bini sida.

Tang enti sigi nuan jadi enggau basa bukai , ngagai sida ke laki ( iban) endang beruntung laban indu sigi nitih ka kita, tang sigi ka indu iban jadi enggau laki basa bukai ( kita bisi endur ngetan ka hak kita) . Pengawa nguai tok penting bendar kelebih ngagai sida ka indu ti jadi enggau bansa bukai laban arinya ulih ngetan ka bansa kitai. Awak ka sida nitih ka budaya tauka adat basa kitai. Anak kita asuh belajar jaku Iban. Nama reti bansa? ( bansa DNA, Bansa Budaya, enggau Bansa Negara) retinya awak ka anak kita DNA iya nitih ka apai, DNA bansa bukai tang bangsa Budaya sida anang lenyau ( ajar jaku iban, budi basa, adat, enggau main asal) Bansa budaya lebih penting laban " dikelala bungai ari langguk, dikelala bansa ari jaku". Nama kebuah kitai iban patut ngetan ka bansa budaya laban identit kitai amat unik. Enti kita enda mai bansa kitai iban tok, sapa agi? Jaku kitai! adat! Main Asal ! anang alah laban urang!

( enti sema bisi utai ti deka dikemetulka, aku minta kita meri buah runding kita senentang pekara tok) Setuju ka enda kita enggau pengawa nguai) ba aku nadai salah pengawa tok laban nya nyaga hak sida ke indu, tanag menseti nemu meh meda gaya kedua dua iko awak , pemutus nya nadai meri bida ngagai siku siku . Iya ke manah penemu ti betul sgi meri pemujur!! Tuhan merkat!!

Asal Bansa Iban

The Ibans are a branch of the Dayak peoples of Borneo.In Malaysia,most Ibans are located in Sarawak,a small portion in Sabah and some in west Malaysia. They were formerly known during the colonial period by the British as Sea Dayaks. Ibans were renowned for practising headhunting and tribal/territorial expansion. A long time ago, being a very strong and successful warring tribe, the Ibans were a very feared tribe in Borneo. They speak the Iban language.

Today, the days of headhunting and piracy are long gone and in has come the modern era of globalization and technology for the Ibans. The Iban population is concentrated in Sarawak, Brunei, and in the West Kalimantan region of Indonesia. They live in longhouses called rumah panjai. Most of the Iban longhouses are equipped with modern facilities such as electricity and water supply and other facilities such as (tar sealed) roads, telephone lines and the internet. Younger Ibans are mostly found in urban areas and visit their hometowns during the holidays. The Ibans today are becoming increasingly urbanised while (surprisingly) retaining most of their traditional heritage and culture.

The origin of the name Iban is a mystery, although many theories exist. During the British colonial era, the Ibans were called Sea Dayaks. Some believe that the word Iban was an ancient original Iban word for people or man. The modern-day Iban word for people or man is mensia, a slightly modified Malay loan word of the same meaning (manusia).

The Ibans were the original inhabitants of Borneo Island. Like the other Dayak tribes, they were originally farmers, hunters, and gatherers. Not much is known about Iban people before the arrival of the Western expeditions to Asia. Nothing was ever recorded by any voyagers about them.

The Ibans were unfortunately branded for being pioneers of headhunting. Headhunting among the Ibans is believed to have started when the lands occupied by the Ibans became over-populated. In those days, before the arrival of western civilization, intruding on lands belonging to other tribes resulted in death. Confrontation was the only way of survival.

In those days, the way of war was the only way that any Dayak tribe could achieve prosperity and fortune. Dayak warfare was brutal and bloody, to the point of ethnic cleansing. Many extinct tribes, such as the Seru and Bliun, are believed to have been assimilated or wiped out by the Ibans. Tribes like the Bukitan, who were the original inhabitants of Saribas, are believed to have been assimilated or forced northwards as far as Bintulu by the Ibans. The Ukits were also believed to have been nearly wiped out by the Ibans.

The Ibans started moving to areas in what is today’s Sarawak around the 15th century. After an initial phase of colonising and settling the river valleys, displacing or absorbing the local tribes, a phase of internecine warfare began. Local leaders were forced to resist the tax collectors of the sultans of Brunei. At the same time, Malay influence was felt, and Iban leaders began to be known by Malay titles such as Datu (Datuk), Nakhoda and Orang Kaya.

In later years, the Iban encountered the Bajau and Illanun, coming in galleys from the Philippines. These were seafaring tribes who came plundering throughout Borneo. However, the Ibans feared no tribe, and fought the Bajaus and Illanuns. One famous Iban legendary figure known as Lebor Menoa from Entanak, near modern-day Betong, fought and successfully defeated the Bajaus and Illanuns. It is likely that the Ibans learned seafaring skills from the Bajau and the Illanun, using these skills to plunder other tribes living in coastal areas, such as the Melanaus and the Selakos. This is evident with the existence of the seldom-used Iban boat with sail, called the bandung. This may also be one of the reasons James Brooke, who arrived in Sarawak around 1838, called the Ibans Sea Dayaks. For more than a century, the Ibans were known as Sea Dayaks to Westerners.

Religion, Culture and Festival

The Ibans were traditionally animist, although the majority are now Christian, some of them Muslim and many continue to observe both Christian and traditional ceremonies, particularly during marriages or festivals.

Significant festivals include the rice harvesting festival Gawai Dayak, the main festival for the Ibans.Other festivals include the bird festival Gawai Burong and the spirit festival Gawai Antu. The Gawai Dayak festival is celebrated every year on the 1st of June, at the end of the harvest season, to worship the Lord Sempulang Gana. On this day, the Ibans get together to celebrate, often visiting each other. The Iban traditional dance, the ngajat, is performed accompanied by the taboh and gendang, the Ibans’ traditional music. Pua Kumbu, the Iban traditional cloth, is used to decorate houses. Tuak, which is originally made of rice, is a wine used to serve guests. Nowadays, there are various kinds of tuak, made with rice alternatives such as sugar cane, ginger and corn.

The Gawai Burong (the bird festival) is held in honour of the War God, Singalang Burong. The name Singalang Burong literally means “Singalang the Bird”. This festival is initiated by a notable individual from time to time and hosted by individual longhouses. The Gawai Burong originally honoured warriors, but during more peaceful times evolved into a healing ceremony. The recitation of pantun (traditional chants by poets) is a particularly important aspect of the festival.

For the majority of Ibans who are Christians, some Chrisitian festivals such as Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, and other Christian festivals are also celebrated. Most Ibans are devout Christians and follow the Christian faith strictly.

Despite the difference in faiths, Ibans of different faiths do help each other during Gawais and Christmas. Differences in faith is never a problem in the Iban community. The Ibans believe in helping and having fun together. This is ironic for a tribe who once waged war with others due to differences.

Musical & Dancing Heritage

Iban music is percussion-oriented. The Iban have a musical heritage consisting of various types of agung ensembles – percussion ensembles composed of large hanging, suspended or held, bossed/knobbed gongs which act as drones without any accompanying melodic instrument. The typical Iban agung ensemble will include a set of engkerumungs (small agungs arranged together side by side and played like a xylophone), a tawak (the so-called ‘bass’), a bendai (which acts as a snare) and also a set of ketebung (a single sided drum/percussion).

The Iban as well as the Kayan also play an instrument resembling the flute called ‘Sape’. The Sape is the official musical instrument for the Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is played similarly to the way rock guitarists play guitar solos, albeit a little slower, but not as slow as blues. One example of Iban traditional music is the taboh.

The Ibans perform a unique dance called the ngajat. It serves many purposes depending on the occasion. During Gawais, it is used to entertain the people who in the olden days enjoy graceful ngajats as a form of entertainment. Iban men and women have different styles of ngajat. The ngajat involves a lot of precise body-turning movements. The ngajat for men is more aggressive and depicts a man going to war, or a bird flying (as a respect to the Iban god of war, Singalang Burong). The women’s form of ngajat consists of soft, graceful movements with very precise body turns. Each ngajat is accompanied by the taboh or the body.

Branches Of Iban Peoples

Although Ibans generally speak a dialect which is mutually intelligible, they can be divided into different branches which are named after the geographical areas where they reside.

Majority of Ibans who live around the Lundu and Samarahan region are called Sebuyaus.

Ibans who settled in areas in Serian district (places like Kampung Lebor, Kampung Tanah Mawang & others) are called Remuns. They may be the earliest Iban group to migrate to Sarawak.

Ibans who originated from Sri Aman area are called Balaus.

Ibans who come from Betong, Saratok & parts of Sarikei are called Saribas.

The Lubok Antu Ibans are classed by anthropologist as Ulu Ai Ibans.

Ibans from Undup are called Undup Ibans. Their dialect is somewhat a cross between the Ulu Ai dialect & the Balau dialect.

Ibans living in areas from Sarikei to Miri are called Rajang Ibans. They are the majority group of the Iban people. They can be found along the Rajang River, Sibu, Kapit, Belaga, Kanowit, Song, Sarikei, Bintangor, Bintulu and Miri. Their dialect is somewhat similar to the Ulu Ai dialect.

In Kalimantan (Indonesian part of Borneo), Iban people are even more diverse. The Kantu, Air Tabun, Semberuang, Sebaru’ , Bugau, Mualang & along with many other groups are classed as “Ibanic people” by anthropologist. They can be related to the Iban either by the dialect they speak or their custom, ritual & their way of life.