iban in sarawak

7/23/2019 Iban in Sarawak

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Iban In Sarawak

1.0 Definition and Concept

Iban is the most largest and famous ethnic group in Sarawak. The Iban number

approximately 700,000 and form 0! of the state"s population. #lso known as the Iban$ayak %aut or Sea $ayak lied in all regions in Sarawak. The Iban is also considered a

&ead 'utter in their community following the ancient practice of the Iban its ngayau

tradition or cutting head. ('hemaline )sop, *00+1-

The Iban is also known as a society that always moed around or moing from one place to another place to find food and a new life.

/ Iban also mean wanderer . For centuries they have moved through the hills of Borneo, farming dry rice, gathering,hunting and fishing, expanding in territority as well

as numbers. During the century they moved into the delta plains of the Rejang and other

river valleys, where they now grow wet rice, rubber, pepper and wor for wages.!

( inson &. Sutlie ,*001 *-

*.0 Iban Lifestyle Aspects

The Iban way of life can be seen in terms of life strong they are with each other where they lie together with the Iban community in %ong house. rgani2ational

structure in the %ong house lead by Tuai 3umah and followed by some people who will

help him in handling administratie matters in the %ong house. Tuai 3umah will beresponsible in %ong house"s law and also handles customs in the %ong house.

*.1 Economy Aspect

4hile in economic aspect, the Iban in Sarawak is still strong with their traditions to

depend on subsistence agricultural actiities personally. This tradition still remains same

until this day. 5addy will be plant eery once in a year where that is after the end of 6uneor one month of Iban who considers 6une as a month beginning in their calendar. 5addy

will be harest in ebuary. n the 1st day of 6une, 8awai $ayak celebration will be held

as a celebration to the spirit of the paddy who had gae sustenance to them. 3ice paddy iscultiated and oerall actiity is still using traditional tools such as axes, machetes and

other tradititional tools. Therefore, the Iban loes to make actiities like /gotong9royong"

where they beliees that actiities would be :uick and easy.

;esides from paddy cultiating, Iban in Sarawak also grow peppers. 5eppers are

grown as a source of income for the family life and to support their children. )sually

grown peppers are also using traditional methods. #lthough the price of pepper in themarket is not permanent but Iban had no other option because considering the structure of

their place in Sarawak are more high landed. ther than planting pepper where originally

brought by the foreigners who come to this state around 1<th century, Iban in Sarawak is



still working on rubber cultiation as well as other crops. In addition, the Iban in Sarawak

also do actiity likes hunting and fishing to support their life. The would hunt animals

such as deer, %emur and many more.

*.* Social Aspects

rom the social aspect, the Iban is reowned for its practice in %ong house. =ow, the

practice of liing in community at the %ong house still exists. Iban"s long house was so

emphasi2ed in the spirit of cooperation. In any >ob, the Iban community prefer to dogotong9royong instead do the work alone. 5ratices in gotong9royong or also known as

/bederuk" often do when season planting and also rice harest.

In addition, in their daily interactions, Iban practices between men and women is not blocked according to ngayap customs. =gayap is the acient practice where the boys will

try to lure and get ac:uainted and also their respectie feelings. #lthough, this tradition is

allowed but it must be done with manners and also based on tradition and also hold the

Iban community pf life itself.

#ccording to custom, the boys can isit the girls not exceeding three nights in a row.If continuous isits, parent of the girl has the right to determine and ask whether the boys

is serious in its efforts to lure the girl. If between them they are serious, they will be

married. =owadays, the tradition and practice of =gayap is no longer practice. The boysand girls will >ust meet in gathering, during the festials and so on. Therefore, if there is a

breach of manners and the interention of other races, then legal action will be taken as

stated in section 1* 'ustom Iban, 1??.

In terms of celebrating the feast, the Iban is strongly on satisfaction as well as the

relationship between them. They also like other ethnic groups that feed their guests who

came to their home. 8uests may also be sent home if necessary. In addition, guests whowant to return home will also be supplied with souenir that showing the landlord was

happy to accept their presence.

*. Political Aspects ( Administration In Long house)

In the political aspect, the Iban lifestyle emphasi2e on obedience to the Tuai 3umah

or illage head in an organi2ation in a %ong &ouse. In this case, the head of the the housein a %ong house will appoint some members of the 'ommittee to work under him. The

role of the head of the long house not only on bureaucracy nor the administration alone

but een he also responsible for managing custom and also the laws of the %ong house.

@embers of the 'ommittee who helped the head house will worked on managed the

houses such as treasurer, secretary, committee and etc. ;ut currently, the Iban liing inmoderni2ation in their %ong house. Aen +0 percent of the Iban %ong house is a modern

structure where built by brick and modern in its structure.



urthermore, the administratie structure already has changed. Aen a leader in the

%ong house also must be the one who receied education and not illiterate like before.

This is because, the 'hief role and deal with the 8oernment to ask any facilities fromthe 8oernment. &ence, the need for leadership attitude under any circumstances.

.0 Iban’s Attire

The Iban community famous for its way of dressing or also referred to /Iban ngepan".

The Iban attire is ery uni:ue and is still practiced in the present time especially duringthe season of parties, specific function and also during festie seasons namely &ari

8awai. &oweer, in the daily days they will wear the normal cloth like other

communities. In ancient time, clothing for men and women in the Iban is far different.

4hile for the ornament, Iban using a ariety of >ewelry such as marik ampang, sugutinggi and etc.this >ewelry is made of metals like tin and siler with artificially was so

beautiful.

.1 en Attire

Iban men famous with lan>ang or hats decorated with feathers like peacocks or ruai.@en are also made tatto cared on their bodies. This practice still practiced up to now in

this era because it reflects the art of Iban are ery uni:ue and interesting. Sculptures9

carings which are often cared on their body is like caring bungai terong, wild animalsand etc. In addition, the practice of ear piercing is also synonymous with the Iban

community. 3egardless of male or female. &oweer, the practice is now no longer

practiced but only women"s ear piercing to put the /subang" as a decoration.

In ancient time, mens also wear Sirat. Sirat is a pice of fabric cloth measuring B0m x

B0cm. #t the end of this fabric will be embroidery or woen decorated. ;eads and shells

are sometimes used as a decoration. The Sirat will be coil around his waist and crotch.The end of the sirat will be release from the waist to the front and back of the body to

show off decoratie parts.

@enswear that make as a shirt is known as bird shirts. ;ird shirt was a sort of woen

fabric that has a pattern of birds and the decoration on the shirts making it ery beautiful.

The way the application of the bird shirt was worn as a regular clothes >ust it uncoered

and reeal the chest. ;ird shirts worn without the sleees looks simple but interesting.The bird shirts is still wear by the men but its application only on certain days as the

festie season.

.* !omen Attire

4omen"s traditional clothing is ery uni:ue and its woen fabric has attractie pattern. Iban women"s clothing can be seen from the head until the feet. &ead part are

decorated with sugu tinggi which made of in metal and look beautiful when Iban women

use it. 5art of the shoulder will be decorated with marik ampang which is made of a lot

of beads and will be arrange to attractie pattern. 5art of the belt will be coil with ngepan



made of tin and it seems like the coins arranged hang9drop. #t part of legs also hae

beautifull >ewelry and bracelet will be placed and produce sounds that can attract the

attention of those who hear it.

4omen"s clothing made to shirt named selayah (bedong- which is a type of woen

cloth and will be coil around chest and its long. 4hile /kain sarong" worn until kneeleel. The /kain sarong" fabric woen with pattern of colorful stripe. #nd some of the

fabric will be decorated with pattern with threads of gold and siler.

. Pua "umbu

5ua Cumbu is the most prominent weaing icon for Iban. 5ua Cumbu is said to hae

the power and sere as important ingredients in ceremonies such as medicine, gawai andetc. 5ua Cumbu are usually made from threads that are woen with ariety of motifs or

pattern that is ery uni:ue and interesting. 4hen using it, it should be in hori2ontally. 5ua

Cumbu is used also in weddings and sere as @ahar. =owadays, the use of the 5ua

Cumbu is as decoratie and ery uni:ue handicrafts for the Iban community.

D.0 Craft and S#ills

Iban community knowlede is rich in handicraft or referred to pengelandik fingers.

Therefore, a ariety of handicrafts produced by artwork and patterns and motifs withsymboli2e the Iban identity itself. #mong the handicrafts produced by Iban in Sarawak

mats, baskets, ases and so on with ery beautiful designed.

In a %ong house, it is ery annoying if a women especially do not know how to produce an handicraft. #t least, they must know how to weaing mats or rattan. ;efore

the woman wants to get married, they will prepared themseles with the skills to produce

handicrafts such as woen and weae. This is because handicraft produced by them will be able to win the hearts of the family9in9law. &andicrafts produced by Iban are dierse

and hae a ariety of uses.

thers handicrafts produced is like ases and >ars are also made of clay and finally

become a pottery that producing arious forms of creatie in caring including distinctie

patterns. These >ars are used to store rice, perkasam and presered foods. There is aso the

>ars are made to keep the fermented rice or palm wine (tuak- is a type of drinks to theIban during festie seasons. #t present, handicrafts made from Iban still well9receied

because of the originality and its own uni:ue. #mong the crafts that is so famous is

tatami mats and woen fabrics.

B.0 $ancing

The Iban has a ery interesting and uni:ue dance. #mong the Iban"s dance that is popular

called as =ga>at. The /nga>at" dance originated from the Iban community and has been

passed down from generation to generation. The origin of this indigenous Iban dance is

not clearly known but it is belieed to hae been in existence along with the Iban tribe



since the 1+th 'entury. The =ga>at dance is belieed to hae been performed by warriors

on their return from battles. This dance is now performed to celebrate the most important

harest festial, 8awai $ayak, to welcome important guests to the longhouses and so on.

#mong the types of =ga>at dance that is still practices are

=ga>at %esong =ga>at ;ebunoh

=ga>at 5ua Cumbu

=ga>at Indu

4hile this dance is danced, the drums will be sounded and dancers will dance according

to the beating of the drums.

+.0 @usic

Iban musical instrument is based on gongs and drums. or example, dumbak drums,

a bendai gong, a set of seen small gongs (engkerumong- and a large tawak gong. The

people of the longhouse hae been skilled in playing all kinds of gendang music. Theimportant music performed by the Iban is called gendang rayah. It is played only for

religious festials.

Iban men en>oy the music of the following instruments Angkerurai(bagpipe-

Cesuling(flute-

3uding (6ewEs harp-

3ebab (guitar with two strings-

;alikan (guitar with strings-

;elula (iolin-

Angkeratong (harp-

%ast but not least, is the music played using the katebong drums by one or up to

eleen drummers. These drums are long. Its cylinder is made from strong wood, such astapang or mengeris, and one of its ends is coered with the skins of monkeys and

mousedeer or the skin of a monitor li2ard.

7.0 Traditional ood

The Iban traditional foods are called 5ansuh food, which simply means the cooking

of food or dish in a bamboo stem. It"s naturally clean, easy and simple. The food can bemade from meat, chicken, fish, egetables and een rice together with the spices will all

be put together into the bamboo stem. Then directly placed oer an open fire to be

cooked. The uni:ueness of using the bamboo stem to cook is that the bamboo will gie aspecial aroma and texture to the food. ne of the best known Iban dishes is pansoh

manok (ayam pansuh-, which features chicken and lemongrass cooked in a bamboo log

oer an open fire.



# guests who isit the %ong house will be welcomed with a glass of tuak, a home9

brewed rice wine. The brew has a sweet fragrance and is highly alcoholic. There are sago

grubs, bamboo clams and temilok (marine worms-. The bright yellow, round eggplantsand turmeric flowers are also found in Iban foods too.

<.0 3eligion

The Ibans were traditionally animist. ;ut now, the ma>ority of Ibans are 'hristian,

some of them are @uslim and many continue to obsere both. or the ma>ority of Ibans

who are not 'hristians, some 'hrisitian festials such as 'hristmas, 8ood riday, Aaster,

and other 'hristian festials are also celebrated.

$espite the difference in faiths, Ibans of different faiths do help each other during

8awai and 'hristmas. $ifferences in faith is neer a problem in the Iban community. TheIbans beliee in helping and haing fun together.

;ibliography

A$ %oo#s

$erek reeman (1??+-. 3eport f The Iban. Cuala %umpur 5enerbitan )niersiti@alaya.

inson &. Sultie(1??+-. The Iban f Sarawak. Cuala %umpur 5enerbitan )niersiti

@alaya.

%$ Internet Sources

&ttpFFwww.malaysia.pnm.my

&ttpFFwww.sarawakupdate.com.my

C$ Article on &he 'espaper

Sopi Samaili(*00?-. 3atu @eriahkan 5esta @enuai. Cuala %umpur. )tusan 5ublication.

http://www.malaysia.pnm.my/

http://www.sarawakupdate.com.my/

http://www.malaysia.pnm.my/

http://www.sarawakupdate.com.my/



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