Sarawak is home to 28 ethnic groups, each with their own distinct
language, culture and lifestyle. The Ibans form the major ethnic group on this
land with about 30.1% of the total population per the year 2000 census. The
Chinese, who generally live in the cities, are the second largest group at
26.7%, followed by the Bidayuh, Melanau and other native tribes of Sarawak who
are collectively known as Orang Ulu. The Malays constitute a large
portion (23.0%) of the population as well, mainly concentrated along the coast.
Sarawakians
practice a variety of religions, including Islam, Christianity, Chinese folk
religion (a fusion of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and ancestor worship) and
animism. Many converts to Christianity among the Dayak peoples also continue to
practice traditional ceremonies, particularly with dual marriage rites and
during the important harvest and ancestral festivals such as Gawai Dayak and
Gawai Antu.
The Malays make up 21% of the population in Sarawak. Traditionally
fishermen, these seafaring people chose to form settlements on the banks of the
many rivers of Sarawak. Today, many Malays have migrated to the cities where
they are heavily involved in the public and private sectors and taken up
various professions. Malay villages (kampungs) - a cluster of wooden houses on
stilts, many of which are still located by rivers on the outskirts of major
towns and cities, play home to traditional cottage industries. The Malays are
famed for their wood carvings, silver and brass craftings as well as
traditional Malays textile weaving with silver and gold thread (kain songket).
Malays are Muslim by religion, having brought the faith to Asia some 1000 years
ago. Their religion is reflected in their culture and art and Islamic symbolism
is evident in local architecture - from homes to government buildings.
The Melanaus have been thought to be amongst the original settlers of
Sarawak. Originally from Mukah, the Melanaus traditionally lived in tall
houses. Nowadays, they have adopted a Malay lifestyle, living in kampong-type
settlements. Traditionally, Melanaus were fishermen and till today, they are
reputed as some of the finest boat-builders and craftsmen. While the Melanaus
are ethnically different from the Malays, their lifestyles and practices are
quite similar especially in the larger towns and cities where most Melanau have
adopted the Islamic faith. The Melanaus were believed to originally worship
spirits in a practice brinking on paganism. Today many of them are Christian
and Muslim, though they still celebrate traditional animist festivals such as
the annual Kaul Festival.
The Chinese first came to Sarawak as traders and explorers in the 6th
Century. Today, they make up 29% of the population of Sarawak and comprise of
communities built from the economic migrants of the 19th and early 20th
centuries. The first Chinese migrants worked as labourers in the gold mines at
Bau or on plantations. Through their clan associations, business acumen and
work ethic, the Chinese organised themselves economically and rapidly dominated
commerce. Today, the Chinese are amongst Sarawak's most prosperous ethnic
groups. The Sarawak Chinese belong to a wide range of dialect groups, the most
significant being Hokkien, Foochow, Hakka, Teochew, Cantonese and Henghua.
Hokkien and Mandarin are the most widely spoken dialects. The Chinese maintain
their ethnic heritage and culture and celebrate all the major cultural
festivals, most notably Chinese New Year and the Hungry Ghost Festival. The
Sarawak Chinese are predominantly Buddhists and Christians.
The Ibans form the largest percentage of Sarawak's population, making up
some 30%. Reputed to be the most formidable headhunters on the island of
Borneo, the Ibans of today are a generous, hospitable and placid people.
Because of their history as pirates and fishermen, they were conventionally
referred to as the "Sea Dayaks". The early Iban settlers who migrated
from Kalimantan (the Indonesian part of Borneo south of Sarawak) set up home in
the river valleys of Batang Ai, the Skrang River, Saribas, and the Rajang
River. The Ibans dwell in longhouses, a stilted structure comprising many rooms
housing a whole community of families. The Ibans are renowned for their Pua
Kumbu (traditional Iban weavings), silver craftings, wooden carvings and
beadwork. Iban tattoos which were orignally symbols of bravery for the Iban
warriors have become amongst the most distinctive in the world. The Ibans are
also famous for their tuak, a sweet rice wine which is served during big
celebrations and festive occasions. Today, the majority of Ibans are practice
Christianity. However, like most other ethnic groups in Sarawak, they still
hold strong to their many traditional rituals and beliefs. Sarawak is unique to
colourful festivals such as the Gawai Dayak (harvest festival), Gawai Kenyalang
(hornbill festival) and Gawai Antu (festival of the dead).
Originally from West Kalimantan, the Bidayuhs are now most numerous in
the hill country of Bau and Serian, within an hour's drive from Kuching.
Historically, as other tribes were migrating into Sarawak and forming
settlements, the meek-natured Bidayuhs retreated further inland, hence earning
them the name of "Land Dayaks". The traditional Bidayuh abode is the
"baruk", a roundhouse that rises about 1.5 metres off the ground.
Typical of the Sarawak indigenous groups, the Bidayuhs are well-known for their
hospitality, and are reputed to be the best makers of tuak, or rice wine. The
Bidayuhs speak a number of different but related dialects. While some of them
still practice traditional religions, most modern-day Bidayuhs have adopted the
Christian faith.
The phrase Orang Ulu means upriver people and is a term used to
collectively describe the numerous tribes that live upriver in Sarawak's vast
interior. Such groups include the major Kayan and Kenyah tribes, and the
smaller neighbouring groups of the Kajang, Kejaman, Punan, Ukit, and Penan.
Nowadays, the definition also includes the down-river tribes of the Lun Bawang,
Lun Dayeh, Murut and Berawan as well as the plateau-dwelling Kelabits. The
various Orang Ulu groups together make up roughly 5.5% of Sarawak's population.
The Orang Ulu are artistic people with longhouses elaborately decorated with
murals and woodcarvings. They are also well-known for their intricate beadwork
detailed tattoos. The Orang Ulu tribe can also be identified by their unique
music - distinctive sounds from their sape, a stringed instrument not unlike
the mandolin. A vast majority of the Orang Ulu tribe are Christians but old
traditional religions are still practiced in some areas.Some of the major
tribes making up the Orang Ulu group include :
There are
approximately 15,000 Kayans in Sarawak. The Kayan tribe built their longhouses
in the northern interiors of Sarawak midway on the Baram River, the upper
Reiang River and the lower Tubau River, and were traditionally headhunters.
They are well known for their boat making skills, which they carve from a
single block of belian, the strongest of the tropical hardwoods. Although many
Kayan have become Christians, some are still practise paganistic beliefs.
With a population of approximately 3000, the Kelabit are inhabitants of
Bario - a remote plateau in the Sarawak Highlands, slightly over 1,200 meters
above sea-level. The Kelabits form a tight-knit community and practise a
generations-old form of agriculture. Famous for their rice-farming, they also
cultivate a variety of other crops which are suited to the cooler climate of
the Highlands of Bario. The Kelabit are predominantly Christian, the Bario
Highlands having been visited by Christian missionaries many years ago.
There are
few findings on the exact origin of the Kenyah tribe. Their heartland however,
is Long San, along the Baram River. Their culture is very similar to that of
the Kayan tribe with whom they live in close association. The typical Kenyah village
consists of only one longhouse and the people are mainly farmers, planting rice
in burnt jungle clearings.
The Penan are the only true nomadic people in Sarawak and amongst the
last of the world's hunter-gatherers. The Penan make their home under the
rainforest canopy, deep within the vast expanse of Sarawak's virgin jungle.
Even today, the Penan continue to roam the rainforest hunting wild boar and
deer with blowpipes. The Penan are skilled weavers and make high-quality rattan
baskets and mats. The traditional Penan religion worships a supreme god called
Bungan. However, the increasing number who have abandoned the nomadic lifestyle
for settlement in longhouses have converted to Christians.
One of the most attractive features of the state of Sarawak and one
which sets it aside from many of the other Malaysian states is its cultural
diversity. With the 27 distinct indigenous ethnic groups that speak 45
different languages and dialects, Sarawak can be proud to boast racial harmony
amongst a population of 2.1 million who adhere to a variety of traditions,
practices and religions.
With such a melting pot of customs and cultures, Sarawakians enjoy a
variety of colourful festivals throughout the calendar year. The cultural
diversity also allows Sarawak to be one of the most popular tourist
destinations in the region.
-Adapt
from discoverborneo.com
In
Sarawak, I have no problem to mix with other race. This is because from my
childhood I have been interect with many people from various race. When go to
everyway, I got nothing to worry about. I have many frienf from many other race
and able to communicate in their language.
Every
place in Sarawak have different type of dialect and Alhamdulillah I understand most of them except Bidayuh language
because its very complicated to me. Living in an environment consist of various
race teach me a lot. -Marizal Abd Manan (0812393)
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