IBAN PEOPLE

Iban
Iban girls dressed in full Iban (women) attire during Gawai festivals in Debak, Betong region, Sarawak
Total population	600,000 (Sarawak only)
Regions with significant populations	Sarawak, Brunei & West Kalimantan
Language	Iban
Religion	Christianity & Animist
Related Ethnic Groups	Kantu, Mualang, Semberuang, Bugau & Sebaru'

The 'Ibans' are a branch of the Dayak peoples of Borneo. 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 are a very feared tribe in Borneo. They speak the Iban language.
Today, the days of headhunting and piracy are long gone and in came the modern era of globalization and the technology for the Ibans. The Iban population is concentrated in Sarawak, Brunei, in the West Kalimantan region of Indonesia. They live in longhouses called ''rumah panjai'' or ''rumah panjang'' [1]. Most of the Iban longhouses nowaydays are equipped with modern facilities such as electricity and proper water supply and lots of other facilities such as (tar sealed) roads, telephone line and the internet. Younger Ibans are mostly found in urban areas, and visit their hometowns during the holidays. The Ibans today are generally becoming increasingly heavily urbanised while (surprisingly) retaining most of it's traditional heritage and culture.

Contents

Iban History

Religion, Culture and Festivals

Musical & Dancing Heritage

Branches of the Iban People

Cultural References

Bibliography

External links

Iban History

Main articles: Iban history

Nobody is quite sure where do the Ibans got their name from. The origin of the where the Iban got their name remains a mystery until today. Many theories existed but none can tell exactly where did the name 'Iban' originated. During the British colonial era, the Ibans are called ''Sea Dayaks''. Some believed that the word ''Iban'' is the ancient origninal Iban word for people or man. This might be true as the modern Iban word for ''people'' or ''man'' today is ''mensia'' a slightly modified Malay loan word of the same meaning (''manusia'').
The Ibans are the original inhabitants of Borneo island. Like any other Dayak tribe, the Ibans are originally farmers, hunters and gatherers. Not much is known about Iban people before the arrival of the Western expeditors to Asia. Nothing is ever recorded by any voyagers about them.
The Ibans are unfortunately branded for being pioneers of headhunting. Headhunting (among the Ibans) is believed to have started when the lands occupied by the Ibans (during that time) became over-populated. In those days (before the arrival of western civilization), Intruding to lands belonging to other tribes will result death. In this case, only confrontation is the only way of survival. This is may be the cause why the Ibans started tribal expansion and headhunting.
In those days, only the way of war is the only way that any Dayak tribe can achieve prosperity and fortune. Dayak warfare is such brutal and bloody occasion that it gets as bloody as an 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 are the original inhabitants of Saribas, are believed to have been assimiltated or chased out far northwards to Bintulu by the Ibans. The Ukits, are also thought to be nearly wiped out by the Ibans.
The Ibans start moving to areas which is what is today called Sarawak around the 15th century. After an initial phase of colonising and settling the river valleys, displacing or absorbing the local populations of other tribes, a phase of internecine warfare began. Local leaders were forced to resist the tax collectors of the Malay sultans (Brunei). At the same time, Malay influence is felt, and Iban leaders begin to be known by Malay titles like ''Datu (Datuk)'', ''Nakhoda'' and ''Orang Kaya''.
In the latter years, the Iban encountered the Bajau and Illanun, coming in galleys from the Philippines. They are sea-faring tribes who used to plundered throughout Borneo. This was not the case with the Ibans as the Ibans fear no tribe and the Bajaus and Illanuns were fought by the Iban. One famous Iban legendary called Lebor Menoa from Entanak near modern Betong, fought and successfully defeated the Bajaus and Illanuns. There is a chance that the Ibans might have copied the Bajau and Illanun's seafaring skills and plundered other tribes (living coastal areas) from the sea 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 could also be one of the reasons why the British (more specifically an Englishman named James Brooke who arrived in Sarawak somewhere in 1838) called the Ibans 'Sea Dayaks'. Thus, for more than 1 century, the Ibans are known as Sea Dayak to the Westerners.

Religion, Culture and Festivals

The Iban were traditionally animist, however, the majority are now Christian, and many continue to observe both Christian and traditional ceremonies, particularly at marriage or festival times.
Significant festivals include the rice harvesting festival Gawai Dayak, the main festival for the Ibans. Other minor but significant Iban festivals incluide 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 with the accompaniment of the ''taboh'' and ''gendang'', the name of the Ibans' traditional music. ''Pua kumbu'', the Iban traditional cloth, would be used to decorate houses. ''Tuak'', which is originally made of rice, is a wine, would be served to guests. Nowadays, the are various kinds of ''tuak'' such the ones made of ingredients like sugar cane, ginger and corn as an alternative to rice.
The Gawai Burong (the bird Gawai) on the other hand is held in honour of the War God, Singalang Burong. The name Singalang Burong literally translates as 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 in more peacable times evolved into a healing ceremony. The recitation of ''pantun'' or traditional chants by poets is a particularly important aspect of the festival.
As for the Ibans who are Chrisitians (Ibans are majority Christians), some Chrisitian festivals such as Christmas, Good Friday, Easter and other Christian festivals are celebrated. Ibans are devout Christians and most follow the Chrisitian faith strictly.
Despite the difference of faith, the Ibans helped each other (of different faith) during Gawais and Christmas. The difference of faith is never a question among the Iban community. The Ibans always believed in helping and having fun together. This case is ironic for a tribe who once, a long time ago, waged war with other people due to differences.

Musical & Dancing Heritage

Main articles: Agung

The 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 drone 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''' (''so called the 'bass'), a '''bendai''' (''which acts as a snare'') and also a set of '''ketebung''' (''a single sided drum/percussion'').
Iban as well as the Kayan also played an instrument resembling the lute called 'Sapek'. The ''Sapek'' is the official musical intstrument for the Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is played like the way rock guitarist do the guitar solos, albeit a little bit (but not as slow) like blues. Traditional Music of the Southern Philippines Matusky, Patricia. "An Introduction to the Major Instruments and Forms of Traditional Malay Music." Asian Music Vol 16. No. 2. (Spring-Summer 1985), pp. 121-182. An Iban traditional music is called the ''taboh''.
The Iban performs a unique dance called the ''ngajat''. It is a unique dance as it served many purposes depending on the occasion. During Gawais, it is used to entertain the people who in the olden days enjoy graceful ngajats a form of entertainment. The Iban men and women have different ways and styles of ngajat. The ngajat involves a lot on accurate body turning movements. The ngajat for men is more aggressive and depicts a man going to war or a bird flying (''in showing respect to the Iban god of war, Singalang Burong''). The women's form of ngajat is made up of soft, graceful movfements with vey accurate body turns. Each ngajat is accompanied by the ''taboh''.

Branches of the Iban People

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 lives 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 are 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.

Cultural References

★ First Iban Online Radio Iban Online Radio

★ The episode, 'Into the Jungle' from included the appearance of Itam, a former Sarawak Ranger and one of the Iban people's last members with the ''Entegulun'' (hand tattoos) signifying his taking of an enemies head.

Bibliography

★ Sir Steven Runciman, ''The White Rajahs: a history of Sarawak from 1841 to 1946'' (1960).

★ James Ritchie, ''The Life Story of Temenggong Koh'' (1999)

★ Benedict Sandin, ''Gawai Burong: The chants and celebrations of the Iban Bird Festival'' (1977)

★ Greg Verso, ''Blackboard in Borneo'', (1989)

★ Renang Anak Ansali, ''New Generation of Iban'', (2000)

External links

★ A website created by an Iban from Sarawak called CyberPenom. All infos on the Iban longhouse

★ A Westerner's view on the peoples of Borneo

★ A little info about Sarawak

★ A forum for Ibans. In English and Iban