The People of Borneo

The people living along the coast and lower reaches of Borneo's rivers are popularly called "Malay" by virtue of their religion.   

Traditionally they were coastal and estuary dwellers, farmers, fishermen and traders. Today, they are found in all trades, professions and industries. The cultural bond uniting all Malays is their religion - Islam.Many of these Malays are in fact indigenous converts to Islam and not ethnic Malays.

"To become Malay" is a popular term for "to embrace Islam" in Borneo - the new converts adopts the lifestyle, dress and dietary habits of his new mentors. The Chinese, most of whom have immigrated within the last 150 years, are mainly shopkeepers, traders and businessmen. Others are professional people, teachers, and civil servants.

Of Borneo's roughly 20 million inhabitants, majority are Dayaks. They live in longhouses, situated mostly near navigable rivers which served as the main traffic routes. They were rice farmers, self-sufficient in the necessities of life. Longhouse communities tended to lead frugal lives with impressive religious festivals which involved large scale feasts.

The rainforest surrounding the settlements yields building materials, supplementary food and fibre for clothing and mat-making. The Dayaks collected jungle produce, which they took to the coastal markets to be bartered for useful articles like iron and plain textiles, or luxuries imported from far-away lands such as fine textiles, ceramics and beads.

Young Dayak men, intent on proving their worth, undertook the hardest task in swidden agriculture - the felling and burning of virgin jungle.In the slack periods of the agricultural season, they went on trading and raiding forays, returning richly laden with trade goods or the spoils of war, which included enemys' heads. Headhunting   was an integral part of inter-tribal warfare in Borneo until the early 20th century.   

Ladies dressed for an important occasion in "modern traditional" costumes. The second and third from the left wear kelabit costumes while the rest are in Orang Ulu ones.   

It is almost impossible to keep track all the ethnic groups of Borneo. In addition to the main divisions, there are many sub-groups. The movement of farming communities in search of land exposed them to new neighbours who might influence their culture or language, be influenced by them, or produce yet another hybrid sub-group. Many communities named themselves not by ethnicity but by the river where they settled.Some names commonly used in ethnographic literature pertaining to Sarawak are obsolete today. The Sea Dayak are now known as Iban, the Land Dayak as Bidayuh, and the Murut as Lun Bawang, Lun Dayeh or Lun Lod. A major grouping of indigenous Sabah people call themselves collectively Kadazandusun. Although many of these people have moved to the coastal towns of Borneo in search of a living, they often return to home villages and longhouses at festival time to maintain family bonds and renew their cultural ties. The following is a list of simplified summary of ethnic groups who still have significant bead cultures, with some indication of where their "homeland" is located.         

Orang Ulu
also known as "Upriver People" live at the headwaters of Borneo's major rivers Central Borneo Include Kayan, Kenyah, Kajangm Modang   

Kelabit and Lun Bawang 
live in Sarawak Highlands around Bario and Ba Kelalan 

Bidayah
live mostly on the middle and upper rivers of west Borneo. -"Land Dayaks" inhibit skill as tireless walkers in steep mountain terrain. -live in longhouses decorated with enemy skulls.   

  
Bidayah Warrior neckpiece on Bidayah Warrior's Neck 

Iban  
Also known as "Sea Dayak" , largest group in Sarawak -They are hardworking rice farmers -Iban men are known as Borneo's most inveterate headhunters -Iban women are weavers and artists, producing well-crafted mats, baskets and distinctive textiles, the dyed-in-the-warp ikat.   

 
Making Traditional Handicrafts by Women of Borneo's Indigenous Tribes.   

 
All Handicrafts made by theseindigenous tribes.....

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