Malay
The Malays have been in Sarawak for a long time and they form 25% of the population of the state. The Malays originally migrated from Sumatra. Indeed some of the Malay kampungs in Kuching still bear the names of Javanese towns from which the inhabitants originated.
The Sarawak Malays speak a different dialect from the Malays of Peninsular Malaysia (called Bahasa Melayu Sarawak), and have a certain amount of cultural and historical affinities with the Brunei Malays (Sarawak was after all notionally part of the territory of the Sultan of Brunei before James Brooke came along).
The Malays traditionally lived along the coasts, where they were fishermen, and the majority of Malays in Sarawak still live along the coast - mostly around Kuching and Limbang, near Brunei. The Sarawak Malays have been Muslim since around the 14th Century, and their faith is very important to them.
The Malay kampungs along the Sarawak River still contain a lot of beautiful traditional wooden Malay houses, and the people are very warm and friendly. This makes walking through the kampung a very pleasant experience. The Islamic Museum (on Jalan P.Ramlee, just behind the new wing of the Sarawak Museum) is a beautiful former colonial building, which contains a number of interesting displays and provides a good introduction to Sarawak Malay culture and religion.
Costume
The Malays are probably best known for the baju kurung and baju melayu traditional clothes. The baju kurung, worn by the women, typically consists of a long skirt, which normally reaches past the ankles, and a long sleeved top.
Many Malay women can also often be seen wearing a headscarf, in respect of the Islamic faith, which requires Muslim women to cover their heads. Though considered a traditional outfit, one can easily spot a Malay woman wearing the outfit, as the modern baju kurung is often trendy, brightly coloured and comfortably worn by women on a daily basis.
The baju melayu worn by Malay men on the other hand, are more likely seen on Fridays, when Muslim men attend the obligatory Friday congregational prayer. These traditional outfits for Malay men consist of a long sleeved shirt, a pair of long pants and a songket or pelikat cloth, which is wrapped around the waist, reaching down to the knee level.
Events & Celebrations
In line with the Islamic faith, prominent festivals celebrated by the Malays include Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Haji, Hari Raya Korban, Awal Muharram and Maulud Nabi.
Hari Raya Puasa, also known as Aidil Fitri, is perhaps the biggest celebration, when Muslims hold open house, inviting their families and friends over to strengthen ties and catch up on each other. The festive season marks the end of the month-long fasting during the Ramadhan month of the Islamic calendar.
Hari Raya Haji celebrates the beginning of the Haj season for Muslims all over the world. Interestingly, in many Arab countries, the Raya Haji is a much grander affair than the Aidil Fitri celebrations. But in Malaysia, Aidil Fitri is met with more festive celebration.
Another big celebration for the Malays is the Maulud Nabi or Maulidur Rasul. The event celebrates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. But unlike Aidil Fitri, the event is not celebrated with an open house.
Awal Muharram marks the start of the New Year according to the Islamic calendar, also known as the Hijra calendar. The calendar is based on the migration of the Prophet Muhammad SAW and his companions from Makkah to Madinah, over 1,400 years ago.
Chinese
The Chinese migration into Sarawak began under the British rule, when James Brooke, the British Resident of the time, brought in labourers from China to work tin mines here.
Over the years, the Chinese moved on, venturing into trade and industry, with their natural skills for business.
Today, the Chinese form about 29% of the total population of Sarawak. The Chinese in Sarawak speaks a variety of dialects including Hokkien, Mandarin, Foochow, Hakka, Teochew, Cantonese and Henghua.
Most of the Chinese populations in Sarawak live in cities. A majority of Chinese are Buddhists, although a number of them have adopted Christianity. However, most of them still adhere to taboos and beliefs traditionally held in the Chinese culture.
Some of the favourite pastimes for the Chinese are mahjong, Chinese card playing, Chinese Chess, Chinese checkers and Ping Pong.
Costume
The traditional costume for the Chinese is typically seen during festivals such as Chinese New Year. The outfit worn by the women is called the cheongsam while the men’s outfit is called the samfu.
The cheongsam comes in a variety of different designs particularly in terms of details of the collar and buttons.
But the basic outfit consists of a single piece long dress that normally has short sleeves.
The cheongsam hugs the body of the wearer closely. A red cheongsam is favoured during festivals such as Chinese New Year. The samfu, on the other hand, is a more standard outfit, which are typically neutral in colour.
Arts & Crafts
Predominantly business and trade oriented, although the Sarawakian Chinese are not known for arts and crafts, the Chinese culture in general is rich in heritage.
Some of the more easily recognizable is the art of Chinese brush painting, lacquer ware, silk products and seals.
Events & Celebrations
Two of the most dearly held and festively celebrated festivals for the Chinese are the Chinese New Year and the Hungry Ghost Festival. Chinese New Year is the time when Malaysian Chinese open their doors to families and friends in order to celebrate the New Year.
Several taboos are observed in lieu of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Among them, it is believed that sweeping the floor on Chinese New Year Day itself is considered unlucky. The colour red predominates the home during Chinese New Year, as it is believed to bring in good luck for the rest of the year.
This festival is also marked with the appearance of lion dance troupes that perform in public, most typically in major shopping malls and small business centres such as areas of shop lots in the cities, accompanied by the beat of huge Chinese drums.
The loud noise of firecrackers is also a sure sign that Chinese New Year is being celebrated, as is the collection of small red packets of ang pow and receiving Mandarin oranges.
The Hungry Ghost Festival, which takes place on the 15th day of the 7th Lunar month in the Chinese calendar, is held in order to appease the ghost of ancestors, who are believed to roam the world upon their release from the ‘gates of hell’.
Families normally give food offerings to the ghosts of their ancestors, with hope that they will bless the family with good fortune.
In some cases, families and communities also hold special entertainment, whereby a great banquet complete with stage performances are held in honour of their ancestors. Special offerings are also made in the form of replica paper money and other earthly possessions, which are burned in a ritual.
Iban
The largest ethnic group in Sarawak, the Iban makes up about 30% of the population. In the past, the Iban were infamous as headhunters and fierce warriors. The Ibans have been known to be pirates and as such, they are often referred to as the Sea Dayaks.
The Ibans traditional settlements are located in the river valleys of Batang Ai, the Skrang River, Saribas, and the Rajang River. The Ibans are well known for their intricately-built longhouses normally located near a river, which are made up of a longhouse that are compartmentalised into individual units. These longhouses may have anywhere between six to nearly a hundred units! Longhouses located in newly opened areas are typically made of bamboo and tree bark, but more established and prosperous longhouses can be made of precious and long-lasting hardwoods.
Primarily a communal group, the Ibans community practices their own brand of democracy, with the elders having an important role in major decisions. The decisions affect the entire community and a tuai or headman who is appointed by the entire community heads each longhouse.
Today, the Ibans are known to be a hospitable and friendly people. Nowadays many Ibans grow cash crops such as pepper, rubber, cocoa and oil palm, as well as hill rice. Many others live in Sarawak's town and cities, but maintain strong ties to their ancestral longhouses.
Costume
The best-known costume is that worn by the Iban warrior. The costume consists of a vest-like top that is adorned by a full beadwork down the front, an equally adorned loincloth and a headdress decorated with colourful feathers.
This traditional costume is normally worn today during cultural performances and festivals. Another distinct feature of the traditional Iban costume is the amount of silver pieces adorning the wearer.
Arts & Crafts
Iban women are among the finest weavers of the Pua Kumbu, a textile twisted or ikat, tie-dyed and skilfully woven on the backstrap loom.
The technique is passed from generation to generation with many of the designs/patterns weaved from memory. An experienced weaver will need an inspirational dream to create a new design.
Events & Celebrations
The Ibans traditionally cultivate rice as the main source of their staple. As such, the entire process of rice cultivation plays a key role in their way of life and their belief system.
Although many Ibans today practice Christianity, they still adhere to age-old customs, beliefs and rituals. Among the festivals celebrated by this ethnic group are the Gawai Dayak (harvest festival), Gawai Kenyalang (hornbill festival) and Gawai Antu (festival of the dead).
Gawai Dayak features the conduct of a ceremonial offering, which is held in towns and longhouses. Offerings of various foodstuff and tuak or home-made rice wine are made to the gods of rice and prosperity. A poem then is recited by a poet, which is followed by the smearing of blood of a sacrificed cockerel over these offerings.
Once the ceremonial offering is over, the traditional celebration of the Gawai begins. The community gathers around the ranyai or ceremonial tree at the common verandah of the longhouse. Celebrations centre around the ranyai with decorated foodstuff and drinks.
During the Gawai, the wearing of traditional costumes and a display of the Iban maiden’s silver jewellery are seen. The end of the Gawai is signified by the removal of the ceremonial tree.
Bidayuh
Also referred to as the Land Dayaks, the Bidayuhs in Sarawak is mostly found in the Kuching and Samarahan division. They particularly reside in Lundu, Bau, Penrissen, Padawan, and Serian.
The Bidayuhs consists of many groups and sub-groups, with the main groups consisting of the Bukar-Sadung of Serian District, Bau-Jagoi of Bau District and Salako-Lara of Lundu District.
These different groups speak multiple of dialects, which further distinguishes between the different sub-groups that exist. It is believed that the Bidayuhs were the first people to settle in Sarawak.
In the past, the Bidayuhs have been known to work the land, shifting their agricultural and hunting bases every so often, in areas surrounding their permanent villages. Their gentleness and simplicity in the life of the Bidayuhs endears them to everyone they meet!
Known for their hospitality and warm smiles, they are mostly found in the Kuching and Semarahan Divisions.
Arts & Crafts
Palm, rattan, tree barks, bamboo and various other plants gathered from the forests are woven into works of art by the many tribal community here.
The Bidayuhs are famous for their kesah mats, stoutly woven from rattan and beaten tree bark while the Melanaus and Malays are well known for using the leaves of sago, pandanus and palms to make intricately plaited baskets, colourful mats, hats and home decorative items.
The Bidayuhs are experts in bamboo carving. They produce very fine boxes and containers that have been designed to hold betel nut or blowpipe darts. Apart from that, the boxes can also be used for storing pens and pencils.
They are also known for their skills in basketry and rucksacks. These rucksacks can hold 30 kg of rice (the third strap goes over your forehead!), and mats that are attractive, hard-wearing and extremely practical.
Events & Celebrations
Like the Ibans, the beliefs and economy, centres on rice cultivation. As such, the Bidayuhs celebrate the Gawai Padi (Gawia Sowa), an annual event held in June to thank the rice spirit for giving farmers a good harvest, and also to seek blessing from the spirits for a better harvest the next year.
The Bidayuhs always seems a little genteel compared to their Iban counterpart, with families visiting one another in the village.
For the Bidayuh villagers of the Bau and Singai districts near Kuching, Gawai Dayak is apparently free of tradition, ritual and history, with the opportunity to visit friends and relatives.
Many Bidayuh villages still celebrate Gawai Padi, but they do not celebrate it simultaneously. In fact, very few of them celebrate it during the public holiday. Instead, every weekend throughout June, each village holds its own celebrations.
Melanau
The Melanaus, believed by many to be the oldest settlers in Sarawak, make up about nearly 6% of Sarawak’s total population and are geographically concentrated in the central coastal region, between the Rajang and Baram rivers.
A majority of them are either Christians or Muslims. In their heartland of Mukah, better known as the 'Cradle of Melanau civilisation', the Melanaus have abandoned living in their traditional tall houses and now favour coastal kampung-style villages, having adopted a Malay lifestyle.
The Melanaus were once seafaring people and were known to be sago farmers as well as adept boat builders and fishermen. Although the Melanaus speak their own dialect, the language is not too far different from that spoken by the Sarawakian Malays. The Melanau people are well known for their massive longhouses, some of which can reach up to 40 feet high.
These diverse people, related by their use of dialects of the same language group. Majority of them are Muslims but some are Christian or practice their traditional religion. The Melanaus used to practice a custom of flattening the head by applying a wooden device to the forehead of infants.
Costume
The traditional Melanau costume for men is called the Baban. This costume bears strong resemblance to the traditional outfit worn by Malay men, called the baju melayu, and it even incorporates the wearing of a samping around the waist. Accordingly, the traditional costume for the Melanau womenfolk closely resembles the baju kurung donned by Malay ladies.
Arts & Crafts
Lamin Dana, a traditional Melanau tall house located along the banks of Tellian River in Mukah, serves as a homestay and a centre for traditional Melanau craft and performing arts.
Here, the alu alu dance is practiced and performed to ensure the heritage does not become extinct.
The conical sunhat called the terendak, is one of the signature trademarks of the Melanau people. One of the crafts, which still survive till today, is the art of weaving using materials such as the sago fronds, to produce various containers and other practical everyday items.
Events & Celebrations
The best-known festival celebrated by the Melanaus is the Kaul Festival (Pesta Kaul). Originating from the animistic beliefs traditionally held by the Melanaus, the Pesta Kaul is held annually, usually in March or early April, as a purification and thanksgiving to appease the spirits of the sea, land, forests and farm.
This festival is celebrated by the Melanau people living in the coastal settlements in Mukah. Through the festival, the Melanau people offer their thanks to the spirits for keeping them safe through the monsoon season, and ask for a good bounty on their fishing trips.
Today, however, the Pesta Kaul is celebrated more as a cultural festival, rather than a religious one. One of the highlights of this festival is the tibau – a traditional giant swing sometimes 20-feet high, from which youths would dive down to catch a swinging rope. There are also performances of traditional dance such as the alu alu and display of martial art performances.
As many of the Melanau people today are either Muslims or Christians, they also celebrate Hari Raya and Christmas Day.
Orang Ulu
Orang Ulu is a term generally used to refer to the multitude of tribes living upriver in the interior regions of Sarawak. Among others, the Orang Ulu includes the major Kayan (15,000) and Kenyah tribes, the Kajang, Kejaman, Punan, Ukit, and Penan (10,000) tribes, and recently, the tribes of Lun Bawang, Lun Dayeh and Berawan and Kelabits highlanders (3,000). Collectively these different tribes make up about 5.5% of Sarawak’s population.
Kayan
The Kayan tribe, who build their longhouses in the northern interiors of Sarawak midway on the Baram River, the upper Rejang River and the lower Tubau River, 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. A close neighbour of the Kayans is the Kenyah tribe who live in Long San, along the Baram River.
Kenyah
The Kenyah culture is similar to that of their neighbours, the Kayans, and both tribes are believed to have come from the Kayan River valley in eastern Borneo. The Kenyah and Kayans are primarily farmers, cultivating rice in cleared forest areas. Typically, a Kenyah village is made of just a single longhouse. A common aspect of the Kayan and Kenyah tribes is the singing the parap, a folklore song relating expressions of love, happiness, loneliness and anger while singing praises for the beauty of nature and all living things.
Kelabit
Residents of the mysterious, cloud-covered highlands of Sarawak are the Kelabits. Making their home in Bario, the Kelabits is a tight-knit community that practices the traditional form of agriculture. Mainly rice farmers; the Bario Highland rice is a famous product of the Kelabits. In recent years, the Kelabits have also cultivated various temperate-climate fruits including apples and grapes. The Kelabits are predominantly Christians and they celebrate Christmas day.
Penan
The last truly nomadic people of Sarawak, the Penan are hunter-gatherers who roam the deep interiors of Sarawak’s jungles, and are spread out among the hilly regions of Sarawak, and neighbouring Brunei and Kalimantan.
Using basic, traditional hunting tools such as the blow-pipe and woven rattan baskets, the Penans hunt for wild boars, deers and other forest game. Largely animistic, the Penans worship Bungan, a supreme god.
Today, a great number of Penans have opted to settle down in longhouses, leaving their nomadic lifestyle behind. Many have also converted to Christianity. They still create beautiful woven baskets and mats which they use to trade with outsiders for a number of essential items including salt, cloth and tobacco. Their staple diet, like the Melanaus, is the sago, supplemented with various wild fruits, roots and greens.
Costume
The costumes of the Orang Ulu are as varied as the diversity of the tribes themselves. In general, beads and heavy silver or brass jewellery are used by the womenfolk as part of their traditional costume.
Headdresses also play an important role in distinguishing one tribe from another.
Arts & Crafts
The Orang Ulu are artistic people with longhouses elaborately decorated with murals and woodcarvings.
The Penan tribe is well known for their blowpipes, which they traditionally use to hunt small game, as well as their finely woven rattan baskets and mats. The Kenyan and Kayan tribes are celebrated for their expertise in playing the sape.
Events & Celebrations
A vast majority of the Orang Ulu tribe are Christians but old traditional religions are still practiced in some areas.
Some of the festival highlights celebrated by the Orang Ulu people include the Belaga Regatta. The Orang Ulu also celebrates Gawai Dayak.
One notable festival, though not traditional, is the Rainforest Music Festival, where many of the indigenous tribes of Sarawak as well as those from around the world, come together to share their music in a spectacular three-day performance.
