Ibans doing the ngajat

A Modern Iban Longhouse in Kapit Division

IBAN is also an acronym for International Bank Account Number

The Ibans were formerly known during the colonial period by the British as Sea Dayaks and are a branch of the Dayak peoples of Borneo. At the time a fearsome warrior race, the Iban were renowned for practising headhunting and piracy. Image File history File links Ngajat. ... Image File history File links Ngajat. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Modern_Iban_Longhouse. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Modern_Iban_Longhouse. ... The International Bank Account Number (IBAN) is an international standard for numbering bank accounts. ... The Dayak (also Dyak and la-kia) are indigenous occupants of the Kalimantan region of Borneo. ... Borneo and Sulawesi Borneo (politically divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei) is the third largest island in the world. ... // A headhunter was a person who killed another and then took the others head. ... Copyright infringement is the unauthorized use of copyrighted material in a manner that violates one of the copyright owners exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works that build upon it. ...

Today the Iban population is concentrated in Sarawak, Brunei, and part of Indonesia. The Ibans live in longhouses, rumah panjai, [1]but today's longhouses are modern (that is, with electricity and lots of other modern facilities). Younger Ibans are mostly found in urban areas, and visit their hometowns during the holidays. The population of Sarawak generally is becoming increasingly urbanised. State motto: Bersatu, Berusaha, Berbakti (Malay: United, Industrious, Dedicated) Capital Kuching Governor T.Y.T Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Chief Minister Y.A.B. Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Abdul Taib Bin Mahmud / Pehin Sri Dr. Hj. ...

Religion 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. This article is in need of attention. ... As a noun, Christian is an appellation and moniker deriving from the appellation Christ, which many people associate exclusively with Jesus of Nazareth. ...

In 2003, the Iban Bible, the 'Bup Kudus', was temporarily banned. The reason given for this ban was that the Bup Kudus contained the word Allah Taala, which referred to God. The use of the word Allah was supposedly the reason for the controversy, because the God referred to in the Bup Kudus was the Christian God and not Allah as the Muslims know it. This may have been seen by the authorities as an error, an insult, or a potential source of confusion. 2003 (MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Bible (sometimes The Book, Good Book, Word of God, The Word, or Scripture), from Greek (τα) βιβλια, (ta) biblia, (the) books, plural of βιβλιον, biblion, book, originally a diminutive of βιβλος, biblos, which in turn is derived from βυβλος—byblos, meaning papyrus, from the ancient Phoenician city of Byblos which exported this writing material...

Significant festivals include the rice festival Gawai Dayak, 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. 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, the name of the Ibans' traditional music. Pua kumbu, the Iban traditional cloth, would be used to decorate houses. Tuak, which is rice wine, would be served to guests. Gawai Day or Gawai Dayak is a festive celebrated in Sarawak on 1st June every year is both a religious and social occasion. ...

The Gawai Burong on the other hand is held in honour of the War God, Singallang Burong. 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.

Iban History

The history of the Iban is committed to memory and recorded in a system of writing on boards (papan turai) by the initiated shamans (lemambang). Elaborate genealogies go back to 15 generations or more with a surprising degree of accuracy. Some genealogies are as long as 25 generations and can still be connected with actual places and incidents. A genealogy (tusut) normally begins with the most remote ancestor and is a list of who married and begat whom. Sometimes, the ancestors are characterised in short descriptions. Other songs contain historical information as well, for example the pengap, a ritual chant sung during each major festival, that recounts deities and the deeds of the ancestors.

According to oral histories, the Iban arrived in western Sarawak from Indonesia about 1675. After an initial phase of colonising and settling the river valleys, displacing or absorbing the local populations of Bukitans and Serus, 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 Oran Kaya. Several of the Malays active on the river-estuaries claimed to be descendants of the prophet, like Indra Lela, Sharif Japar and Sharif Sahap. Sharif Ahmit was killed by the Iban. The Bajau and Illanun, coming in galleys from the Philippines plundered in Borneo and were fought by the Iban, for example by the famous Lebor Menoa from Entanak near modern Betong. Oral history recounts how Lebor Menoa encountered Chinese traders who came in ships to the Saribas in order to sell cooking pots, brass pots, pottery bowls, shell armlets and cowry shells for padi. State motto: Bersatu, Berusaha, Berbakti (Malay: United, Industrious, Dedicated) Capital Kuching Governor T.Y.T Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Chief Minister Y.A.B. Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Abdul Taib Bin Mahmud / Pehin Sri Dr. Hj. ... The Bajau are an indigenous ethnic group residing in Sabah, eastern Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia. ... The Illanun are an ethnic group of Borneo, residing primarily on the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia, in 17 villages around the Lahad Datu and Kota Belud districts; also in Kudat. ... Betong MDB Building Betong is the capital of Betong Division of Sarawak, Betong Betong was formerly under the District of Sri Aman. ... Oral history is an account of something passed down by word of mouth from one generation to another. ... Saribas is an area made up of 3 main river in the Betong Division of Sarawak, Malaysia. ...

The Malay leader Indra Lela, brother of Lela Wangsa of Lingga and Lela Pelawan incited the Saribas and Skrang Ibans to warfare against the Sebuyau Dayaks in order to control them. The Saribas were led by Orang Kaya Pemancha Dana of the Padeh, in alliance with Linggir of Paku[2] (Mali Lebu), Bunyau of Entanak and Bulan of Ulu Layar. The Skran were led by Rentap (Libau), Orang Kaya Gasing and Orang Kaya Rabong. About 1834, the Skrang made a raid on Banting Hill, inhabited by Balau Dayaks and Malays, who suffered heavy losses. Three years later, Orang Kaya Pemancha Dana made war on the Undup Ibans who had killed his brother, and utterly defeated them, taking many captives and looting a famous guchi jar that was thought to have magical properties. The surviving Undup Ibans took refuge in the Kapuas valley and Lingga and later settled in the area of Salimbau. Only under the rule of Brooke did they return to Banting hill, which had meanwhile been settled by the Skrang. The Sebuyau Sea Dayaks under Orang Kaya Temenggong Jugah of Lundu attacked Paku on the Saribas at about the time. He attacked Matop, and most inhabitants fled.

Ca. 1838, the Balau Sea Dayaks raided the Saribas und the Krian east of the Saribas under the leadership of Lang and his son-in-law Orang Kaya Janting. They split, Lang attacking the Saribas, Janting going to the Kalaka. Lang met a Saribas host on the way to attack Banting. The Balau were badly defeated, and Lang was killed, together with 132 men. In the Kalaka, Janting went up the Melupa and attacked a longhouse of Orang Kaya Temenggong Tandok. After heavy fighting, the Balau won, killing Temeggong Tandok and 130 of the Melupa Ibans. The next year, Janting and his warriors made war on Saribas again. The Saribas sought the alliance of Linggir of Paku. But they were beaten at the mouth of the Undai and suffered heavy losses, including all the sons of Orang Kayas Antau and Gun. Saribas is an area made up of 3 main river in the Betong Division of Sarawak, Malaysia. ...

The Iban fell under the rule of Rajah James Brooke in 1835. The Iban leader Libau (Rentap) resisted Brooke from his fortress on Mount Sadok. The Ibans of Lingga, the Undup Ibans and the Sebuyau fought for Brooke. Sir James Brooke Sir James Brooke (29 April 1803 – 11 June 1868) was born in Coombe Grove, near Bath, England and became the first White Rajah of Sarawak. ... Liepāja (Polish Lipawa, German Libau, Russian Либава Libava or Лиепая Liyepaya, Yiddish ליבאַװע Libave; population 89,448 in 2000 census) is a city in Latvia, on the Baltic sea. ...

Thereafter the Iban became vital allies of the Brooke dynasty, with the defeat of both Rentap and later the last rebel leader Asun. Warfare between Dayak peoples continued to be an intermittent problem for the regime until the Great Peacemaking in Kapit in 1924, when the Rajah Vyner also consolidated the support of the Iban by appointing one of their great war heroes Koh Anak Jubang (1870-1956) Temenggong or paramount chief. Koh became a member of the advisory council of the state, the Council Negri, and converted to Christianity in 1949. He was awarded the Queen's Medal for Chiefs and the Order of the British Empire. Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions, in decreasing order of seniority: Knight or Dame Grand...

During the Japanese occupation of Sarawak from 1942-5 the Iban also played a role in guerilla warfare against the occupying forces, particularly in the Kapit Division where headhunting was temporarily revived towards the end of the war. At this time Sarawak came under the temporary military administration of the Australian forces, who were particularly prominent in the liberation of Borneo.

Branches of the Iban People

Although Ibans generally speak the same dialect which is intelligable with each other, they can be divided into different branches which they are called by from the areas they where they settled in.

-Majority of Ibans who lives around the Lundu and Samarahan region are called Sebuyaus. The Lundu, originally a dance done by African slaves in Brazil, also gained popularity among the white middle class and upper crust and became Brazils first national dance. ... Samarahan or Kota Samarahan is a town, and the capital of the Samarahan District (407. ...

-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. Serian is a small town in Sarawak located 40 miles from Kuching. ...

-Ibans who originated from Lingga, Banting & Sebuyau (place) are called Balaus.

-Ibans who come from Betong, Saratok & parts of Sarikei are called Saribas. Their dialect is widely used on offical matters thus the Saribas dialect is can considered as official Iban dialect. The new standard & official Iban pronuonciation and spelling is adapted from the Saribas dialect. Saratok is a town, and the capital of the Saratok District (1,586. ... Sarikei is a small town near Sibu in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. ...

-The Lubok Antu Ibans are classed by anthropologist as Ulu Ai Ibans. Lubok Antu is district in Sri Aman Division in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia. ...

-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, Kapit, Belaga, Kanowit, Sibu, Sarikei, Bintulu and Miri. Thier dialect is somewhat similar to the Ulu Ai dialect. Sarikei is a small town near Sibu in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. ... Miri City Miri made history as the first non-capital town to be elevated to city status. ... Kapit is a town, and the capital of the Kapit District (15,595. ... Belaga is the capital of the Belaga District (19,403. ... Kanowit is a town, and the capital of the Kanowit District (2,253. ... The Sanyan Tower, a 28-floor building, the tallest (2005) in Sarawak. ... Bintulu is a coastal town, and the capital of the Bintulu District (7,220. ... Miri City Miri made history as the first non-capital town to be elevated to city status. ...

In Kalimantan (Indonesian part of Borneo), Ibans people are even more diversed. 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.

Speaking Iban

Here are some simple Iban phrases.

How are you? - Nama brita nuan?

What is your name? - Sapa nama nuan?

How much is this - Brapa rega utai tu?

Where is ___ ? - Dini alai ___ ?

Where are you from? - Ari ni penatai nuan?

I come from ___ . - Aku datai ari ___.

What is the time now? - Pukul brapa diatu?

to eat - makai

to drink - ngirup

to sleep - tinduk

to run - belanda'/belawak

to walk - bejalai

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)