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 were a very feared tribe in Borneo. They speak the Iban language. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 405 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1089 × 1611 pixel, file size: 265 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This image is taken by me myself. ... Gawai Day or Gawai Dayak is a festive celebrated in Sarawak on 1st June every year is both a religious and social occasion. ... Debak is a town, in Betong Division, Sarawak, east Malaysia. ... Betong is a town, and the capital of the Betong District (2,493. ... For the river, see Sarawak River. ... For the river, see Sarawak River. ... West Kalimantan (Indonesian: Kalimantan Barat often abbreviated to Kalbar) is a province of Indonesia. ... Iban is the spoken language of ethnic Dayak Iban in Borneo. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... This article is in need of attention. ... The Dayak IPA: (or Dyak) are the peoples indigenous to Borneo. ... Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of Maritime Southeast Asia. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Iban is the spoken language of ethnic Dayak Iban in Borneo. ...

Today, the days of headhunting and piracy are long gone and in has come the modern era of globalization and 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 are equipped with modern facilities such as electricity and water supply and other facilities such as (tar sealed) roads, telephone lines and the internet. Younger Ibans are mostly found in urban areas and visit their hometowns during the holidays. The Ibans today are becoming increasingly urbanised while (surprisingly) retaining most of their traditional heritage and culture. The rise of multinational corporations and outsourcing have played a crucial part in globalization. ... By the mid 20th century humans had achieved a mastery of technology sufficient to leave the surface of the Earth for the first time and explore space. ... For the river, see Sarawak River. ... West Kalimantan (Indonesian: Kalimantan Barat often abbreviated to Kalbar) is a province of Indonesia. ... In archaeology and anthropology, a long house or longhouse is a type of long, narrow single room building built by peoples in various parts of the world including Asia, Europe and North America. ...

Iban History

Main article: Iban history

The origin of the name Iban is a mystery, although many theories exist. During the British colonial era, the Ibans were called Sea Dayaks. Some believe that the word Iban was an ancient original Iban word for people or man. The modern-day Iban word for people or man is mensia, a slightly modified Malay loan word of the same meaning (manusia). Main article: Iban people 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). ... Photograph of a nude man by Wilhelm von Gloeden, ca. ...

The Ibans were the original inhabitants of Borneo Island. Like the other Dayak tribes, they were originally farmers, hunters, and gatherers. Not much is known about Iban people before the arrival of the Western expeditions to Asia. Nothing was ever recorded by any voyagers about them. For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ...

The Ibans were unfortunately branded for being pioneers of headhunting. Headhunting among the Ibans is believed to have started when the lands occupied by the Ibans became over-populated. In those days, before the arrival of western civilization, intruding on lands belonging to other tribes resulted in death. Confrontation was the only way of survival.

In those days, the way of war was the only way that any Dayak tribe could achieve prosperity and fortune. Dayak warfare was brutal and bloody, to the point of 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 were the original inhabitants of Saribas, are believed to have been assimilated or forced northwards as far as Bintulu by the Ibans. The Ukits were also believed to have been nearly wiped out by the Ibans. For the video game, see Ethnic Cleansing (computer game). ... Bukitan (also known as Baketan) is small tribe living the state of Sarawak, East Malaysia. ... Bintulu is a coastal town, and the capital of the Bintulu District (7,220. ... The Ukit is a tribe found in Sarawak, Borneo. ...

The Ibans started moving to areas in what is today's Sarawak around the 15th century. After an initial phase of colonising and settling the river valleys, displacing or absorbing the local tribes, a phase of internecine warfare began. Local leaders were forced to resist the tax collectors of the sultans of Brunei. At the same time, Malay influence was felt, and Iban leaders began to be known by Malay titles such as Datu (Datuk), Nakhoda and Orang Kaya. A sultan (Arabic: سلطان) is an Islamic monarch ruling under the terms of shariah. ...

In later years, the Iban encountered the Bajau and Illanun, coming in galleys from the Philippines. These were sea-faring tribes who came plundering throughout Borneo. However, the Ibans feared no tribe, and fought the Bajaus and Illanuns. One famous Iban legendary figure known as Lebor Menoa from Entanak, near modern-day Betong, fought and successfully defeated the Bajaus and Illanuns. It is likely that the Ibans learned sea-faring skills from the Bajau and the Illanun, using these skills to plunder other tribes living in coastal areas, 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 may also be one of the reasons James Brooke, who arrived in Sarawak around 1838, called the Ibans Sea Dayaks. For more than a century, the Ibans were known as Sea Dayaks to Westerners. The Bajau are an indigenous ethnic group residing in Sabah, eastern Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines and parts of Sarawak. ... 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. ... The Melanau are a people who live on the island of Borneo, primarily in Sarawak, Malaysia, but also in Kalimantan, Indonesia. ... Selako is a branch of Dayak people from the Borneo island. ... Sir James Brooke Sir James Brooke (the most legendary person ever!!)(29 April 1803 – 11 June 1868) was born in Coombe Grove, near Bath, educated at Norwich School, England and became the first White Rajah of Sarawak. ...

Religion, Culture and Festivals

The Ibans were traditionally animist, although the majority are now Christian, some of them Muslim and many continue to observe both Christian and traditional ceremonies, particularly during marriages or festivals. This article is in need of attention. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ...

Significant festivals include the rice harvesting festival Gawai Dayak, the main festival for the Ibans. Other festivals include 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 accompanied by the taboh and gendang, the Ibans' traditional music. Pua kumbu, the Iban traditional cloth, is used to decorate houses. Tuak, which is originally made of rice, is a wine used to serve guests. Nowadays, there are various kinds of tuak, made with rice alternatives such as sugar cane, ginger and corn. Gawai Day or Gawai Dayak is a festive celebrated in Sarawak on 1st June every year is both a religious and social occasion. ... Species Ref: ITIS 42058 as of 2004-05-05 Sugarcane is one of six species of a tall tropical southeast Asian grass (Family Poaceae) having stout fibrous jointed stalks whose sap at one time was the primary source of sugar. ... For other uses, see Ginger (disambiguation). ... Binomial name L. Corn (Zea mays L. ssp. ...

The Gawai Burong (the bird festival) is held in honour of the War God, Singalang Burong. The name Singalang Burong literally means "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 during more peaceful times evolved into a healing ceremony. The recitation of pantun (traditional chants by poets) is a particularly important aspect of the festival.

For the majority of Ibans who are Christians, some Chrisitian festivals such as Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, and other Christian festivals are also celebrated. Most Ibans are devout Christians and follow the Christian faith strictly. For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation). ... Good Friday is the Friday before Easter (Easter always falls on a Sunday). ... This article is about the Christian festival. ...

Despite the difference in faiths, Ibans of different faiths do help each other during Gawais and Christmas. Differences in faith is never a problem in the Iban community. The Ibans believe in helping and having fun together. This is ironic for a tribe who once waged war with others due to differences.

A Modern Iban Longhouse in Kapit Division

Image File history File linksMetadata Modern_Iban_Longhouse. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Modern_Iban_Longhouse. ... Kapit Division, formed on April 2, 1973, is the seventh of eleven administrative divisions in Sarawak, east Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. ...

Musical & Dancing Heritage

Main article: Agung

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 drones 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 (the so-called 'bass'), a bendai (which acts as a snare) and also a set of ketebung (a single sided drum/percussion). The pair of gongs of the agung The Agungs are the largest gongs of the kulintang ensemble and represent the lowest pitch of all the instrumentation. ... The pair of gongs of the agung The Agungs are the largest gongs of the kulintang ensemble and represent the lowest pitch of all the instrumentation. ... A gong is one of a wide variety of metal percussion instruments. ... Kulintang a Kayo, a Philippine xylophone The xylophone (from the Greek meaning wooden sound) is a musical instrument in the percussion family which probably originated in Indonesia. ... The snare drum or side drum is a tubular drum made of wood or metal with skins, or heads, stretched over the top and bottom openings, and with a set of snares (cords) stretched across the bottom head. ...

The Iban as well as the Kayan also play an instrument resembling the lute called 'Sapek'. The Sapek is the official musical instrument for the Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is played similarly to the way rock guitarists play guitar solos, albeit a little slower, but not as slow as blues.^[1][2] One example of Iban traditional music is the taboh. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Guitar solos are a melodic passage, section, or entire piece of music written for an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. ... Blues music redirects here. ...

The Ibans perform a unique dance called the ngajat. It serves many purposes depending on the occasion. During Gawais, it is used to entertain the people who in the olden days enjoy graceful ngajats as a form of entertainment. Iban men and women have different styles of ngajat. The ngajat involves a lot of precise body-turning movements. The ngajat for men is more aggressive and depicts a man going to war, or a bird flying (as a respect to the Iban god of war, Singalang Burong). The women's form of ngajat is consists of soft, graceful movements with very precise body turns. Each ngajat is accompanied by the taboh.

Iban people of Betong

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1200 × 1600 pixel, file size: 459 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This is a picture of my cousin, taken by me myself. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1200 × 1600 pixel, file size: 459 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This is a picture of my cousin, taken by me myself. ...

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 live 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. Lundu is a town in the Kuching Division of Sarawak, Malaysia. ... Samarahan or Kota Samarahan is a town, and the capital of the Samarahan District (407. ... Durian, Serian Landmark Serian is a town, and the capital of the Serian District (2,039. ... Sri Aman is one of the districts (daerah) in Sarawak. ... Betong MDB Building Betong is a town and administrative district of the Betong Division in Sarawak, Malaysia, lying in the Saribas area. ... Saratok is a town, and the capital of the Saratok District (1,586. ... Website: http://www. ... Lubok Antu is district in Sri Aman Division in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia. ... Website: http://www. ... For other uses, see Miri (disambiguation). ... The Rajang River is a river in East Malaysia, in northwest Borneo. ... 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 a district of the same name. ... Bintulu is a coastal town, and the capital of the Bintulu District (7,220. ... For other uses, see Miri (disambiguation). ...

Cultural References

• First Iban Online Radio Iban Online Radio

• The episode, Into the Jungle from Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations 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.

The Sarawak Rangers were a para-military force founded in 1872 by the second Rajah of Sarawak, Charles Anthoni Johnson Brooke. ... For other uses, see Tattoo (disambiguation). ...

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

v • d • e Ethnic groups in Malaysia

Nationwide Banjarese • Malay • Chinese • Indian • Bugis • Eurasian • Javanese Demographics of Malaysia is diverse. ... Banjar (or Banjarese) is the name of an interior and coastal native ethnic group which settled in the Banjar region and in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia, the fourth biggest city on the island of Borneo. ... // Tunku Abdul Rahman - First Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdul Razak - Second Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - Fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia Leftenan Adnan - military Hussein Onn - Third Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir bin Mohamad - Fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Tun Razak - Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Parameswara... This article is about ethnic groups of South Sulawesi. ... Peninsular Malaysia Baba Nyonya • Malaccan Portuguese • Chitty • Malaysian Siam • Minangkabau • Orang Asli Peranakan, Baba-Nyonya () and Straits Chinese (; named after the Straits Settlements) are terms used for the descendants of the very early Chinese immigrants to the Nusantara region, including both the British Straits Settlements of Malaya and the Dutch-controlled island of Java among other places, who have partially adopted Malay... The Kristang or Cristão people are an ethnic group of people, mostly in Malacca (Malaysia) and Singapore. ... The Chitty caretaker of the Chitty museum. ... Malaysian Siam are Malaysian people with Siamese origin/ ancestry. ... Languages Minangkabau, Indonesian and Malay. ... Orang Asli is a general term used for any indigenous groups that are found in Peninsular Malaysia. ... Sarawak Bidayuh • Bisaya • Bukitan • Iban • Lun Bawang • Kayan • Kedayan • Kelabit • Kenyah • Melanau • Penan • Punan • Selako • Ukit The Bidayuh (formerly known as Land D(a)yak) is one of the main indigenous ethnic groups now settled in areas of southwest Sarawak and the adjacent areas of west Kalimantan. ... The Bisaya are an indigenous people of northwestern Borneo, in Malaysia, concentrated around the Limbang river in northern Sarawak state. ... Bukitan (also known as Baketan) is small tribe living the state of Sarawak, East Malaysia. ... The Lun Bawang is of a Dayak tribe found in Central Borneo. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Kedayan are an ethnic group residing in Brunei, Labuan, Sabah, and parts of Sarawak on the island of Borneo. ... The Kelabit, who have close ties to the Lun Bawang, are an indigenous race of the Sarawak highlands--the remotest and highest of Borneos mountains. ... The Kenyah are an indigenous peoples of Borneo, living in the remote Baram and Belaga regions in Sarawak, Malaysia and Kalimantan, Indonesia. ... The Melanau are a people who live on the island of Borneo, primarily in Sarawak, Malaysia, but also in Kalimantan, Indonesia. ... The Penan are a nomadic aboriginal people living in Sarawak and Brunei. ... Punan is an ethnic group distinct or a minority ethnic here in Sarawak specially, unrelated to the Penan and also the other so called Punan found both in Sarawak and Kalimantan part of Borneo. ... Selako is a branch of Dayak people from the Borneo island. ... The Ukit is a tribe found in Sarawak, Borneo. ... Sabah Bajau • Brunei • Dusun • Ida'an • Kadazan • Lotud • Murut• Orang Sungai • Rungus • Suluk The Bajau are an indigenous ethnic group residing in Sabah, eastern Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines and parts of Sarawak. ... Dusun is the name of a tribe or ethnic and linguistic group in the Malaysian state of Sabah. ... The Idaan are an ethnic group of Borneo, residing primarily in the Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, and Sandakan districts on the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia. ... The Kadazan is the largest ethnic group in Sabah (a state in Malaysia) making up about one third of the population. ... The Lotud are an indigenous ethnic group residing in Sabah, eastern Malaysia on the island of Borneo. ... The Murut are an indigenous ethnic group inhabiting northern inland regions of Borneo. ... This article needs translation. ... The Rungus are an ethnic group of Borneo, residing primarily in northern Sabah in the area surrounding Kudat. ... Tausug is spoken in Sulu province in the Philippines It is a member of the Visayan language family. ...