Origin of The Ibans

The culture of the Ibans

The Ibans are a branch of the Dayak tribes of Borneo. In Malaysia, majority of the Ibans are located in Sarawak. The Ibans also known as Sea Dayaks during the british colonial era. The Ibans are the largest ethnic groups in Sarawak. Total population stood at 876,000 peoples. Their belief are based on customs, taboos and very close family relationship between each other. One of the most important and memorable event in the history of the Ibans is the 'Pirate of Beting Maro' where the Iban’s warriors stood up during british invasion with an attack known as (Ngayau) and they managed to bring home a lot of decapitated enemy heads.

Location of The Ibans

Ibans community

Iban community can be found in areas such as Sibu, Bintulu, Miri, Kapit, Limbang, Sarikei, Sri Aman and Lubuk Antu. They live in longhouses called ‘ Rumah Panjai’. It can reach up to 50 units in a single longhouse. They live in communal and led by the Tuai Rumah' of each longhouse. Tuai Rumah known as the leader of each longhouse elected among themselves. Nowdays, many of the Ibans community currently residing in the city in order to have a better live, education and environment.

The Ibans Festivals

Gawai festival

For the Ibans, Gawai is the main festival that is celebrated with joyous, love and excitement. There are several types of Festivals such as Gawai Antu, Gawai Dayak, Gawai Burung, and Gawai Lelabi. Gawai Dayak is a major festival that will be celebrated on 1 June each year. This festival will be celebrated along with the traditional dish of rice wine drink made ​​from yeast and glutinous rice. They obliged to drink palm wine served during Gawai Dayak. The purpose of Gawai Dayak is to gratituide God and it marks the end of the harvest festival. The festival is also a new year for the Ibans community. “Tarian Ngajat” is performed at Gawai celebration accompanied by the Ibans traditional music. Ceremony “Ngiling Badai” indicates that the Gawai Dayak is over. Usually this ceremony will be held a month later.

Tradition & Customs

The Old 'Tajau'

Collecting “Tajau” is a tradition inherited by the Ibans community from their ancestor long ago. “Tajau” which is a large vase, gongs or pots is collected to indicate the particular family’s wealth. More “ Tajau” for the families, they richer they are and well respected by the comunity.During the old days, “Tajau” is very expensive to purchase. Only the rich affords to purchase “Tajau”. It is consider as their savings & treasure that is very sacred and should be respected by the Ibans. This tradition is still practiced by some of the Ibans until now.

Traditional foods and drinks

Tuak

The Iban are famous for their tuak, a sweet rice wine which is served during big celebrations and festive occasions. They start dinking tuak early, even ten years old boys also drink it. When you arrive at any longhouse during the festival, the occupants will offer you tuak as a welcoming drink. It used to offend the occupants if visitors refuse the offering but now the host is more understanding as some religion like Islam forbids the consumption of alcohol of any sort. There is two types of tuak which is milky tuak that taste like sweet sake and a clear one that is taste much stronger.

Manuk Pansuh

Another traditional food of iban is lemang. Lemang is made of glutinous rice and coconut milk, with salt added for taste, all cooked in a hollow bamboo stick lined with banana leaves to anticipate the rice from sticking to bamboo. It usually able when Iban autumn anniversary of HARI GAWAI. It is best to eat with meat dishes such as chicken curry. Many of Sarawak’s indigenous peoples still live by the river and forest fringe, and cook over open fires using implements fashioned from nature. Hardy bamboo is an essential cooking utensil. The rice and chicken which is already marinated with salt, ginger and lemon grass are stuffed into bamboo log then directly placed over an open fire to be cooked. This way of cooking seals in the flavors and produces astonishingly tender chicken with gravy perfumed with lemongrass and bamboo. 

Religion & Belief

Miring Ceremony

In the old days, the Iban practice animism. They believe in the spirit and the soul. Cult ritual performed to keep and preserve the spirit and the soul. For example, the Iban is famous for its offensive Ngayau 'or decapitate enemies and kept in the home as evidence of their prowess. However, they believe that these skulls have the preservation of the spirit of life and should be treated with care. The skull can not be disturbed or placed in an arbitrary place. They also believe in omens, such as the sounds of birds and bird ketupung beragai. The sound produced by these animals is a sign of things will happen. All indicators will be interpreted by the 'beliau' and 'Manang' to comply with the customs so as not to cause havoc. To avoid something that can bring disaster, usually ceremonial 'Ngintu burung' and 'belian' will be carried out according to the 'Adat' Tuai Raban bansa. Most of the Iban community today accept Christianity as a creed, but at the same time still retain the customs and cultural characteristics of the symbol of the Iban tradition.

Economic Activity

Planting Rice

Agriculture is the main economic activity to the Ibans that generates their income during the old days. They grow “Padi Huma” & “Padi Bukit” (hill rice). They also hunt for animals and practice fishing activities for a living. The families in each longhouse will spread their task and together they share the earnings equally. Rubber tapping was done by people who live in remote areas. Nowdays, the Ibans began to settle in large cities in Sarawak. New generation of the Ibans possess the knowledge and educational qualifications enable them to work in the public sector and the private sector.

Language and Writings

The Ibans have their own language. Please refer to the examples below:

Ibans language being centralised but there are also some words that carries different meaning according to their location. The Ibans are known as the "Master of Language" by the world. One of the Ibans language researcher, Professor Derek Freeman says that the Ibans are “Master of Language”. He justifiy his statement by saying that the Ibans are clever in using language, each word in every line, write a poem with beautiful words. The Ibans are brilliant in choosing and arranging sentences which is perfectly place and match perfectly to the sound as used in poems and prose in English language.