A simple intro to Iban, the Sea Dayak.
10.21.2016
It is believed that the term "Iban" originates from the Iban's own formidable enemy, the Kayan who call the Sea Dayaks in the upper Rajang river region that initially came into contact with them as "Hivan". The Kayan mostly lives in the central Borneo region and migrated into the upper Rajang river and thus went logger-head with those Ibans who migrated from the upper Batang Ai/Lupar region and Katibas river. In fact, those Sea Dayaks in the Saribas and Skrang regions initially resisted being called Iban and insisted to be called Dayak but somehow the term Iban increasingly becomes popular later on after the European starts to frequently uses this term.
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.
1. Majority of Ibans who live around the Lundu and Samarahan region are called Sebuyaus.
2. Ibans who settled in areas in Serian district (places like Kampung Lebor , Kampung Tanah Mawang & others) are called Remuns. They may be the earliest Iban group to migrate to Sarawak.
3. Ibans who originated from Sri Aman area are called Balaus .
Ibans who come from Betong , Saratok & parts of Sarikei are called Saribas .
4. The original iban Lubok Antu Ibans are classed by anthropologists as Ulu Ai/batang ai Ibans.
Ibans from Undup are called Undup Ibans. Their dialect is somewhat a cross between the
Ulu Ai dialect & the Balau dialect.
5. Ibans living in areas from Sarikei to Miri are called Rajang Ibans. This group is also known as "Bilak Sedik Iban". 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 or lubok antu dialect.
2. Ibans who settled in areas in Serian district (places like Kampung Lebor , Kampung Tanah Mawang & others) are called Remuns. They may be the earliest Iban group to migrate to Sarawak.
3. Ibans who originated from Sri Aman area are called Balaus .
Ibans who come from Betong , Saratok & parts of Sarikei are called Saribas .
4. The original iban Lubok Antu Ibans are classed by anthropologists as Ulu Ai/batang ai Ibans.
Ibans from Undup are called Undup Ibans. Their dialect is somewhat a cross between the
Ulu Ai dialect & the Balau dialect.
5. Ibans living in areas from Sarikei to Miri are called Rajang Ibans. This group is also known as "Bilak Sedik Iban". 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 or lubok antu dialect.
In West Kalimantan (Indonesia), 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 anthropologists. They can be related to the Iban either by the dialect they speak or their customs, rituals & their way of life.
Semberuang , Sebaru' , Bugau , Mualang & along with many other groups are classed as "Ibanic people" by anthropologists. They can be related to the Iban either by the dialect they speak or their customs, rituals & their way of life.
Iban Religion and Pantheon
The Iban religion involves worshiping and honouring at least four categories of beings i.e. the supreme god called Petara and his seven deities, the holy spirits of Orang Panggau Libau and Gelong, the ghost spirits (Bunsu Antu) and the souls of dead ancestors. Some Iban categorizes these gods into beings from the sky (air langit) which refers to gods living in the sky, from the tree tops (ari pucuk kayu) which refers to omen birds, from the land/soil (ari tanah) which refers to augury animals, snakes and reptiles, and from the water (ari ai) which refers to fishes and water creatures.
The supreme God is called Bunsu (Kree) Petara , sometimes called as Raja Entala or even Tuhan Allah Taala (Arabic defines the article al- "the" and ilāh "deity, god" to al-lāh meaning "the [sole] deity, God") in modern times. The Iban calls this supreme god who creates the universe by the three names of Seragindi which makes the water (ngaga ai), Seragindah which makes the land (ngaga tanah) and Seragindit which makes the sky (ngaga langit).
There are seven main petaras (deities or gods or regents) of Iban Dayaks who act as the messengers between human beings and God. These deities are the children of Raja Jembu and the grandchildren of Raja Burong.
The Iban religion involves worshiping and honouring at least four categories of beings i.e. the supreme god called Petara and his seven deities, the holy spirits of Orang Panggau Libau and Gelong, the ghost spirits (Bunsu Antu) and the souls of dead ancestors. Some Iban categorizes these gods into beings from the sky (air langit) which refers to gods living in the sky, from the tree tops (ari pucuk kayu) which refers to omen birds, from the land/soil (ari tanah) which refers to augury animals, snakes and reptiles, and from the water (ari ai) which refers to fishes and water creatures.
The supreme God is called Bunsu (Kree) Petara , sometimes called as Raja Entala or even Tuhan Allah Taala (Arabic defines the article al- "the" and ilāh "deity, god" to al-lāh meaning "the [sole] deity, God") in modern times. The Iban calls this supreme god who creates the universe by the three names of Seragindi which makes the water (ngaga ai), Seragindah which makes the land (ngaga tanah) and Seragindit which makes the sky (ngaga langit).
There are seven main petaras (deities or gods or regents) of Iban Dayaks who act as the messengers between human beings and God. These deities are the children of Raja Jembu and the grandchildren of Raja Burong.
Their names are as follows:
1. Sengalang Burong as the god of war
2. Biku Bunsu Petara (female) as the high priest
3. Sempulang Gana as the god of agriculture along with his father-in-law Semarugah as the god of land
4. Selempandai/Selempeta/Selempetoh as the god of creation and procreation.
5. Menjaya Manang as the god of health and shamanism being the first manang bali
6. Anda Mara as the god of wealth and fortune.
7. Ini Andan/Inee (female) as the natural-born doctor and the god of justice
1. Sengalang Burong as the god of war
2. Biku Bunsu Petara (female) as the high priest
3. Sempulang Gana as the god of agriculture along with his father-in-law Semarugah as the god of land
4. Selempandai/Selempeta/Selempetoh as the god of creation and procreation.
5. Menjaya Manang as the god of health and shamanism being the first manang bali
6. Anda Mara as the god of wealth and fortune.
7. Ini Andan/Inee (female) as the natural-born doctor and the god of justice
In addition to these gods, there are mystical people namely the orang Panggau Libau and "Gelong" with the most notable ones being
Keling and Laja , and Kumang and Lulong who often help the Iban Dayaks to be successful in life and adventures.
Keling and Laja , and Kumang and Lulong who often help the Iban Dayaks to be successful in life and adventures.
Iban piring or ritual offerings
The Iban leka piring which is the number of each offering item is basically according to the single odd numbers which are piring turun 3, 5, 7 and 9. Leka piring (Number of each offering item) depends on how many gods are to be invited and presented with offerings which number should normally be an odd figure.
The Iban leka piring which is the number of each offering item is basically according to the single odd numbers which are piring turun 3, 5, 7 and 9. Leka piring (Number of each offering item) depends on how many gods are to be invited and presented with offerings which number should normally be an odd figure.
The list of gods to be prayed to and offered with foods and drinks are as follows:
1. Sengalang Burong – when preparing for war or major event like participating in election. Gawai Burong is usually held to honor him and to seek his blessing (Gawai Burong).
2. Raja Simpulang Gana – when dealing with farming related activities. (Gawai Umai and related gawai)
3. Raja Menjaya & Ini Inda – when asking for better health. (Gawai sakit & related activities e.g. bemanang).
4. Anda Mara – seeking good fortune and material wealth. (Gawai Pangkong Tiang)
5. Selampandai – when you seek blessing in your marriage, children growth or fertility. (During Gawai Melah Pinang)
6. Raja Semarugah – when seeking permission to use land for construction and other activities like agricultural activities. (when erecting the first pole).
7. Keling and orang Panggau and Gelong – when seeking their help to go to war, election, defence from enemies, or when seeking their help to invite Gods to our festivals.
8. Souls of our dead ancestors – when seeking their blessing and showing respect for their soul. Usually during gawai dayak and when visiting their graves.
9. Bunsu Antu – as and when instructed in dreams.
1. Sengalang Burong – when preparing for war or major event like participating in election. Gawai Burong is usually held to honor him and to seek his blessing (Gawai Burong).
2. Raja Simpulang Gana – when dealing with farming related activities. (Gawai Umai and related gawai)
3. Raja Menjaya & Ini Inda – when asking for better health. (Gawai sakit & related activities e.g. bemanang).
4. Anda Mara – seeking good fortune and material wealth. (Gawai Pangkong Tiang)
5. Selampandai – when you seek blessing in your marriage, children growth or fertility. (During Gawai Melah Pinang)
6. Raja Semarugah – when seeking permission to use land for construction and other activities like agricultural activities. (when erecting the first pole).
7. Keling and orang Panggau and Gelong – when seeking their help to go to war, election, defence from enemies, or when seeking their help to invite Gods to our festivals.
8. Souls of our dead ancestors – when seeking their blessing and showing respect for their soul. Usually during gawai dayak and when visiting their graves.
9. Bunsu Antu – as and when instructed in dreams.
Iban Conversion to Christianity
There are several reasons why many Iban and other Dayaks turn to Christianity:
The traditional augury causes some complexity with many penti pemali (prohibitions), various omens, superstitions and delays in some works and progress of life.
The healing (pelian) by manangs are not effective in curing some diseases. In fact, the manangs cannot cure smallpox, cholera (muang ai), dengue, etc.
Christianity is considered as new branch of knowledge to be adopted and adapted to the traditional customs and way of life that led to realisation that old bad practices such as headhunting is self-destructive to the Dayak race survival as a whole.
Christianity comes with western education which can be used to seek employment on sojourns and upgrade living standard to escape poverty.
Defeats of Dayaks at the hands of Europeans with better weapons such as guns and cannons vis-a-vis traditional hand-held weapons such as swords, shields, spears and blowpipes despite strict adherence to traditional augury practices.
Some Ibans consider Christianity as an extension of human knowledge because it can accommodate some of their traditional practices e.g. some the ritual festivals can be celebrated in the Christian ways.
Some churches and pastors prohibited Christian Iban to practise their ancestor's traditional custom ceremony such as miring, ‘muja menua'-Miring ceremonies are performed to honour the ‘Petara’ (Gods), spirits and ancestors and always associated in atheism, therefore any form or ceremony that offering others God (besides the Christian God) is prohibited by Christianity but the people take it easily and mutual understanding between individual’s ethics is concerned.
For the majority of Ibans who are Christians, some Christian 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. Since Christianity conversion, some of the Iban people never celebrate their ancestor's festival such as Gawai Burong or Gawai Antu but majority still practises Gawai Dayak (Harvest Festival) which is generic in nature and preserves their ancestors' culture and tradition. The majority of Iban Christians had changed their name to English or Hebrew name and some will never celebrate Gawai Dayak (Harvest Festival) at all.
However, some Iban festivals can still be celebrated in the Christian (European-style) ways like Gawai Antu, Gawai Umai, Gawai Lelabi by offering prayers to their Ancestor's God (the original Iban Dayaks religion of Animism where traditional foods and drinks are offered and then traditional music and dance are played for merrymaking. The Ibans have no restriction in celebrating all customary and traditional Iban festivals.
There are several reasons why many Iban and other Dayaks turn to Christianity:
The traditional augury causes some complexity with many penti pemali (prohibitions), various omens, superstitions and delays in some works and progress of life.
The healing (pelian) by manangs are not effective in curing some diseases. In fact, the manangs cannot cure smallpox, cholera (muang ai), dengue, etc.
Christianity is considered as new branch of knowledge to be adopted and adapted to the traditional customs and way of life that led to realisation that old bad practices such as headhunting is self-destructive to the Dayak race survival as a whole.
Christianity comes with western education which can be used to seek employment on sojourns and upgrade living standard to escape poverty.
Defeats of Dayaks at the hands of Europeans with better weapons such as guns and cannons vis-a-vis traditional hand-held weapons such as swords, shields, spears and blowpipes despite strict adherence to traditional augury practices.
Some Ibans consider Christianity as an extension of human knowledge because it can accommodate some of their traditional practices e.g. some the ritual festivals can be celebrated in the Christian ways.
Some churches and pastors prohibited Christian Iban to practise their ancestor's traditional custom ceremony such as miring, ‘muja menua'-Miring ceremonies are performed to honour the ‘Petara’ (Gods), spirits and ancestors and always associated in atheism, therefore any form or ceremony that offering others God (besides the Christian God) is prohibited by Christianity but the people take it easily and mutual understanding between individual’s ethics is concerned.
For the majority of Ibans who are Christians, some Christian 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. Since Christianity conversion, some of the Iban people never celebrate their ancestor's festival such as Gawai Burong or Gawai Antu but majority still practises Gawai Dayak (Harvest Festival) which is generic in nature and preserves their ancestors' culture and tradition. The majority of Iban Christians had changed their name to English or Hebrew name and some will never celebrate Gawai Dayak (Harvest Festival) at all.
However, some Iban festivals can still be celebrated in the Christian (European-style) ways like Gawai Antu, Gawai Umai, Gawai Lelabi by offering prayers to their Ancestor's God (the original Iban Dayaks religion of Animism where traditional foods and drinks are offered and then traditional music and dance are played for merrymaking. The Ibans have no restriction in celebrating all customary and traditional Iban festivals.
We here in PengayauDigital.blogspot.com are just borrowing this simple important info about our Iban the Sea Dayaks.
We are truly sorry for any inconvenience caused.
We are truly sorry for any inconvenience caused.
[Credit to Wiki]