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Friday, July 18, 2008




Hi, Francis here. Today I'm going to use the 100th post on this blog to talk about the BIDAYUH =)

Brief Introduction

The Bidayuh make up over 8% of Sarawak's population, and are believed to be the first people to settle in the original territory of Sarawak. Although they are one community, they speak 5 main different dialects. They were traditionally Swidden rice farmers, however they now grow more permanent crops after the government urged them to do so.

Society

The Bidayuh are an egalitarian people(They believe that everyone is equal). They have a customary law which is known as adat. Families are close-knit and share strong kinship ties. It is not uncommon to see three generations living together under the same roof.

Bidayuh villages are separated by natural boundaries such as a river or rock. It consists of the people's homes and other buildings, such as the baruk. The baruk is round in shape with a Hornbill(Sarawak is known as the land of the Hornbills) at the apex(highest point) of its circular roof. It serves as a place for discussion of adat. It is also a venue for ceremonies, and a place for men to make handicrafts, weapons and work tools. It is their cultural icon

Each village has several key personnel, such as the headman(piayuh kupuo), and a ritual expert, a pinyigar.

Social customs and religions.

The Bidayuh were mostly animalistic(they worshiped animals), and they believed that they had to maintain a harmonious relationship with the spirit world. They also emphasized greatly on maintaining a harmonious relationship between members of a community.

However, as the Bidayuh started embracing Christianity, the adat had to be secularized(not based on religion), so that they would have a common code of conduct.

Bidayuh : Then and now

Bidayuh farmers have moved on to cultivating pepper, cocoa, rubber, coffee and oil palm, and many have diversified into the construction, hotel, food, petroleum, gas and fishing industries.

However, the Bidayuh are not forgetting their roots, and have set up various organizations such as the Dayuk Bidayuh National Association to teach children traditional songs, dances and music. They are also encouraged to use the Bidayuh language at home.


A picture of the baruk




Bidayuh women wearing their traditional dress.





Hope you enjoyed this =)



[4:10 PM]


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