Sarawak has near 30 ethnic groups, every with their personal id, but these races reside in peace and concord. The secret is tolerance amongst its individuals and a deep understanding of one another’s tradition and heritage, says Sarawak Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan, 50.
“Sarawak has been described as the model state of unity and harmony, where communities accept and appreciate one another despite their differences in beliefs. Having communal structures like rural longhouses has also contributed to this close-knit community.
Snowdan, who hails from Banting in Sri Aman, adds that religion has never been an issue among Sarawakians, whether young and old.
“Intermarriages are also common among locals. So it’s not surprising that a big family can have four festivals like Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Gawai and Christmas. And festivals unite the communities as they strengthen our bonds and understanding.
“Akin to mother’s cooking, all ingredients are in the saucepan, and the recipe serves a good meal. Diverse we may be, but we mix well. The chemistry product is unity.”
Here are a number of the essential ethnic groups in Sarawak:
Penelope Layang is amongst many Iban youth educated in ngajat, a Sarawakian cultural dance.Iban – This ethnic group is the largest neighborhood of Sarawak’s inhabitants. Centuries in the past, they had been feared as headhunters and pirates. They are additionally identified for their weaving and silversmithing abilities.
Notable Ibans are actor Henry Golding (of Crazy Rich Asians fame) and Miss Malaysia Universe 2020, Francisca Luhong James.
Bidayuh – As the second largest indigenous group in Sarawak, the Bidayuh are referred to as Land Dayaks.
Traditionally, this neighborhood lived in longhouses, full with a round thatched home referred to as baruk.
Bidayuh delicacies contains linut (sticky sago paste), kubar (candy sago pancakes) and tobah (preserved meat).
Dressed in conventional Bidayuh apparel, Cassandra Hazel Milijit performs the sape at Sungai Koloyan close to her dwelling in Kampung Pisa, Bau, to have fun the Gawai Dayak competition.
Orang Ulu – The “people of the interior”, Orang Ulu is a time period used to explain a gaggle of 27 minor however ethnically various tribal groups in northeastern Sarawak. Within these tribes are the Kayan, Kenyah, Lun Bawang and Kelabit.
They every communicate a distinct language and practise a novel tradition. The Orang Ulu neighborhood is legendary for their intricate beadwork and different tribal crafts.
In addition, they’re identified for the sape (boat lute), made well-known by Orang Ulu musicians like Mathew Ngau Jau and Alena Murang.
The Orang Ulu conventional costume options motifs resembling creeper crops. Photo: Filepic
Melanau – Melanau or A-Likou means river individuals within the Mukah dialect. This ethnic group lives primarily alongside the Rajang River in central Sarawak. They devour meals comparable to jungle ferns, umai (uncooked fish seasoned with lime and chillies), and siet (sago worms).
They have fun Kaul Festival, an annual “cleansing” ceremony to keep off uninvited spirits and dangerous influences.
Penan – This nomadic neighborhood might be discovered not solely in Sarawak, but additionally in Brunei. As of 2016, Sarawak has round 25,810 Penans, in accordance with the Penan Education Community Programme (2010 – 2020).
They are famous for their observe of molong, which suggests by no means taking greater than essential.
In 2019, Paradise War: The Story Of Bruno Manser was screened on the Zurich International Film Festival. It is about Swiss environmental activist Bruno Manser and the Penans, and their struggle towards logging actions in Sarawak’s forests.
