Bubut – The Bird of Death

“Is that your concern about Ajang? That you don’t know what creature he is or that you don’t know what power he has?” Sampurai asked Lium. “I am not worry if he is a bunsu banyak. I know what a monitor lizard can do. I am a bit wary about the bird,” Lium clarified. “Why?” …

‘Bekalih di Darat’: A Dayak Iban Rite to Sanction a Taboo Marriage (Part I)

In December 2021, I had the rare opportunity to witness a Dayak Iban ritual, ‘Bekalih di Darat’ for Michael Chambai and Jennifer Wilfred. ‘Bekalih’ literally means ‘having partition walls/ having something between’. It is a ceremony that is performed because a couple who are of different generations within the degree of third to fifth cousin …

The First Incest

In December 2021, I had the rare opportunity to witness a Dayak Iban ritual, 'Bekalih di Darat', a ritual to neutralize the offense of a couple who wish to live as a husband and wife while according to the 'tusut' (genealogy), their relation breaks the rules of marriage according to the Dayak Iban 'adat' (native …

The Life of Menggin – Part III (Menggin & the Antu Gayu)

This is the written script of Episode 10 from the Gallery of Dayak Iban Folklore. Welcome to the Gallery of Dayak Iban Folklore. This is the last episode about the life of an Iban ancestor called Menggin. Episode 10 is a story of how Menggin managed to live a very long life. Menggin and the …

The Life of Menggin – Part II (Menggin in Singalang Burong’s World)

This post is the written script from Episode 9 of the Gallery of Dayak Iban Folklore YouTube Chanel. Welcome to the Gallery of Dayak Iban Folklore. This episode is the second of the 3 episodes about the life of an Iban ancestor called Menggin. Episode 9 is a story of how Menggin and his son …

Curses in Dayak Iban Folklore

The Dayak Ibans believe that curses come from 2 sources: SELF-INFLICTED This occurs when a person knowingly violates prescribed behaviors (adat) or unknowingly transgresses a social code. The act is called 'Jaku Busung' which is best translated as 'blasphemy'. For example, a man claimed to have killed a number of enemies at war, and on …

THE SPIRITUAL CREATURES IN DAYAK IBAN MYTHOLOGY: ANTU

It's the end of October, the time to celebrate Halloween. It is not a celebration that we observe in this part of the world, although the effect of globalization and Hollywood movies have seeped in to our mundane life. Therefore, I decided to write something under the theme. In Dayak Iban Mythology, that means discussing …

The Life of Menggin – Part I: How He Met His Wife

This post is the written version of Episode 8 from The Gallery of Dayak Iban Folklore. It will be the first of 3 episodes about the life of an Iban ancestor called Menggin. Episode 8 is a story of how Menggin met his wife, Endu Dara Tinchin Temaga. There are a few different accounts of …

Bintang Buyu and Bintang Timor (The Evening Star & The Morning Star)

This is the written script from the YouTube video of The Gallery of Dayak Iban Folklore, Episode 7. Welcome to the Gallery of Dayak Iban Folklore This episode features a folklore about the planet Venus. We know Venus as the second planet after the sun. It is the brightest natural object in the night sky …

The Magical Attractions of Kumang’s Bathing Place

"Kumang gathered her silky long hair to the right and gently squeezed water out of the thick strand. She just finished her bath by the Kayan River. She looked up to the sky for a home she could not see. Panggau Libau longhouse was situated on the first layer of the sky, just above where …