Local traditions and culture in State of Sarawak

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One advantage of having the Petronas retreat at the Tenyok Rimba jungle resort while I was there was the Kayan dancing on the last morning. The retreat group included several local dignitaries, guides and staff. Since there was a karoke machine, they started playing sape (Borneo "guitar") music, which inspired the locals to do a little dancing for fun while dressed in hornbill feather accessories. It was really interesting and the sound almost magical. I took a couple of pictures and recorded four videoclips. I highly recommend watching at least videoclips #1 and #3 so you can hear the sound. Of course, they had me try it. Let's just say I have much to learn.

I have tried to figure out what those dances are called. I found a video on YouTube, which looks like what I saw and heard. It is a warrior dance or ngajat. Evidently women also do a warrior dance but it is different from the mens'. eBedian also talks about traditional Kayan dances... "There are dances for men and women. For the men, there is a warrior dance. And for the women, there is the welcoming dance. The 'Liling' is danced by many people, merry making... and the steps are relatively simpler than the [warrior dance]." He also has a picture of a sape on that web page.

There are several ethnic groups in Sarawak, each with their own distinct language and culture. They have all lived for centuries in harmony with their environment.

The most important of these tribes are the Iban. Although they used to practise headhunting in the past, they are now really friendly for the sake of tourism and pleased to welcome guests in their longhouses.

The Penan, like other nomadic hunter-gatherers, enjoy an egalitarian society. There are no social classes. There is no wealth or poverty, and all food is shared. Each band has a headman who acts as a spokesperson but wields no power. Although certain tasks are reserved for men and others for women, there is no obvious sexual inequality, and neither sex exercises coercion over the other. Both men and women are gentle and soft-spoken. Outsiders who observe them are invariably struck by the complete absence of violence among the Penan.

Many of the indigenous people we travelled with in the Borneo rain forest were armed to the teeth, both with knives and rifles. They weren't carrying them for self-protection but use them to hunt for food, build shelters, etc.
It's a bit of a culture shock when you sit next to someone on an aeroplane with a rifle between his knees, but you soon get used to it.

The Berawan are a minor tribe mostly found in the Mulu jungles.

You'll chance upon them if you visit the Mulu Park.

It is considered extremely rude to point. an open handed gesture is acceptable instead