Iban Festivals
Important Iban gawai (festivals) include the gawai kenyalang, gawai batu, gawai antu, gawai mangkung tiang and gawai nyemali umai.
Gawai Nyemali Umai
Gawai nyemali umai is a rite performed to safeguard the health of growing rice from pests and other diseases. Offerings and prayers (sampi) are offered to propitiate the spirits to ensure a healthy growth, and the farm is immediately put under taboo for a period of three years with special signs placed at the entrance and exit.
Gawai Antu
Gawai antu (festival for the dead) is an important festival for the Iban of Saribas and Kalaka areas when the dearly departed are invited as guests. The dirge (sabak bebuah) is sung, tomb-houses (sungkup) built over the graves and other activities associated with the festivals are performed. According to myth, the festival originated from the orders of Serapoh, a cousin of Lang.
Gawai Mangkung Tiang
Gawai mangkung tiang is a rite performed on the day a new longhouse is occupied. All the tiang pemun/sandung (main poles) of every family bilik (room) is wrapped with pua kumbu (weaved cloth) to form a series of altars (pandung) around which the elders walk in circles as they chant sacred verses to bless the longhouse. This festival is still observed by Ibans who still keep their traditional belief.
Gawai Kenyalang
Gawai kenyalang (hornbill festival), also known as gawai burong (bird festival), is considered the most important Iban gawai by the Iban of Batang Ai. Named after the carved figure of a rhinoceros hornbill which figures prominently in their rites, this celebration was formerly held after the taking of heads in a war expedition. It is now held as a result of dreams that must not be disobeyed and after a bountiful harvest or a successful journey in search of wealth and items of value. It originated from the orders of a deity, Lang, when he attended a feast disguised as a human.
Gawai Batu
Gawai batu (whetstone festival) is a major rite observed at the beginning of the rice cycle, when the sacred stones (batu umai) and farm tools are brought out to be blessed. Gawai batu is also held when occupying a new longhouse or when there is recurrent poor harvest. It originated from the orders of a deity, Sempulang Gana, who is responsible for matters associated with land and farming.
Jong Regatta
The first Jong Regatta or miniature sailing boat race was held at Tasik Biru, Bau, on 8 January 1950. The idea for the regatta came from A.J.N Richards, who was the colonial district officer from 31 July 1948 until 18 February 1953. The last Jong Regatta was held on national day, 31 August 1986, at Tasik Biru, Bau.
Smallest Sarawakian Music Instrument
The smallest Sarawakian musical instrument would be the Jews Harp. The Jews Harp of Borneans are made of palm wood such as Arenga. The instrument is held to the performer’s mouth, which performs the function of a resonator. The vibration of the tongue corresponds with a very low sound but the cavity of the mouth is capable of various alterations. The Sea Dayaks rudings (Jews Harp) are about 9cm with breadth of about 1cm.
Earliest Sarawakian Music Instruments
The Kayan Bulo wok is made from bamboo and works on the principle of the bamboo flageolets. With these, the Kayans imitate the cry of the owl and the cry of the gibbon. The instrument is carved with Kayan characteristic design. It is about 12.7cm long with a diameter of 5.1cm and sound holes of 2.3cm diameter.
Earliest Iban Enserunai
The earliest Sea Dayak fiddle found was from the Brooke Low collection. It was an instrument made from the gourd (gemok selaing) whose total’s length was about 68cm long. The diameter of its resonator (which was half a gourd) was 9.5cm long. It had a straight stem. The head was flattened and slightly enlarged. A diaphragm of monkey skin is lashed on with a rattan binding and tightened up with wedges. The string which is of rattan sega at one end is looped over the part of the stem which projects beyond the resonator and passes from this point of attachment to the lower part of the head of the stem which is deeply grooved longitudinally. The string runs along the groove and out through a hole at the side and is then wound round the head. There is no bridge for the string opposite the resonator. The bow is made of bamboo with a grass string. The Sea Dayaks imitate on the Enserunai what the dirges sung at deaths and at burial. The performer sits on the ground and holds the stem of the fiddle in his left hand. He rests the resonator against the calf of his left leg or grasps with his toes the part of the stem that projects through the resonator. The string is sawed with the simple bow held in the right hand.
(To be continued)
