Pua kumbu donated to museum
KUCHING: The Sarawak Museum Department has received donations of 41 objects from various sources including a 100-year-old Iban pua kumbu (a ceremonial, warp-patterned, multi-coloured cotton cloth woven by Iban women in the state). Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the Iban pua kumbu was from an […]
Wear something Iban to promote identity, says Rentap
KUCHING: The Iban are rich in their cultural heritage given their traditions, customs, festivals and their costumes. So to further preserve and promote their identity, Sarawakians, especially the Iban, have been encouraged to put on something that has Iban cultural elements and patterns in their daily life. Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development […]
Craft creation is Susana’s forte
KUCHING: It is inevitable that an enterprising 38-year-old lady with a passion and aptitude in manufacturing crafts to establish her own firm, Susana Enterprise The owner, Susana Satot, said that she now has a variety of her own items, thanks to her enthusiasm and expertise working with craft shops, resulting in a variety of handmade […]
Gala Night a conduit for Dayak creativity
SIBU: M.O Sarawak 12th Gala Night serves as a platform not only to celebrate its anniversary but to promote Pua Kumbu fashion, said Datuk Snowdan Lawan. In a speech read by Ngemah Assemblyman, Anyi Jana, the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts on Saturday said apart from that it is also a […]
Preserving the art of Pua Kumbu
KUCHING: Pua Kumbu weaving takes a long time as it requires persistence and dedication. Many of those who have been indulging in this weaving are now getting on in years, thus raising the question as to what will become of the art if the younger generation does not step into their shoes. According to Universiti […]
Taking Pua Kumbu to the next level
KUCHING: Nowadays Pua Kumbu has been turned into fashionable clothing. Not too long ago, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the Iban traditional handwoven textile has great potential in the world of haute couture. He told Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) members that they should turn the Pua Kumbu weaving skills into a lucrative […]
Conveying beauty and complexity of Pua Kumbu
KUCHING: Pua Kumbu is a handwoven textile that is significant to the Iban community. In ancient times, it was used as a blanket. The Pua Kumbu motifs such as snakes, crocodiles and others each has its own meaning. It can take up to months to produce a piece of Pua Kumbu owing to its complexity. […]
In search of threads to weave songket
KUCHING: The state government will be sending a mission to Turkey in search of threads suitable to be used in keringkam and songket. Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he was informed by patron of the Sarawak Heritage Innovation Project: Songket and KeringKam, Datuk Amar Puan Sri Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang […]
Bangie Embol: A master weaver chosen by the gods
Bangie Embol, who was awarded the Master Weaver title by Unesco, was spiritually chosen to be the Master Dyer when she was 45 years old. Also known as ‘Indu Ngar’, whenever the spirits call on Bangie to perform a mordant ritual, she must follow. Patterns guided by spirits The Iban’s ritual cloth, pua kumbu, has a […]
Master weaver Bangie’s dedication impresses minister
KUCHING: Sarawak Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has expressed his admiration for master weaver Bangie Embol’s work. “I have the utmost respect for the weavers of today, who are dedicated towards preserving the knowledge and skills of their ancestors. “At the same time, they are brave enough to experiment, […]
