Dayak
Posted on July 2nd, 2008 in tourism info dayak, kalimantan, the dayak
The Dayak the peoples indigenous to Kalimantan. It is a loose term for over 200 riverine and hill-dwelling ethnic subgroups, located principally in the interior of Borneo, each with its own dialect, customs, laws, territory and culture, although common distinguishing traits are readily identifiable.
Dayaks are categorised as part of wider Austronesian-speaking populations in Asia. The Dayak were animist in belief, however many converted to Christianity, and some to Islam more recently.
The Dayak Peoples which is known as the head hunter during head hunting expedition age in the past.
Headhunting was an important part of Dayak culture, in particular to the Iban and Kenyah. There used to be a tradition of retaliation for old headhunts, which kept the practise alive.
Discover and meet the Dayak Tribes, the indigenous people of Borneo Island. The twenty main Dayak tribes – once feared as headhunters have their homes in this river basin.
Enjoy their traditional way of life, longhouses, dances and also to meet the women with long earlobes and the men with beautifully elaborate tattoos.
The main ethnic groups of Dayaks are
1.the Bakumpai and Dayak Bukit of South Kalimantan,
2. The Ngajus, Baritos, Benuaqs of East Kalimantan,
3.the Kayan and Kenyah groups and their subtribes in Central Borneo
4.the Ibans, Embaloh (Maloh), Kayan, Kenyah, Penan, Kelabit, Lun Bawang and Taman populations in the Kapuas and Sarawak regions.
5.Other populations include the Ahe, Jagoi, Selakau, Bidayuh, and Kutais.
Coastal populations in Borneo are largely Muslim in belief, however these groups (Ilanun, Melanau, Kadayan, Bakumpai, Bisayah) are generally considered to be Islamized Dayaks, native to Borneo, and governed by the relatively high cultural influences of the Javanese Majapahit Kingdoms and Islamic Malay Sultanates, periodically covering South East Asian history.
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