IBAN PEOPLE
The
Ibans are a branch of the
Dayak peoples of
Borneo. In Malaysia, most Ibans are located in Sarawak, a small portion in Sabah and some in west Malaysia. They were formerly known during the colonial period by the British as
Sea Dayaks. Ibans were renowned for practising
headhunting and tribal/territorial expansion and had a fearsome reputation as a strong and successful warring tribe in ancient times.
Since the arrival of Europeans and the subsequent colonisation of the area, headhunting gradually faded out of practice although many tribal customs, practices and
language continue. The Iban population is concentrated in
Sarawak,
Brunei, and in the
West Kalimantanregion of
Indonesia. They live in
longhouses called
rumah panjai[1].
Nowadays, most of the Iban longhouses are equipped with modern facilities such as electricity and water supply and other facilities such as (tar sealed) roads, telephone lines and the internet. Younger Ibans are mostly found in urban areas and visit their hometowns during the holidays. The Ibans today are becoming increasingly urbanised while retaining most of their traditional heritage and culture.
The origin of the name is a mystery, although many theories exist. During the British colonial era, the Ibans were called
Sea Dayaks. Some believe that the word
Iban was an ancient original Iban word for
people or
man. The modern-day Iban word for
people or
man is
mensia, a totally modified Malay loan word of the same meaning (
manusia) of Sanskrit Root.
The Ibans were the original inhabitants of Borneo Island. Like the other Dayak tribes, they were originally farmers, hunters, and gatherers. Not much is known about Iban people before the arrival of the Western expeditions to
Asia. Nothing was ever recorded by any voyagers about them. The History of the migration of Iban people trace back to China where historians believe that the original Iban people migrated from
Yunnan, a province in rural China.
The Ibans were unfortunately branded for being pioneers of headhunting. Headhunting among the Ibans is believed to have started when the lands occupied by the Ibans became over-populated. In those days, before the arrival of western civilization, intruding on lands belonging to other tribes resulted in death. Confrontation was the only way of survival.
